[luau] learning the hardware end

[Luis aka Rigpa]

Scott,

   At the moment I have a couple of commitments which don't allow me to 
attend your tuesday or saturday PB meetings (am taking some classes).  I do 
plan to skip one these this saturday in order to attend the March 8th 
meeting.  One of those commitments (saturday's) will be done with by the end 
of the month, at which time I will be able to help you guys out on 
saturdays.

   The main reason I want to approach the Makiki District Park personnel is 
that the facilities are just a block away from my home.  It would be easy 
for me to provide classes and support.

   I have a bunch of hardware sitting around my too small appartment.  Is 
there stuff you guys can't use?  I can go thru and bring over any stuff you 
guys could use.  I can also ask a couple of techy ratpacks I know in case 
they have stuff they can hand over.

  I've been thinking (oh no! everybody run!  he's been thinking again!!!), 
if you guys get the 1500 166's, would an embedded version of Linux be the 
way to go on those?  I had a 166 (died two weeks ago) and it was painfully 
slow running Debian.  That's where the thought of using embedded Linux came 
from.  It would be perfect for resource-challanged computers (486s, slow 
pentiums, old laptops).

  My idea is to have a process where people learn how to be able to pick a 
computer off the dumpster and make it work, thus my interest in teaching 
Linux and the hardware end of things.  In other words, keep the computer off 
the landfill and put it in someone's home where they can use it.  Years ago 
I used to do kickass stuff on my brand spanking new $4k(without monitor!) 
8Mb 25MHz 486.  There is no reason people who have tight monetary resources 
could not do the same today.  "Computing for the people. Every people."  BTW 
- The other day I read an article about a low income housing project that 
had a computer lab.  They were planning to install wireless access next.  A 
kickass concept if you ask me.

   The people of Hawaii, especialy the children, could really benefit from 
the HOSEF project.  I hope to be able to do my part.

Thanks,
Luis.

>On Saturday 01 March 2003 04:50 pm, Luis aka Rigpa wrote:
> > I was thinking of a

pproaching the Makiki District Park personnel about the
> > possibility of offering a hardware/linux installation course at their
> > facilities.  Would HOSEF play into something like that?  The plan would 
>be
> > to set up a computer lab in one of their rooms for use by the community.
> > Linux OS, networking, and application classes could be offered there.  A
> > course teaching how to put a computer together and how to install Linux
> > would also be offered.  The goal is to bring open source knowledge to 
>the
> > community. "Build it and they will come."  ;-)
> >
> > Would it be possible to use some of the hardware donated to HOSEF for 
>such
> > a purpose?
>
>This is a great initiative and of course hardware could be made available 
>as
>available.  Can you come by either Tuesday or Saturday when we gather at
>Pricebusters in Stadium Marketplace?  This Saturday, the 8th, would be
>especially good since we have a HOSEF organizational meeting the second
>Saturday of each month.
>
>Starting the 15th of this month, we have decided to begin offering a cycle 
>of
>classes pertaining to Linux.  We are going to discuss it in more detail 
>this
>Saturday, but the fact is our space at PB will become limited pretty 
>shortly.
>Space like what you are talking about would be extraordinarily useful and
>extremely accessible.  We have spoken with and have been contacted by 
>another
>community type center, but we have not had the time yet to get to them.  We
>can use your desire.
>
>Please come to the Saturday meeting at noon when we discuss this further.  
>In
>short, two ideas have developed to teach the public and to teach educators.
>Both would rotate around 4 three hour courses.  The first is for learning 
>to
>build or upgrade your computer.  We will invite people to bring in their 
>own
>machine if they want to, or we will provide a lab computer.  The second 
>class
>will be for installing linux on the computer.  The third class will be for
>navigating the gui and learning what is where.  The fourth class is to be 
>led
>by the student's questions.  This "curriculm", if you will, may need more
>time and certainly will evolve with other's input.  The basic idea is to 
>have
>a continuous schedule of classes with as many cycles per year as possible.
>
>I thought we should do this for free, at first.  A wiser volunteer has
>suggested we do differently.  The reasons are a)we need to raise funds to 
>buy
>the servers and hardware we want to give schools for the LTSP and b)people
>will take the process more seriously if they have to take a personal stake
>via funds.  The initial plan is that we offer the classes for $10 a class, 
>or
>$40 for the cycle.  One can attend any of the 4 at any time.
>
>For educators, and in particular, the Tech Coordinators, we want to give 
>them
>the computer that they use for the class and allow them to take it to their
>school when we are done.  In doing so, we walk an individual through 12 
>hours
>of orientation before we GIVE them the PC, monitor, and accessories to take
>back to work.  We would do these sessions separately from the public
>sessions.  This cycle of classes that include owning the PC would be $50.
>Only $40 if they can bring their own computer, Pentium 200 and above.
>
>This is a means to our ends.  The ends is to have money through donations,
>grants, and fund raising to be able to buy the server and hardware to go
>along with the thin clients that we then GIVE a school.
>
>The pros are obvious.  The idea of rewarding 12 hours of class with a
>computer insures that there is at least a legitimate start to the 
>orientation
>process.  The cons may be equally obvious.  We are thinking about
>legitimizing the classes by asking for a donation in exchange.  While it
>"only" amounts to 3.33 an hour for the class, it may be asking too much.  I
>am aware that every penny is a penny more than and educator/TC have.  The
>reality, though, is that they are probably already supplementing the
>shortcomings with their own resources.
>
> >
> > Any input would be greatly appreciated.
>
>Thanks for thinking of this and please contact me off list or just come to
>the meetings to build on these ideas.
>
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Luis.
>
>no, thanks to you
>
>scott
>_______________________________________________
>LUAU mailing list
>LUAU at videl.ics.hawaii.edu
>http://videl.ics.hawaii.edu/mailman/listinfo/luau


_________________________________________________________________
STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE*  
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail