This question has been asked many times before in many different settings. It’s the mantra of Windows desktop devotees: “Linux is fine in the server room, but…” Normally, I wouldn’t even ask it myself. I’m quite a believer in Linux and a happy cheerleader for highly functional, free software in education (and anywhere else, for that matter). And yet… And yet, I’ve now built three Linux servers for school and one for home since the beginning of this year and they’re all working brilliantly. I’ve installed Ubuntu on a netbook that replaced one I passed along (after reinstalling Windows for the new user) and OpenSUSE Li-F-E on another desktop that I use regularly to test and demo Moodle. The servers handle important functions in our schools, particularly as web servers, print servers, and network storage. The PCs are just for me.
So why does all of this matter? Because nobody sees the advantages of Linux in the server room (they just know that they can print or view our website). But when I suggest that users struggling with software issues, malware, or instabilities on their machines start fresh with Ubuntu, their eyes generally glaze over after 15 seconds of me explaining just what Ubuntu is. I’m a pretty good explainer, too, so I don’t think it’s just me. When I talk about the hidden costs of Windows licensing on refurbished or donated computers and suggest that Linux would provide everything that most students and teachers need on these machines, I’m not getting much in the way of enthusiasm.
Full Story: Is Linux doomed to the server room in schools? - ZDNet (blog)
So why does all of this matter? Because nobody sees the advantages of Linux in the server room (they just know that they can print or view our website). But when I suggest that users struggling with software issues, malware, or instabilities on their machines start fresh with Ubuntu, their eyes generally glaze over after 15 seconds of me explaining just what Ubuntu is. I’m a pretty good explainer, too, so I don’t think it’s just me. When I talk about the hidden costs of Windows licensing on refurbished or donated computers and suggest that Linux would provide everything that most students and teachers need on these machines, I’m not getting much in the way of enthusiasm.
Full Story: Is Linux doomed to the server room in schools? - ZDNet (blog)
