I am concerned that replacing VL right now may actually delay getting
FreeBox classes going again. I would prefer that we focus on getting VL 4.3
to install and configure properly. Once we are building 8 FBs every Tuesday
night, then we may have the time to look for an alternative distro.
1. We have the install problem at least temporarily resolved with Ghost.
The Ghost standalone version worked in my tests (although slightly
imperfectly), and the corporate version has worked flawlessly for Jay and
Goose. Cloning a drive takes 15-20 minutes. Ghost is unfortunately
proprietary software.
2. The longer people wait for a class and a computer, the more likely they
are to drop out. While we are exploring other distros, FreeBoxes are not
getting built. Until we can build 8 FBs every week, we will continue to
postpone classes. The last time we suspended classes for 8 weeks, we lost
50% of our waiting list.
3. Instructors will need additional time to to revamp the classes to fit a
new distro. So classes will be postponed again.
4. Previous explorations of alternative distros have ended with the same
conclusions:
(a) the distros are too large for our hard drives;
(b) the installers require too much memory;
(c) to make other distros work we would need to customize the distro,
essentially creating and maintaining our own distro -- this adds more
on our plate;
(d) smaller distros (RULE, puppy, etc.) don't have enough apps and the
desktop managers are uncommon so we again face creating and
maintaining our own distro.
5. We have already agreed that VL 4.3 provides everything our clients ask
for except games.6. We have the additional issues of building a new lab and transferring
refurb/recycle activities to our new warehouse space. These projects
are falling behind.7. John and Jay have skill at configuring sound cards. They need to teach
the rest of us. Configuring sound is the biggest stumbling block right
now.
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