What is really cool about Mac OSX is that it is based on a free "Unix"
called BSD. The Apple version has been named Darwin. It is open
source: http://www.opensource.apple.com/darwinsource/ which means that
Macs can run ports of a lot of the open source software that currently
runs on Linux, FreeBSD, etc.
I was on holiday when the whole Linux discussion happened, but I will
add that I use Linux at home and have recently begun to experiment with
it at work. A couple of comments:
1. I have middle school students who seem to have no problem using it
and being productive on it.
2. There are ways to make your library automation system work. For
example, ours is setup on a Windows 2000 server, and I have successfuly
used a linux-based Citrix ICA client to access the Windows terminal
server. Everything except printing works flawlessly (the printing has
to be configured server-side).
3. I agree with others who mentioned that open source (or more
importantly free software) goes right along with our philosophy as
librarians. Imagine that children in schools without money and
resources, who were once unable to afford proprietary products from
Microsoft and other coprorations are, are now happily running
inexpensive Linux computers (as opposed to pirated copies of MS Windows
and Office). No only that, but many countries have adopted Linux
wholesale in their governments because of the security and flexibility
(See: China and Munich, Germany). As librarians, it wouldn't hurt to
hand out Linux CD's right along with the books that we lend (and it's
perfectly legal). We should be the biggest promoters of free software.
I run SuSE Linux at home, MEPIS on my PC at work, and I recently
installed Ubuntu on an old iMac (formerly running OS 9). Very secure,
very user friendly, and extremely affordable (free).
==============================
Tavis Hampton
Media Specialist
H.W. Longfellow Middle School
Indianapolis., IN
e-mail: hamptont@ips.k12.in.us
blog: http://www.lanterntorch.org
==============================
>>>Dan Robinson <infomaven@PATMEDIA.NET> 01/24 12:03 am >>>
I just want to correct one statement. the Mac OSX is based on Unix,
<http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/unix>, not Linux.
Dan Robinson
HW Wilson Company
Bronx, NY
drobinson@hwwilson.com
On 23 Jan 2005 at 23:11, Jean Lowery wrote:
>Here are all the replies I got to my question about Linux machines - my
>personal favorite is the "If you are going to replace computers anyway,
why
>not go Mac? OSX is actually Linux in disguise." - I do love my MAC and
>interestingly enough we were a MAC environment before the last "tech
guy"
>decided we had to throw them all out and get windows based machines!!
>
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