new education team - please explore

[Phoenixink]

Hi Jim,

I saw you new team message and wanted to explain a scenario and ask a question.

I am currently working with a middle school science teacher to build a LTSP network for his class. 
We have put together 4 clients and a server that all work very well together.
The target is 20 clients.

However, there is one real problem that is stopping us from using this solution over a Microsoft solution.
The problem is the "Pasport Explorer" and the "Data Studio" software by "PASCO" ref: http://www.pasco.com/pasport/home.html
You collect temperature and other data via the USB port from the Explorer with the Data Studio software, which then plots and otherwise allows you to manipulate the data.

I have tried to use WINE as a windows emulator for the Data Studio software and it works well except there is no way to access the Explorer probe on the USB port, so even though the software runs it cannot collect the data from the Explorer probe. This is a show stopper as far as being able to implement Linux.

I have contacted PASCO and they have no Linux software, no intention of doing a Linux software, and will not give me the commands for the Explorer probes so I can write a software myself.

With all this in mind, how can we expect schools to actually switch to oss such as Linux? 

I appreciate any comments you may have and of course any ideas on a solution for our particular situation.

Thanks

Jim Cooney
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jim Hutchinson 
  To: edubuntu-users at lists.ubuntu.com 
  Sent: Saturday, June 30, 2007 2:20 PM
  Subject: new education team - please explore


  Greetings all,

  I have just set up a new education related team (https://launchpad.net/~education-enthusiasts) and I would like to find others interested in helping to build it. The main focus in to build a community of teachers wanting to use oss and those wanting to help teachers. If you have any thoughts, ideas or suggestions please share them with me. If you'd like to join - please do. 

  Thanks,
  Jim Hutchinson

  -- 
  Please avoid sending me Word or PowerPoint attachments.
  See http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/no-word-attachments.html 


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