Stars Supplying Technology to At Risk Students

[Bob Jonkman]

Even for free stuff, a large(ish) organization like Georgian College 
still needs to do administrative stuff like acquisitions, inventory, 
allocation, transport, disposal, &c.  Strangely, this kind of thing is 
easier to maintain for large volumes of goods than one or two units.

If you could find a way to build a sustainable relationship with 
Georgian, and possibly relieve them of their administrative burdens to 
run a free PC program then the adoption rate would be higher (can't get 
any lower, that's for sure).

It may be worthwhile to hook up with an organization like Free Geek 
Toronto http://www.freegeektoronto.org/ or Computer Recycling 
http://www.theworkingcentre.org/at/comp_recycling/comp_recycling.html to 
see how they manage to get computers out to the public.

Of course, it may be possible that Georgian has signed a contract which 
gives Microsoft exclusive rights to all computer deployments.  It is 
even possible that Microsoft has made a donation (software, computers, 
even money) on the condition that only MS products are used at Georgian.

It is also possible that Georgian have chosen to teach, use and advocate 
only Microsoft products to their students in order to maximize their 
employability, seeing that employers are using mostly Microsoft 
products. Obviously they have missed the rising tide of Linux in the 
workplace...

--Bob (who confesses that he works for Computer Recycling)


Bob Jonkman<bjonkman at sobac.com>          http://sobac.com/sobac/
SOBAC Microcomputer Services              Voice: +1-519-669-0388
6 James Street, Elmira ON  Canada  N3B 1L5  Cel: +1-519-635-9413
Software   ---   Office&  Business Automation   ---   Consulting



On 11-03-28 02:40 PM, Chris wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> As you know I was trying to get Linux Ubuntu introduced to Georgian College
> Students with free computer systems for any student who needs one.
> I am very disappointed to find out that they were just being polite, the 2
> pc's I dropped off were left on a shelf.
> I even offered to set them up and maintain them.
> They will only deal with Microsoft.
> As far as I know the Students were never told there were FREE Computers
> available to those in need.
> Pretty sad statement on their part.
>
> Chris.
>
> Linux! The Freedom to Choose.
> www.bglug.ca
>
>