My school accepts Linux but::;

From: Ellen Chaimowitz (ellen_chaimowitz_at_yahoo.com)
Date: 08/27/05 

Date: 27 Aug 2005 14:56:18 -0700

I attend RPI and the official operating system for students is Windows
however, we do have the option to use Linux and in fact many comp.sci
students do use Linux. Our network support group will assist in
installing Linux on a student's machine, and will also offer support
with general networking issues.

However, using Linux, even in what is mostly an engineering school is
sometimes counterproductive.
For example, I am required to use MapInfo, PDMWorks and SolidWorks
along with Matlab and the only program which works with Linux is
Matlab. As a side note,the Linux version of Matlab runs better than the
Windows version but public opinion has the Solaris version being the
best. This is lunchtime talk FWIW.

I've read the various school threads and I see many digressions and
misinformed people.
I use Linux, I know it's faults as well as it's strengths and if it
were up to me I would switch every single college in the USA to Linux
in a heartbeat. However, it's not up to me and the powers that run
these places insist upon using Windows and to a lesser degree Apple
products.
It's important to understand that this is not due to Windows or OSX
being a superior operating system but by virtue of the applications
that need to be run.

Wine/winex/Crossover-Office/Vmware/Win4Lin and the like are crutches
for a student. Most programs I have tried with these programs, and I
have used all of them except Crossover and Vmware, do not work very
well and require extra setup and so forth.

When I have real Windows already on my laptop, why should I use a dual
boot system unless I am a comp.sci student who is learning about Linux?

IOW why should I have to switch back and forth between Linux and
Windows and in effect maintain 2 systems when I can do it all with
Windows and I can't with Linux?
Additionally why should I waste valuable disk space as well?

Even the comp.sci students at RPI use Windows in one capacity or
another because Linux does not support all the applications they need
to run.
I have been at RPI for a year now, going on my second year and I
haven't met a single undergraduate student who has a Linux only system.
It's always either Linux and Windows or pure Windows.

In closing, it would be nice to have an all Linux laptop, really it
would, but unfortunately I would fail most of my courses if I did that
because I would not be able to do the work due to the applications
required not working with Linux.

Sincerely: Ellen Chaimowitz

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