I clearly have no crystal ball, and reserve the right to be dead wrong.
The question was about "standardization", not about using OpenSource
tools. There are fantastic resources now in the OpenSource arena -
LAMP (Linux Apache MySQL PHP) offers a great alternative for many
server needs. Moodle is amazing. drupal and Joomla offer schools an
alternative to the standard website choices.
In all of these cases, OpenSource is being used and managed by a
skilled user who has chosen this tool. I think that schools should be
looking seriously at all of these.
Where I have reservations is where IT people "inflict" OpenSource
operating systems on the users at large. The needs, skill levels,
support possibilities and software availability varies tremendously
across a campus. Forcing a timid, barely computer-literate aging
faculty member to use OpenOffice and Linux seems a bit extreme. This
person will surely have support needs on a daily basis that are
outside the stability of his/her system. Basically they will not be
able to ask 98% of computer users for help. If they had a Mac or PC,
help is all around. Software choices are much more limited. Trying to
"inspire" a timid user is easier, in my opinion, with a Mac.
Could a world of geeks run entirely on OpenSource and never again send
money to MS or Apple? Sure. I have yet to see a faculty room full of
geeks...or a student body. OpenSource should be a choice, not a
mandate in terms of a school platform.
I see this as the same chicken/egg problem that was just discussed in
terms of assessment - schools could be more creative here if only the
colleges would accept different application criteria. The problem is
that most don't. (I don't have a solution here.)
My 2 cents
Kevin
On Jun 11, 2008, at 12:40 PM, Vern Ceder wrote:
> Kevin McAllister wrote:
>> There are OpenSource choices and others may have opinions on
>> standardizing here. My feeling is that going this route puts the
>> school at risk long term. The highest cost of ownership is not
>> purchase price.
>
> I'm curious as to the long term risks you see in open source
> solutions... lack of support? difficulty in finding trained sysadmins?
>
> Cheers,
> Vern
> --
> This time for sure!
> -Bullwinkle J. Moose
> -----------------------------
> Vern Ceder, Director of Technology
> Canterbury School, 3210 Smith Road, Ft Wayne, IN 46804
> vceder@canterburyschool.org; 260-436-0746; FAX: 260-436-5137
>
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Kevin J. McAllister | President, CEO
inRESONANCE ... Solutions that resonate
kevin@inresonance.com | 413.587.0236 | www.inresonance.com
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