Charity Project Update

[Zuph]

It looks like we're getting a great start on the charity project. I have a lead on Sixty some computers, all around 500mhz, which should help us out immensely. We will need monitors and keyboards for these machines. Any leads on computers you have, please post them to this thread.

Eventually we will have centralized storage for any systems you can gather, but for now I ask that you keep them at your homes, and we'll worry about transport and everything later.

The big task now is getting our installation finalized. I'd like the install to be based on Xubuntu because we won't have a whole lot of system resources to deal with. I would also like to install as many home productivity and educational packages as possible, but I would like all these packages to be useful. We'll be dealing with Limited hard drive space here.

So, let this thread be a discussion thread for software packages to be installed and computer leads posted. Please don't post that you "might be able to get some computers," please only post if you are definitely able to get them. All of us might be able to get computers. It's easier for me to keep a headcount on machines if I know of the ones we're definitely able to get.

So far, here are my ideas on a machine install right now:

Xubuntu
OpenOffice
LaTEX
Static Copy of Wikipedia if space allows

[Zuph]

I would also like to get everyone that will be able to participate together in one spot to meet and discuss things. At first, this is going to be a very location-centric operation, because the physical parts of moving computers around, cleaning them up and installing software. Until we get a flow going where we can offload things like software package development, this project is going to pretty much require the ability to move yourself around to different locations in the state.

I think the install-fest dry run would be a great place and time for this meeting to occur.

That said, if you aren't able to get yourself to places, still feel free to voice your opinions. I don't want to quiet an intelligent voice by virtue of not being able to get places, but keep in mind that the decisions made at the real-world meetings will have a lot more pull than ones voice in IRC and the Forums.

If anyone has any questions or concerns, I'm usually on IRC, and can usually respond to all emails within 30 minutes or so (BradLuyster [AT] gmail.com).

[Condoulo]

Well..... if you need a program for Keyboarding, there is K-Touch.
not sure about other educatonal programs.. I'll look into that.

[bkingx]

Good suggestion Cond! I think computer-learning software in general would be really good for these folks!

[Zuph]

Also, we'll be getting 60 computers in Mid-April. Anyone able to volunteer a truck to the task? Anyone able to volunteer a storage place to the task? Unfortunately, I don't have enough room to store so many machines.