[Technical] Interesting computers-in-education piece. Education&the ACCC

[Mark Snell]

Con Zymaris wrote:
> On Fri, Aug 05, 2005 at 03:18:38PM +1000, Mark Snell wrote:
> 
>>>>So, there are schools with Novell, Macintosh and Linux computers. Some
>>>>reimage the leased IBM laptops they receive to better suit them ... they
>>>>could put Debian on them if they wanted.
>>>
>>>
>>>That doesn't stop a largish slice of money having gone automatically to 
>>>Microsoft for copies of OEM Windows and OEM Office that aren't being used. 
>>>Correct?
>>
>>Not OEM Windows. Each school has to but an invividual win32 license for 
>>each machine it wants to run windows on.
> 
> 
> Interesting. My understanding, and by following this up with the IBM link
> on the deal I have validated it, is that each of the 40,000 laptops came 
> with Windows 2000:
> 
> See this:
> 
>  http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:enRE4b-BSqsJ:www-8.ibm.com/solutions/au/publicsector/downloads/pv_DE%26TVic_cs.pdf+Victorian+Department+of+Education+notebook+40,000&hl=en
> 
> 
> My understanding was that this arrangement _also_ included OEM versions of 
> Microsoft Office. An understanding which is confirmed by the actual 
> contract itself, available I might add in Word 2000 DOC format only, but 
> thankfully made available by Google as text.
> 
> http://64.233.179.104/search?q=cache:h1Pk9j7rwZsJ:www.tenders.vic.gov.au/domino/web_notes/etenders/etdrpublishing.nsf/0/baa34564f57461674a256b48008218ab/Body/M2/Contract%252520disclosed%252520on%252520VGPB%252520site.doc%3FOpenElement+r30+victoria+%22Microsoft+Office%22+education+teachers&hl=en
> 

Con,

There are many levels here.

The Schools Admin networks are a standard SOE Win XP, Office 2003 etc. 
2k3 server. roughly 2-10 workstations per school, depending on size

Notebooks for Teachers & Principals Program
Leased IBM laptops, Win XP, Office 2003 etc. for most teachers and 
principals.

School Curriculum Network:
whatever the school wants....
but there are licences availble: 
http://www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/ict/software/microsoft/agreements.htm

The R30 are more than 3 yers old. They have all been bought/returned 
recently.

They do all come with OEM versions of Office (because the state is 
liscened for it)

> So, my question is: "Why aren't your worldviews on what the deal done 
> actually was, consistent with the DE&T's?" I'm an outsider mind you, so I 
> don't have your perspective on all this, which is why I'm curious.

I'm not sure what you mean, or you are confused about which part of the 
system you are talking about.

> One of the real problems with this arena is that there is no clear cut and 
> accurate source of information. I believe that this helps to keep the wool 
> over many observers eyes.

Agreed. Heck, we dont even know what we are doing!!! :)

> http://64.233.179.104/search?q=cache:u-bEkGqcpqsJ:www.tenders.vic.gov.au/domino/web_notes/etenders/etdrpublishing.nsf/0/693020B2BDD8448BCA256E2B00077E25%3FOpenDocument+microsoft+site:tenders.vic.gov.au&hl=en
> 
> Department of Education and Training (DE&T)	
> 	Total Estimated Cost		$22,928,000.00	
> Contract involves the engagement of aLarge Account Reseller to manage, on 
> behalf of the Department, the administration of its Microsoft Agreement.
> 
> 
> ********************************************************************
> 
> So, if I am to understand Ian's point, that the DE&T only buys Microsoft 
> product for use by school admin staff, then we have a massive price 
> disconnect. $22 million dollars for software which is to be used only by a 
> handful of admins at each school? I think not. 

It buys admin, lots of availablity to Curric, and Office on laptops.

#include std disclaimer;

Mark
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