Best Open Source OS for a school?

dory

Hello,

Just found out that the 20 new computers our school will get will be sold to us without a valid Windows licence (this is not in Ireland btw). So, we've decided to go Open Source.

Does anyone know, for the purpose of school things (Internet, Word processing etc.) which would be the best one? I literally know nothing about them. I also don't know how to go online and install something when you don't have an OS to go online on! Can anyone point me in the right direction here?

Thanks

paconnors

Linux Ubuntu would be your best bet http://www.ubuntu.com

Paley

I'd recommend a variation of Ubuntu called Linux Mint: http://www.linuxmint.com/download.php

I reckon it is more appropriate than normal Ubuntu because it comes with some features already installed such as the ability to play and transfer DVDs and the like.

You go to the download page on their site and download the file like you would an email attachment. Then you burn the file (more exactly, choose the option to "burn image") onto a DVD. If you can only burn the image to a CD there is an option to download a smaller version which lacks some features. You can get those features easily enough when the OS is installed.

If you're in a Catch 22 situation where you don't aren't able to download and install an OS due to having limited computer access until you actually install the new OS, then the Ubuntu and Mint people will post you out a copy at a cheap price.

You can even run the operating system direct off the DVD without installing it. This gives you a chance to experiment with various ones to see which one you like best.

Once you pop the installation CD or DVD into the computer things should be straight forward enough. The on screen instructions are generally pretty intuitive. Plus, with Linux you don't have the pain of activation codes.

Another option would be Pinguy OS, which is also a variation of Ubuntu that is apparently even more polished and tailored for the average end user than Mint, some of whose features it incorporates. I haven't used it yet however.

dory

Great!Thanks to you both. I'll look into them all. Hopefully I can get this sorted now quick.

JonathanAnon

dory wrote: »

Does anyone know, for the purpose of school things (Internet, Word processing etc.) which would be the best one? I literally know nothing about them.

I would suggest using Ubuntu Linux... You could download Google Chrome for browsing, and OpenOffice as a free replacement for Microsoft Office..

But I would say one thing.. It WILL take you much longer to get this set up. Ubuntu is certainly a lot easier to get up and running than the earlier versions of Linux, but stuff like wireless network cards and other non mainstream hardware can be very difficult to set up.. and there may not be Ubuntu drivers for some of your hardware, meaning that you will have to set up a thing called NDISWRAPPER to use the Windows drivers on Linux..

I would try installing it on one first and see how you get on with it, before installing on the lot..

yoyo

Edubuntu is a Ubuntu port designed for use in the classroom

Nick

biko

Aye, Ubuntu or better Edubuntu is your man.
Depending on age etc

A "review" here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZtANWP7Q0g

dory

Thanks everyone. I'm installing edubuntu now. This won't wipe out the Windoews already on this machine, will it?

U_Fig

dory wrote: »

Thanks everyone. I'm installing edubuntu now. This won't wipe out the Windoews already on this machine, will it?

not if you install it on a different partition you will be able to choose at startup which OS to boot into

rolion

Hi,
For the "love" of having Windows on the computers,there is a special licensing system from Microsoft that allows you to buy and pay once-off €10 for Windows OS.
Is worth the hassle of "migrating" !??

Doge

dory wrote: »

Thanks everyone. I'm installing edubuntu now. This won't wipe out the Windoews already on this machine, will it?

There is a much easier and safer way of installing it without having to **** around with partitions.

Download and install WUBI,
WUBI will even download Ubuntu for you!

It basically installs Linux to a virtual file on your windows partition,

and to uninstall ubuntu, its a simple as uninstalling it from windows.

It will get you to restart your computer and it will boot into the Ubuntu setup.

It also adds ubuntu to your windows Boot Menu.

Theres no option to install Edubuntu, but you can do that afterwards by installing the Edubuntu packages.