[Linux-Biella] A study on free software in British schools

[Andrea Ferraris]

Su una 50ina di scuole, dove circa in 2/3 viene usato closed source, 
mentre in circa 1/3 viene usato OS, tenendo conto di tutti i fattori, 
cioe` non solo acquisto, ma anche assistenza, manutenzione e formazione
e` risultato che l'Open Source, a seconda degli impieghi in % > o <, 
costava pero` sempre meno:

da http://lwn.net/Articles/157226/

Le conclusioni:

In summary: this report is a good thing, as far as it goes. The flood of 
hostile "total cost of ownership" studies is unlikely to slow in the 
near future, so it is good to have contrary evidence from relatively 
unbiased sources. There are, however, no end of reasons, beyond the 
financial ones, for using free software in public schools, but this 
report ignores them almost completely. At the lower school levels, free 
software can be made available to students without licensing hassles or 
sanctimonious lectures about not making copies. At higher levels it can 
teach the students much about software itself, encourage them to 
experiment, and demonstrate how cooperative work can yield benefits for 
everybody involved. A strict focus on costs may provide a favorable 
picture, but risks creating the impression that cost is the only reason 
for using free software. In the context of the public schools, more than 
in many other situations, it is important that people understand that 
there is far more to free software than "free of cost."

Andrea