One can use ancient machines and put up a Terminal/Server (I know this
as Thin Client) Linux lab, running Open Office, and meet the standards
needs of Internet research and basic production. Even the one machine
serving as your server can be a workstation you currently have on hand,
with some beefed up RAM.
Through Tech Scouts (http://hvscouts.com) I have worked with high school
students to create such labs as service learning in school and in the
community. Certainly you'll need to explore, once putting one of these
in, what the limitations are, and at some point perhaps purchase a new
server...but in the meantime it's cost you nothing but time, and that
time was spent empowering students to be of service and learn about Open
Source.
If you would like to explore this option, let me know! But we'll need
the help of some high school students and a tech teacher.
-Bram
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