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Better ripped-off than switch to Linux?
,----[ Quote ]
| Becta and the OGC must be shaking their
| heads, just how can schools get value for
| money from ICT procurement? Ironically, it
| seems, being (potentially) ripped off was
| seen as the safer option to trying something
| inherently less risky namely free, open
| source solutions.
|
| Why less risky? Because the product does not
| 'belong' to the seller of the services. You
| can shop around and replace your ICT service
| providers if they fail to satisfy whilst
| keeping your systems and software.
|
| Once schools and LAs were prepared to suffer
| the lock in of proprietary service and
| software providers in return for the latest
| shiny things, few questioned the superior
| wisdom and efficiency of the private sector.
| They might do soon.
`----
http://www.computerworlduk.com/community/blogs/index.cfm?entryid=2689&blogid=17
Linux for "DoublePlusHuman"
,----[ Quote ]
| I believe Free Software in general including
| the Linux ecosystem, cannot realistically be
| treated as a New OS, but a whole new market
| of operating systems and applications which
| operates on somewhat different, more
| consumer friendly, assumptions and
| expectations. The markets function best when
| there is competition and when their actors
| act fully in their own self interest without
| coercing the others to act on it. Thus the
| insistence on integration and unification is
| harmful. Competition is a form of
| cooperation as well. The difference is that
| people cooperate on their own terms and for
| their own individual benefit rather than for
| a share benefit over which there may or may
| not be agreement. I'd say competition is
| actually the best form of cooperation there
| is.
`----
http://www.nuxified.org/blog/linux-doubleplushuman
Recent:
Is BECTA for the Chop?
,----[ Quote ]
| And the future for BECTA? Here is what the reportâs
| authors conclude:
|
| âAbolish the British Educational Communications and
| Technology Agency (BECTA). BECTA oversees IT
| procurement and technology strategy for schools in
| England and Wales. This has had negative
| consequences for many schools, precluding them from
| organising IT facilities and programmes as they see
| necessary. It hinders an open and competitive
| market, and if schools were to be allocated money
| directly, the sensible option would be to let them
| purchase the equipment that they required according
| to their needs. Abolishing BECTA would realise a
| saving of Â11 million.â
|
| It would be a controversial move, but I suspect not
| one regretted by the vast majority of teachers.
|
| Another plus would be that the gaping hole BECTAâs
| demise would create in the centre of the main hall
| at the BETT Show could be used to actually showcase
| real students (rather than bureaucrats) using
| technology as part of their leaning.
`----
http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/is-becta-for-the-chop/#When:19:25:00Z
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