Linux Against Poverty: Any interest in doing something like this around here?

[Robert Eisenzopf]

I've put several Linux distros on PII's and I'm running one
with PCLinuxOS 0.93 now,
but frankly, it's not worth the effort. Stick to PIII's
with at least 800MHz and 256MB RAM 
or PIV's - otherwise you'll be spending too much time
chasing drivers and figuring out
why sound cards are not working. Besides these old machines
don't have enough USB slots.
On the other hand, if you want the challenge, who am I to
discourage anyone? Upgrading
old handmedowns is a very interesting education.
"Robert Eisenzopf" <deitai at closecall.com>

Nate <omegamormegil at gmail.com>
> On Mon, Aug 3, 2009 at 5:01 PM, Robert Eisenzopf
> <deitai at closecall.com>wrote:
> 
> > I'll help in whatever way you need.
> 
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> As mentioned
> > previously, I've been refurbishing
> > PIII's with at least 800MHz and 256MB RAM or low end
> PIV's,
> > loading them with Linux
> > that has G Compris such as Edubuntu(Debian base) or
> > K12LTSP(Fedora base) and
> > with a decent video card the kids can have fun with Tux
> > Kart or Tux Racer.
> 
> 
> That's cool - I expect we'll get computers with similar
> specs.  What about
> computers that can't run Ubuntu?  Should we stick with
> computers that can do
> everything, or is there a place for older, less capable
> machines?  What do
> you think?
> 
> 
> > Kids are
> > not concerned about proper(proprietary) tools or OS and
> > they drag resisting adults
> > along with their enthusiasm. The parents don't care if
> > their children are learning something
> > and their own children convert them to open source when
> > cost analysis and functionality
> > dawns upon doubtful minds.
> 
> 
> I would agree.  Children will be much less likely to turn
> down a computer
> because they've never heard of the operating system
> before.
> 
> 
> > I'm not a techie but an educator
> > - but I do whatever it
> > takes to get there!
> > I have followed online several successful projects such
> as
> > you mention. They have found
> > that they need a warehouse, committed volunteers,
> strict
> > donation criteria(so as not to
> > become an electronic dumping ground), a scheduled
> > publicized donation event, and
> > scheduled training time(s) and place for the donees.
> 
> 
> Good points, but we aren't going to need all of this
> infrastructure just
> yet.  A warehouse would be nice.  Anyone know of a local
> church or school
> who might be willing to donate some storage space?
> 
> The "Donation Event" is an interesting idea.  Perhaps we
> could get the
> computers, fix the computers and give them away all on
> the same weekend?  We
> could hold an advertised donation event during an install
> fest, followed by
> people coming in to pick up the computers (with some
> people doing training
> and demos standing by).  Crazy?
> 
> 
> > Colleges and larger church congregations
> > are willing to become involved in helping in many ways.
> > With most schools it takes time....
> > We are training the generation after us with new tools
> and
> > the new attitudes that open
> > source provides. Linux is a more natural extension of a
> > man's talents. We have gone within
> > a few short years from texting to X-Windows to Live
> CD's to
> > USB Flash Drive Linux sticks
> > to Linux Remixes, etc. Some of these new users(even
> > children) are figuring out how to do
> > what they want and we need to encourage them to do what
> we
> > do. Linux is more than just
> > computers and that is part of what we need to teach and
> > instill in our donees.
> 
> 
> > And so, since you are the designated project manager,
> what
> > next??
> > BobE
> > "Robert Eisenzopf" <deitai at closecall.com>
> >
> 
> Right now, *we need orders for computers.*  I don't mind
> if we go through
> the schools, or if we knock on doors, but we need some
> volunteers to work on
> this.
> 
> I bet a bunch of kids on the computers at the library
> don't have one at
> home.  Maybe we could get someone to work up some flyers
> (or business
> cards?) which we could hand out with an email address (or
> phone number?) for
> people who want computers.
> 
> We also need some computers to give away, but it sounds
> like this is in the
> works.
> 
> Thanks for the email(s)!
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