Re: Open Source and Cornell's financial crisis

[Tony Lombardo <]

   Hi all. Ya know, I'm glad Steve brought this up. I don't want to 
start a flavors of Linux war here, just thought I'd share a recent 
experience. In the last couple months I acquired an old IBM R40 Thinkpad 
and a Dell Inspiron 4000.
   I installed Intrepid Ibex (8.10) desktop on each. The IBM was for at 
home, mostly for surfing and checking email. The Dell was for here at 
work, I intended to use it as a test bed for installing and trying out 
different testing applications.
   I was impressed with how well the OS recognized the hardware and 
installed the needed drivers. The entire install took 15 to 20 minutes 
and I was up and running. I got a $10 PCMCIA D-link wireless card for 
the IBM to access my wireless network at home, I plugged it in and I was 
done. I found the desktop layout and functionality intuitive with all 
the features I'd expect. I could open PDFs from the internet, it comes 
loaded with OpenOffice and other apps you'd expect. There are many 
applications to choose from if you don't see what you want, and the 
installation process is well managed.
   I could see where most people could get by with something like this 
for their daily tasks. I suspect that the larger problem is going to be 
cultural, as well as possible compatibility type issues. And of course, 
generally people don't like change, they'd have to learn new ways of 
doing things. If there was a way to get started and create some 
momentum, I think there could be some value.

Tony

Steve Gaarder wrote:

It seems to me that open source software has the potential to save jobs at Cornell, by allowing the university to use money to pay employees to do support instead of purchasing it from outside. I put a message to that effect in Skorton's suggestion box, but I'm wondering: should we pull together a group of campus open source advocates and make a serious

attempt to move the University in this direction?  Other thoughts?

thanks,

Steve Gaarder
System Administrator, Dept of Mathematics
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA