In the vanguard for Linux in K12: of all places, INDIANA...

[Bill Sconce]

Main site:
    http://www.doe.state.in.us/inaccess/welcome.html

    "Three years ago, the Department of Education and a few pioneering
    schools embarked on a novel approach for one-to-one computing in the
    classroom.  Using small grants from the Department of Education,
    schools purchased low-cost computers and monitors.  The computers
    used cost $199 each and the monitors were $99.
      ...
	A year later, it was clear that the concept worked.  What started as
    a small program to test commodity-priced hardware and open systems
    has now swelled to a network of computers that reaches over 18,000
    students each day.
       ...
    Indiana ACCESS is continuing to expand into more classrooms and new
    master images are constantly being created with tweaks and additions
    of new application packages.  Schools outside the pilot group are
    now picking up on the concept and beginning to install classrooms
    with low-cost computers and Linux throughout the state."

ACCESS program description:
    http://www.doe.state.in.us/inaccess/about_inaccess.html
    
Software requirements:
    http://www.doe.state.in.us/inaccess/inaccess_software.html
    
        Currently, the operating systems in use in Indiana's pilot 
        projects include Linspire 5.0, and Novell Linux Desktop (NLD9).
        Application software generally includes:
            * Sun Microsystems' STAR OFFICE
            * CMAP (http://cmap.ihmc.us/)
            * REALplayer for Linux
            * Firefox web browser
            * GIMP (Image manipulation software)
            * Codeweaver's Crossover Office (Crossover Office allows
                many applications designed for Microsoft Windows to run 
                under a Linux operating system)
        Moodle (http://moodle.org/) applications (Moodle is a course
        management system), are proving popular in several areas. 
        Hundreds of other applications are available.

        In addition to open source applications that are available,
        many companies are now making efforts to allow their software 
        to operate in  Linux environment. Within the next 1-2 years,
        we expect to see several new applications become available 
        in a Linux version.

WHY LINUX?
    "Using Linux as the operating system and open source for the 
    application stack, we have been able to keep software costs to
    about $13-$18 per machine per year.  This includes software 
    update support. The traditional model for similar software would
    cost more than $200 per computer.