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Re: [LUG] OT: "Bloody' Microsoft - extra bbc article

 

On Sunday 28 October 2007 09:00, Rob Beard wrote:
> Tom Potts wrote:
> > On Saturday 27 October 2007 18:17, tom wrote:
> >> Tom Potts wrote:
> >>> http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7063716.stm
> >>> on Microsoft in schools
> >>> points out the any machine that could run M$ has to be licensed -
> >>> so you give em a linux machine and M$ gets paid for it.
> >>> Tom te tom te tom
> >>
> >> I have to laugh (or is that cry ?) more than 5 years ago a small school
> >> in America said to Microsoft "I'm not signing that" and initiated the
> >> K12LTSP project ( "LTSP for schools).
> >>
> >> K12LTSP is now used in schools throughout the world (notably ones where
> >> legal ownership of MS products is out of reach).
> >>
> >> Why are we Brits so stupid, apathetic and lazy .... If Becta had got its
> >>   Arse in gear 5 years ago we would have an open source culture in
> >> schools and start to see a more clued up workforce potential, no far
> >> better to let American companies tie us up with extortionate leagalise
> >> and kill our own innovative workforce stone dead......
> >
> > but you cant allow other countries  to innovate in order to   give the
> > illusion that US economics works - if we Brits were allowed to innovate
> > then we'd outstrip the US economy in weeks. Competition would destroy
> > 'market economics'.
> > The US have sent us all kinds of marketing and business management Gurus
> > to train us since WWII and now we have a management and entrepreneurial
> > class that couldn't shoot pork bellies in a barrel. Nice things like
> > Quality Management from Japan are taught by US Gurus and implemented by
> > US taught management teams and dont work here after that....
> >
> > You get projects like K12LTSP because the US pushes its illusion of
> > democracy to a lower level - get people to argue over who runs their
> > schools and who is chief of police and let the big business run the rest
> > of the country. When, with the internet, small things can get
> > surprisingly big this takes certain 'democratic' models by surprise.
> >  The internet is almost by nature an economically, politically and
> > scientifically disruptive force.
> > There are many other forces at large that realise this and think its in
> > their best interests to keep us in the computing dark ages.
> > Tom te tom te tom
> >
> >> Arrrgh ..... why do I bother.........
> >
> > have THEY managed to disillusion another into innaction?
> >
> >> Tom.
>
> There is some hope... http://stephen-walder.blogspot.com/
>
> I still think it's wrong though what Microsoft are saying with the
> licensing scheme.  Does it cover just PCs or anything that is classed as
> a computer?  Say an old BBC Micro if the school have any left in
> cupboards etc?
I think it covers anything capable of running windows/office so a 286 upwards 
-or mor importantly anything that can run Linux - a Beeb might not be covered 
but you'd have to read the smallprint
Tom te tom te tom
>
> That would be interesting seeing Vista boot on a BBC Micro.
>
> Rob


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