Windows 7 enabled netbooks for schools to include open source software
- 26 August, 2009 15:37
- Comments 16
The 267,000 Windows 7 based netbooks that the NSW Government has started rolling out to high schools will come pre-installed with open source software.
The initial roll out that began today will see the 70,000 Year 9 students in NSW schools each receive a Windows 7 enabled Lenovo IdeaPad S10e by the end of this year.
Over the next four years, each Year 9 student will receive one of the devices as a gift, which they can keep once they have left school. A total 267,000 netbooks will be handed out over the course of the program, which is part of the Rudd Government’s $2.2 billion Digital Education Revolution.
Many spokespeople from the free and open source software community feel that a Linux-based operating system would have been a better choice for students in Australia, but the netbooks will be pre-installed with a variety of open source software.
A spokesperson from the NSW department of Education and Training (DET) today confirmed that GeoGebra, Dia, Audacity, Freemind and MuseScore would all be included on the devices.
Even so, open source consultant, Jeff Waugh, said that while putting computers in the hands of high schoolers is a fantastic step forward, many in the Open Source industry and community are disappointed that the NSW DET chose to use Windows 7 as its platform.
“The NSW DET didn't take this opportunity to leap into the future with a platform that encourages sharing, collaboration, ingenuity and learning,” he said.
Although other States and Territories are yet to announce comparable plans, a Microsoft Australia spokesperson said the company is confident that others will follow suit and roll out Windows 7 enabled devices to students as part of the Digital Education Revolution.
Waugh agrees that this is likely.
“Now NSW has done it, I'm sure other states will continue to see Windows as the 'safe option' — but perhaps we'll see a bit of classic state-vs-state competitive innovation strike Victoria, Queensland or South Australia,” he said.
A spokesperson from the ACT Department of Education and Training said that the ACT does not have any comparable plans in place at the moment.
Waugh said the roll out sent a strong message to the open source software community.
“As ever, those of us keen to see open source platforms succeed in desktop deployments must work harder to remind ICT decision makers that another path exists and that in many cases its benefits outweigh the perceived risks,” he said.
“There was a slam dunk to be had with NSW DET — they were certainly looking seriously at Linux platforms — but vendors didn't provide the answers or comfort they were looking for.”
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Comments
Anonymous
What open source software are they talking about??
I hope they went with Open Office! (An MS Office alternative)
Matias
Shame NSV, shame on you
We all know that Microsoft is under pressure of loosing money by free and open source software (FOSS) and societies are saving huge lots of money. They lately estimated that IT-sector is saving some 60 billion dollars in USA by FOSS.
However it was really a disaster than NSV made such a stupid move to Windows 7. I know that they still continued to follow that same old fairy-tail about "much better new Windows OS". Believe me, Microsoft made NSV fools - again. It's a shame how even western people and political elite is crowling on their knees in front of Microsoft. People 100 years ago had some more selfrespect with oil-companies by making anti-trust laws. But now - what a pile of cowards.
Anonymous
Backward engineering!
<< “The NSW DET didn't take this opportunity to leap into the future with a platform that encourages sharing, collaboration, ingenuity and learning,” he said. >>
In fact, it did quite the opposite (proprietary license agreements and DRM do not allow sharing).
John C
Not Open Office
"...GeoGebra, Dia, Audacity, Freemind and MuseScore would all be included on the devices."
I'm sure MS would have fought tooth-and-nail to ensure these netbooks were loaded down with Microsoft Office products.
BeBob Esq
Try free alternative office software - SSuite Office Software
I tend to favour SSuite Office’s free office suites. Their software also don’t need to run on Java or .NET, like so many open source office suites, so it makes their software very small and efficient.
http://www.ssuitesoft.com
Max
An analogy
This is sort of like a 5 star restaurant saying, "Hey! We have this new system of how to order and eat your food. We're following the trend that all kinds of other restaurants are setting. You walk in, go up to the counter, and tell the waiter what you would like. Then, you wait a minute or two, and he will hand you a cheaply-prepared version of our meal wrapped in paper that sat under a warmer for an hour. Then you can choose to take it with you or eat it here. But don't worry! We are still including all of the things our customers care about! You can still order appetizers, desserts, and fine wines. We're making this change because this is the new trend, and restaurants that do this get so many more customers than us, so it must make it better."
Anonymous
I don't buy it
I have to be honest with you, and I've used Linux for some time and many distros and tweaked things to no end. I like my XP better without doubt. Certainly that was achieved by some tweaking and optimizing that most users don't know to do. And I run plenty of open-source on top of it. But I like it way better than the Linux desktop. The only think I wish I had was an equivalent CLI interface (cmd.exe stinks in comparison). But for so much more it is great. I know, NO ONE can believe that someone might think this way!! Sorry to break it to you.
