Re: openSUSE to release "add-on" distro image dubbed 'SLEDucator'
On Tuesday 26. June 2007 16:04, Anders Kringstad Hanssen wrote:
> Should we perhaps try to integrate or at least communicate with them so
> that we do not get another flawed process like previous launches of such
> 'Education' distros?
We actually tried to get in contact with SuSE when they released their
previous attemt to make a "school" distribution back in 2003-2004. SuSE sendt
out a press statement telling about a school server/desktop initiativ. Just
after 4-6 month SuSE gave an other statement, discontinuing their "school"
effort. It was nothing other than press statements out there.
Back then Skolelinux was promoted well in Germany. SuSE came with a press
statement. They made some fuss, and we did not see or here anything more.
From a marketing point of view they gave the following message. Stick with us
because we will bet on schools too. Maybe some heads of schools and
municipalities stopped considering Skolelinux, and forgot the whole thing
after 4-6 months.
In my mind this is just a tacktic for helping Microsoft Windows, but i don't
know if SuSE saw that back then.
Now the situation is different. A relatively active bunch of free software
developers makes OpenSuSE. OpenSuSE govern it self more independently from
Novell SuSE that is the commercial effort.
> Does anyone know the people involved with this openSUSE project?
I've met several Open SuSE people at different conferences. I've actively
asked them if they would at all consider using LTSP and join the porting and
testing effort, also looking at educational applications.
According to Jim Mcquillans talk at FISL 8.0 in Brazil this spring, Ubuntu
started rewriting LTSP. Debian catched up pretty fast and K12LTSP includes it
too. Thats the three leading distroes working on, and including LTSP, Jim
said, also inviting SuSE developers to that effort. A lots of good things
have happend with LTSP lately.
Open SuSE developers I met at LinuxTag 2007 in May did not talked about LTSP
at all. It seems that the add on CD just contains additional softwere
packages, cool look and feel, and maybe some network services "out of the
box"?
In my mind we should ask Open SuSE developers if their interested in sharing
ideas and experience with us. I can't see that that should have a downside
(even if I don't agree with the Novell-Microsoft patent deal that's basicly
breaks Norwegian and European patent legislation, and has no meaning at all).
Me myself would not do much more in this case, other than ask about their LTSP
effort if I get the chance. We have a whole lot of things going on with
Extremadura, and I think thats more important to spend time on. But thats how
I prioritise :)
Best regards
Knut Yrvin
--
With the Skolelinux hat on.
cell: + 47 908 95 765
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