Linux: Best-Value Solution for School Laptops Programme Launched

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

10th of DECEMBER, 2008

The Australian Federal and State governments have announced programmes to give school kids laptops. However, there are ongoing cost and deployment issues, which are causing these programmes to be delayed or stopped. In response to this, Cybersource has prepared a free, Linux-based solution, for use by Australian Schools, which makes it possible to bring one million new laptops to Australian school children.

"It's a simple proposition; we've prepared an open solution which delivers the best-possible value to education for netbook or laptop roll-outs," suggested Con Zymaris, CEO of long-running Linux firm Cybersource. "Our proposal is to use low-cost netbooks, allocating one per two students, with the students using 'live' Linux USB keys to store their operating system, applications and school-work. This results in a major reduction in installation and maintenance complexity, but still allows the students flexibility in how they use their netbooks and applications."

The solution, in summary:

1. Each pair of students is provided with a new netbook (ie, Eee PC, Aspire One, Dell Mini 9, etc. style laptop).
2. Each individual student is given a 2-4GB USB key, which has a self-booting Linux OS and all the core apps they need. This greatly reduces ongoing IT tech support costs as the software is easy to 'install', update and 'revive' - simply remove the old or non-functioning USB key, pop in the new one, and reboot.
3. The students store all their data on the USB key, and sync that data with a central server. They can access this data through a web- interface, ie, the school Intranet or Learning Management System (eg, Moodle or LAMS, both if which are free software.)
4. The school's existing wireless/wired network is used for connectivity, so no additional cabling is needed. The school's existing power sockets are used to recharge the netbooks; no additional power resources are needed.
5. If *anything* goes wrong with the operating system or applications, the student's USB key is re-imaged with a fresh OS/apps copy, and their data is fetched from the central Intranet server.
6. If the student forgets their USB key at home, they can be issued a temporary one, and their 'data' is always available via the school's file-store Intranet.
7. The USB system and application image comes bundled with hundreds of free and open source applications (eg, Firefox, OpenOffice.org etc), for all manner of school and educational requirements: Maths, Science, Geography, Music theory, Multimedia and Languages.
8. No Linux or additional systems expertise is needed, as the technology to create (ie, image) new USB drives with a Linux distribution exists and is very easy to use. Therefore, there would be no issues with current IT staff not having the knowledge needed to deploy and support these new netbooks.
9. The students can use their USB key on any of the school-supplied netbooks, or, for that matter, any other PC they may have at school, home or in the local library.

"Our expectation is that this programme can be established for a cost of $500 per unit (ie, for 2 students sharing), or $1000 per 4 students. This includes all hardware and software costs. All that remains is the effort of having designated teaching staff image the USB keys, which is a trivial, one-click exercise," said Zymaris.

"We've seen approaches similar to this one work in other countries. For instance, in France, 175,000 'live' Linux USB keys were supplied to Parisian school children[1]. It's clear that with the approach we've outlined above, it is feasible to ensure that every single school child in Australia has access to an educational netbook/laptop for much of the school week, and to have that laptop filled with hundreds of useful educational software applications, all within the budget offered by the Government. Only Linux and Open Source software can deliver on such a promise," continued Zymaris.

"We must also provide our response to what we've been informed is the key criticism against using Linux in school education, namely that it's 'not Microsoft', and thus somehow wont prepare students for the real world. The reality is that students are not likely to be using the same versions of Microsoft's products, years later, when they enter industry; Microsoft's software changes, sometimes dramatically. Therefore, learning computing on Linux, Firefox and OpenOffice.org is not a dis-advantage. In fact, there's no guarantee that students will be using a Windows desktop in 5-10 years time; it's therefore important that schools teach concepts, such as word-processing and spreadsheets, rather than specific products, such as Word and Excel. By contrast, we don't teach our kids Addison-Wesley calculus or Monsanto chemistry - we teach them calculus and chemistry. Similarly, we shouldn't be teaching them just Microsoft computing, but computing. And the best way to ensure that they understand a concept, is to teach them more than one form of it. This is what this proposal can achieve - we are future-proofing Australian school-children's education," concluded Zymaris.

[1] Paris region students to get Open Source mobile office on USB key

http://osor.eu/news/fr-paris-region-students-to-get-open-source-mobile

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About Cybersource Pty. Ltd.

Cybersource, founded in early 1991, is the longest running open source
solutions company in the world. We have been demonstrating the better
value, security and robustness of open source technologies to our
clients since then. We also produce products like:

The Small Business Linux Server: the best value small business server on
the market and 75% less expensive than the Microsoft alternative.
Cybersource Prison PC: Designed for correctional and detention facilities.
The most secure, hardened and zero-maintenance general-purpose PC
available.
Cybersource TrimClient: All the advantages of a thin-client with none of
the disadvantages. http://www.trimclient.com/

http://www.cybersource.com.au/

Spokesperson/Contact: Con Zymaris
Phone: +61 3 9428 6922
Email: info@cybersource.com.au
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