Linux as a desktop solution

When Microsoft began threatening to litigate public schools in the Northwest states for not having paid for the licenses of donated and almost obsolete PC equipment, it unleashed a sleeping giant. Wanting to save their districts from bankruptcy, several teachers and programmers began developing variations of Linux as alternate Operating Systems. They wanted no part of a Microsoft environment that could so adversely affect so many students and teachers. K12LTSP was born of this effort.

These pioneers found out that installing Linux in old equipment was not as difficult of a task as it originally had been - the once semi-criptic text interface for installing Linux had progressed into a comfortable GUI (Graphic User Interface), easier to understand and follow. The installation has evolved to the point where it recognizes most of the common hardware configurations, and for the "blue light" specials that every district has at one time or another purchased, there is a number of very supportive and responsive Internet listservs, willing and able to help out with strange/unique hardware and driver configurations.

Our own UNIX guru Patrick Rankin has created a RedHat 8 install that he has compiled and tweaked, so that we know we are getting only the best from the best. For copies of this EPISD "production" distro contact Alan Hodson.