[CS-FSLUG] Transitions (was: Wacky thought - Linux consulting)

[Josiah Ritchie]

Sorry for my part in that Nathan, good response. Sounds like you've
got it under control. :-) I'll step back and enjoy my piece of humble
pie in the corner.

JSR/

N.Thompson scripted ::

>Don't jump to conclusions before letting me have a chance to defend
>myself.
>
>First off I was mistaken, the school hasn't purchased the new
>computers yet, the new computer lab turned out just to be a spare
>running more of the same old IBM's as the computer lab I have my
>computer science class in, the only difference was the computer
>cases.
>
>I do not have an antagonistic relationship with the sysadmins and
>computer science teacher at school, while I haven't meat the
>systadmin at school yet that I know of I spend lots of time talking
>to my computer science teacher and we are  on very good terms (made
>better by my 90% in computer science last term). Anyway I heard from
>him that the school was going to be buying new computers (eventually)
>so I asked him a little about that. The school has a bidding system
>for the new sysadmin, whoever presents them with the most favourable
>price to quality ratio gets the job and gets to call the shots.
>
>I wanted to make sure my computer teacher knew that Open Source
>software was as good as just about anything for Windows (give or take
>a few missing or new apps) so I burned him off a copy of an
>OpenOffice.org CD I made with my own autorun program for windows and
>Linux and I think I also burned him off a copy of the OpenCD so he
>could try it out. I also posted some screenshots of Mandrake 10.0,
>Qt-Designer, KDE and KDevelop on the schools message boards so he and
>the other students could see how nice some stuff in Linux is. I'm
>hoping that if he has some voice in the decision making process for
>choosing the new sysadmin this will allow him to make a more educated
>decision.
>
>I did not complain about the schools windows systems at all, however
>I did tell my computer science teacher about Linux and when the
>teacher would pipe up and say "I wish windows could ..." usually I
>would wind up telling him Linux could, finally he learned not to say
>that any more :-) .
>
>Anyway the school is upgrading to new computer systems anyway and
>they are going to be upgrading to a more current OS which may and up
>being Windows XP professional and server 2003 for the file server,
>but they could easily make the switch to Linux with just as much ease
>and save money in the process if they chose to go with something like
>SUSE or Mandrake Linux. Plus they wouldn't have to run old versions
>of Visual Basic 6 and Microsoft's Java implementation which are no
>good for teaching any more because the students can only use it at
>school.
>
>BTW. Just to clarify something, Microsof's java is not compatible
>with Sun's java and was designed this way specifically to try and
>make it a Windows only programming language, so Microsoft's
>implementation is not platform independent.
>
>On April 7, 2004 10:21 am, Eduardo Sanchez wrote:
>> On Wednesday 07 April 2004 09:51, Stephen J. McCracken wrote:
>> [big snip]
>>
>> > It sounds from these last two paragraphs that you are already in
>an> > antagonistic relationship with these people, and that NEVER...
>I> > repeat:
>> > NEVER helps.  Rather than sitting back and berating the guy (BTW,
>does> > that show the love of Christ?) why don't you volunteer to
>help him out> > with his work.  In the process you can learn more
>about WinNT and his> > concerns and maybe have a chance to widen his
>horizons in teaching him> > some about Linux and Open Source.  In the
>process you might gain a> > friend rather than someone who starts to
>hate to see you if you are> > always berating what he does.
>> >
>> > sjm
>>
>> On a sidenote, I don't think that one could conclude from Nathan's
>> writings that he's on an antagonistic relationship with such
>people. I> would take Nathan's email at its face value: an expresion
>of his> genuine feelings. I think he's entitled to them and I also
>think it's> just fair to share them with the List. We are his
>brothers and his> friends and frequently we have held him in prayer.
>And I know how> frustrating is being forced to deal with some
>proprietary software when> perfectly good free alternatives do exist.
>>
>> OTOH, Steven's advice is very good advice. I would not only endorse
>it> myself to Nathan; I would also take heed of it because I know I
>need> it.
>>
>> May God bless you all,
>>
>> Eduardo
>
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-- 
System Administrator
Washington Bible College/Capital Bible Seminary
http://www.bible.edu

Sound words, I know, Timothy is to use,
And old wives' fables he is to refuse
But yet grave Paul him nowhere doth forbid
The use of parables, in which lay hid
That gold, those pearls, and precious stones that were
Worth digging for, and that with greatest care.
-- From "The Author's Apology For His Book"
   "The Pilgrim's Progress" by John Bunyan