Students in the technology club at Gov. Thomas Johnson Middle School opened their Christmas workshop a few weeks ago. Instead of toys and games, they stocked up on donated computers. Then, they rolled up their sleeves, and armed with new software and cleaning supplies, set off to refurbish and turn the computers into functional and much-needed presents for needy families in the area.
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Anybody up to writing good directory software?
Tue, 2007-02-20 11:17 — David JonathanSince the very beginning, directories (of any kind) have had a very central role in the internet. (I have recently grown fond of Free Web Directory. Even Slashdot can be considered a directory: a collection of great news and invaluable user-generated comments. As far as software is concerned, doing a quick search on Google about software directories will return the free (as in freedom) software directories like Savannah, SourceForge, Freshmeat and so on, followed by shareware and freeware sites such as FileBuzz, PCWin Download Center and All Freeware (great if you're looking for shareware and freeware, but definitely less comprehensive than their free-as-in-freedom counterparts).
Is better education the key to finding better software?
Sat, 2007-03-03 03:25 — Edward RusselI read David Jonathon's article Anybody Up To Writing Good Directory Software? the other day, which got me thinking about software directories in general. As David mentioned, many of the software directories one finds when doing a quick google search are free as in beer, not as in freedom. But what interests me is the software directories that already exist, providing a combination of both free as in beer software, and open source software. Sites such as Freeware Downloads and Shareware Download don't advertise themselves as providing free as in liberty software, but each of them have a good selection of open source software available... if you know where to look.
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crimperman
4 years 23 weeks 2 days 17 hours ago
arrggh!
A great scheme but terribly reported.
FTA:
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"Open-source software allows free access to applications equivalent to systems such as Windows XP, Microsoft Word and Microsoft Office.
It was developed as an alternative for small businesses and nonprofits that don’t have the resources to equip computers with expensive versions of these programs, Gregan said."
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No it wasn't! That is a *benefit* but when are people going to realise that the "free" in free software is for freedom.
also FTA:
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"The special software will equip the computers with programs allowing students to write papers, make PowerPoint presentations, do basic video and photo editing and even manage a family budget, Gregan said."
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I'm sure he didn't say it was special. What's "special" about it? That seems to imply that the software is only suitable for this purpose or is necessarily complex or requires some additional skill to use.
fredsambo
4 years 23 weeks 2 days 7 hours ago
Education
I am trying to educate people in my community about the Freedom in free software. I feel it is very important to do so; this is why Stallman is always so picky about terminology! HA.
debaser
4 years 23 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago
I think its great
I'd would start a program like this in my community and have been thinking about it for some time. I need to get off my butt. :) As far as the reporting - Grrr - but doesn't surprise me.
Aptenix
4 years 19 weeks 2 days 7 hours ago
Mis-quotes
As poster crimperman deduced, a fair amount of the comments in this article are mis-quotes. I learned some good tactics to use when trying to describe Open Source ideals, history, and computing applications, from the experience though.
I am used to talking to IT managers, Tech Educators, or otherwise tech savy folks. A 30 minute phone call was not enough to accurately pass on the information and background needed to allow for a clear understanding by someone with a limited understanding of computer technology.
Still, the article got it's point across. Kids are using FOSS to allow the less fortunate to access tech in ways that they would not be able to do in an M$ world.