Richard Chapman
"Some time"
I used Windows for "some time". Years in fact. I've used GNU/Linux for some time too. And for some time GNU/Linux has been ready to be the World's operating system. It has only one flaw, it wasn't the operating system people grew up with. You don't remember learning to talk. You don't remember learning to walk. And you don't remember learning Windows. It is intrinsic knowledge, and GNU/Linux isn't. Once I overcame my intrinsic knowledge of Windows I realized what a piece of crap it really was. It beats you up as you use it. Constant interruptions and falling all over itself telling you how "helpful" it is. And instead of clearing the way for your eyes to do their work it clutters everything up with unnecessary "Look how much we've improved your computing experience" cruft. You will never see it until you rid yourself of Windows' intrinsic knowledge. And you will never understand what I'm trying to tell you either.
Anonymous
Freedom to change the OS?
Would the NSW government (or the schools/teachers) allow willing students to either dual-boot or replace the default OS with something else?
If not, its vendor lock-in anyway. All the positives pointed out in the article are of no consequence. It will only create more Windows users -- mostly without giving them choice of OS.
Also, as OpenOffice is conspicuous by its absence, the open-source software mentioned does not matter. Dia will be eventually replaced by Visio as its interface will be "similar" to MS Office, for example.
I, for one, don't see anything positive in this move!
Anonymous
What about the Teachers LAPTOPS?
Great Story!!
The NSW DET should pat itself on the back for giving itself credit.
What it failed to state was that two thirds of the Teachers have yet to be issued the Laptops and in all likly hood will be the last recepiants of IBM's monster deal with DET. What DET should have done is issue laptops and Project Management tools to ensure that the schools that were issued with laptops also included the Teachers in their "Flash in Pan" roll-out.
Who is taking responsibility for Managing the Roll-out - it surely would have to be the same people taking credit for issuing the Laptops in the first place.
Aronzak
Existing licenses
Did anyone remember that the real reason NSW went with the MS deal is that they had a pre-existing license that meant that the software costs were marginal? They also managed to get 15k of software from various vendors. Among this is photoshop, which does not work reliably on Linux.
NSW DET is also working on deploying Moodle, an open source online education tool.
Linux is fine for people who want the freedom to modify and tweak their software. In an enterprise setting, that's exactly what you don't want.
Aronzak
Licensing
Did anyone remember that the real reason NSW went with the MS deal is that they had a pre-existing license that meant that the software costs were marginal? They also managed to get 15k of software from various vendors. Among this is photoshop, which does not work reliably on Linux.
NSW DET is also working on deploying Moodle, an open source online education tool.
Linux is fine for people who want the freedom to modify and tweak their software. In an enterprise setting, that's exactly what you don't want.
Anonymous
15K of Software??
Where did
15K of Software??
Where did the extra 10K figure come out from?
Don't get me wrong I think that DET did the right thing, however the Project management skill in rolling the initiative out highlight how Government instrumentalities have no idea when it comes to KPIs and timelines. The laptops are already 1 term late and in some cases a large proportion of the year 9 students will receive their laptops just in time for Christmas
Eruaran
DET...
Just a reminder, DET's bottom line miserable excuse for an excuse for pushing Microsoft software on school children was this: Linux doesn't run Photoshop very well.
Now, just in case the irony escaped you I'll slow it right down. Windows 7 installed on NETBOOKS... because Linux... on these same (in case you missed it) NETBOOKS... wont run Photoshop... very well... Annnd in case you still didn't get it... NETBOOKS... PHOTOSHOP...
Sorry if I offended some, but if anyone here is as stupid or as corrupted by Microsoft mendacity as the NSW DET, then I might need to repeat it a few more times yet...
Eruaran
You must think we're all stupid.
<cite>"Did anyone remember that the real reason NSW went with the MS deal is that they had a pre-existing license that meant that the software costs were marginal?"<cite>
Marginal as opposed to Free ? Pulling the Microsoft TCO slight of hand are we ? How "marginal" are these "marginal" costs multiplied by well over two hundred thousand students ? Those are taxpayer dollars you're talking about.
<cite>"15k of software from various vendors"<cite>
This number was pulled from where ? And name the vendors please.
<cite>"photoshop, which does not work reliably on Linux"<cite>
Actually it runs fine on Wine, but nevermind that, you do realize the students are getting NETBOOKS don't you ?
<cite>"NSW DET is also working on deploying Moodle, an open source online education tool."<cite>
Oh well now that just makes it all better now doesn't it ?
<cite>"Linux is fine for people who want the freedom to modify and tweak their software. In an enterprise setting, that's exactly what you don't want."<cite>
Tell that to Red Hat, IBM and other highly successful companies who have been rolling Linux out in the enterprise for many years. Seriously, you've got to come up with a better argument than that !
Anonymous
Fantastic
These netbooks are tracked, logged and locked down so that students aren't officially allowed to install/remove software. That means that not only are they forced to use Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer and Apple iTunes, they run the risk of having the netbooks taken off them if they install OpenOffice, Firefox or Songbird.
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