[iDC] Undermining open source: iTunes U

[Doran Massey]

I was a software test engineer/lead in the Windows Div. of Microsoft, 
1997 - 2003.  We tested application compatibility as we developed new 
versions of Windows & I never noticed FLOSS apps having more bugs.  In 
fact, sometimes I was surprised when they were more robust than similar 
commercial apps.  The only security reports I remember seeing were 
statistics on the rates of success of attempts to break into various OS 
systems.  If I remember right, Linux (not sure which distro's) was at 
least as secure as Windows XP.

Simon, I'm surprised IT has any role in your space other than providing 
access to WAN.  If your students can reasonably be expected to develop 
software or be expert users of software, then I think they need the 
experience of setting up & maintaining their machines.  Ideally they 
would live with them so the machines become an extension of themselves.  
I've worked at a few computer co's & their tech people did all of their 
own tech support except for WAN.  That was also what I observed students 
& faculty doing at tech art/music dept's at Stanford, UWashington, NYU & 
I think Columbia.

-Doran

Trebor Scholz wrote:

>Thanks, Tiffany, Liam, and Simon (and all others) for your
>contributions. 
>
>I was positively surprised that all our FLOSS packages passed the
>security check of the tech administrators at our university. Faculty and
>staff should have these packages installed on their machines so that
>they are able to speak to them. I think it is our duty to make that
>extra ongoing effort.
>
>Several programs across the US are discussing labs that only include
>screens and keyboards. But students in these settings would be equipped
>with mini-Macs or similar hardware (rolled into their tuition). The
>machines would be registered to enable network access. Another
>development that I noticed is that of labs that are conducive to
>collaboration. Instead of the factory-like rows of lined-up computers
>there are several smaller units with three or four workstations. PCs and
>Macs should coexist in one room. We have separate labs. This causes the
>situation that some PC-using students do not get to meet Mac-equipped
>fellow learners.
>
>Trebor
>
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