Tom

> Apple is well known for it's free computers to schools program.

Yes ....

We have numerous problems over here with the idea of promoting Linux 
in schools.  Partly it's that the average level of education of IT 
staff may not be too good in some places.  In other places it's 
really good.

Another thing is that the general perception of computers in schools 
over here is that only MS supply software and so there's nothing 
else.  I've run a Linux schools project on a small scale with all 
kind of failures and one or two minor successes.  One of the funnier 
ones was that they took Linux out again because someone had to read a 
book.  Quite what you do with this I don't know.

Personally I've given up trying to make comparisons between the 
American experience of computers in schools and our own.  There are 
similarities but it ends when the choice if hardware is mentioned.  
MS UK is probably actually more mercenary in it's attitude to people 
who don't support their software than some of the people from MS 
might be.

As for our Health Service ?    We are all aware that there is a lot 
of medical insurance in the States.  Over here a lot of people still 
can't afford it.  And so ... we have to fall back on the NHS.  Which 
does have one or two very capable doctors inside it's organisation 
who do have U.S passports.  It doesn't help when MS arrange a $100 
000 000 business deal with the NHS when in fact they don't really 
have the money.  There's always a lot of complex issues surrounding 
the issue of patient care.  And ... how should we do that ?

Sorry to be so boring :)


-- 
Richard