Comment "Need" for Windows / Mac (Score 1) 462
Many elementary schools today are very dependent on software built for Windows / Mac OS. Packages like Accelerated Reader (a quizzing program with tests on every book imaginable), JumpStart edutainment software, Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing, WinSchool / MacSchool administration software, and a slew of other titles don't run well, if at all, under Linux.
I would love to move our school to Linux on desktops, but I cannot afford the loss of some very valuable software titles, nor the cost of training teachers on a new platform.
Until Linux gets a good, free windows emulator (i.e. when WINE meets its promise), or until these titles can be ported or replicated for Linux, there are too many sacrifices required for some schools to move to Linux. For schools that do not have any software yet, Linux may be a good choice, but for others the tradeoffs just do not seem to be worth it ... yet.
I would love to move our school to Linux on desktops, but I cannot afford the loss of some very valuable software titles, nor the cost of training teachers on a new platform.
Until Linux gets a good, free windows emulator (i.e. when WINE meets its promise), or until these titles can be ported or replicated for Linux, there are too many sacrifices required for some schools to move to Linux. For schools that do not have any software yet, Linux may be a good choice, but for others the tradeoffs just do not seem to be worth it
