[StockAyatollah]

Why aren't all of these perpetually (supposedly) budget-strapped public schools ALREADY running Linux? Maybe this will inspire them to do so.

[eFudd]

They out to send a report to Microsoft that says 84,275 computers, all using Linux.

[LoneGOPinCT]

So? Businesses and corporations are expected to pay the licensing fees, why shouldn't the school system?

I'm no fan of Microsoft's products, but I do feel they've been improperly vilified. Ostensibly because they didn't donate enough to the democRATs. Microsoft has probably gotten fed up with the b.s. from all sides and finally just said screw 'em all.

[B Knotts]

*ping*

[gcruse]

Microsoft is well within its rights to call for an audit.
 "They just want to squeeze every nickel out of us they can."

Piss off.

[Dinsdale]

25,000 computers, assume 5 year average life, also assume new software with new computers.

Windows at $70, Office educational edition at $100. Also 1000 (for the older kids) copys of Dev studio leaning edition at about $100. That's in the neighborhood of a million a year.

On it face it seems like the license terms will save the schools money. Also allow the schools to install uniform OS's and tools across all machines. If MS wants this kind of money just for windows though they should get stuffed.

Except the schools would have to buy 'naked PCs' and install all the software thmselves. But with students messing with things (I deleted the /system32 folder, Microsoft messed up my PC!) the schools have got to have the reinstall process down pat.

[Bush2000]

"Schools and government agencies that are paying for Microsoft Office are wasting money," Nelson said. "They should be using free software. A lot of this stuff has become generic. It doesn't take a fancy program to make something bold."

Schools and government agencies that are paying for useless teachers and bureaucrats are wasting money," Bush2000 said. "They should fire them."

[Quix]

I think it's typical of the habitually ruthless to bring to bear the most unreasonable pressure at the most inconvenient time. . . . all very legally proper, of course. . . at times. . . . in some contexts. . . .

[Cable225]

"I have a more simplistic view," said John Rowlands, director of information services for the Seattle School District: "They just want to squeeze every nickel out of us they can."

I have an even more simplistic view, Mr. Rowlands. It rolls around my head saying you know you have waaaaaaayy too many unlicensed copies of MS products on your systems.

WinLan or EMGT could get this inventory for you in a matter of days.

[AFreeBird]

But Microsoft has put a new spin on the agreement, requiring an "institution-wide commitment." That means the district must include in its count not only the PCs, but all the iMacs and Power Macs that might conceivably use Windows software.

This is rich, but its not new. Micro$$oft did this to the OEM's years back when it extracted a fee on systems without an OS because users might put a copy of dos/windoze on it.

[ContentiousObjector]

Been there, done that, told microsoft to sue us or go fornicate with themselves.

They appear to have chosen the second option

[Clara Lou]

News flash: They did the same thing in Texas. Our district has been notified that teachers should haver their computers available for this audit.

[FreePaul]

the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is pouring millions of dollars into small, high-tech high schools

Bill and Melinda redistribute the wealth. Ain't communism grand?

[texlok]

Paul Nelson, a teacher at Riverdale, and Eric Harrison with Multnomah ESD have developed a thin-client software called K12LTSP that runs Linux. In the last nine months, they've distributed the software to 5,000 schools.

"Schools and government agencies that are paying for Microsoft Office are wasting money," Nelson said. "They should be using free software. A lot of this stuff has become generic. It doesn't take a fancy program to make something bold."

Me thinks this has something to do with MS's targeting them.

[PsyOp]

Hmmm... Macintosh

[Salvation]

Schools are being asked to be honest and accountable. Wow! We will have to watch this story and see what happens.

[PatrioticAmerican]

""A rough number? $500,000," Robinson said, "which translates, roughly, into 10 teaching positions." "Or one big fat bonus to administrators, or new administrator office furniture, or another wasted "conference", or many other things besides "teachers".