[Balug-talk] Distributing OpenOffice to schools

[Lincoln Peters]

>From: Dan Lyke <danlyke at flutterby.com>
>To: balug-talk at balug.org
>Subject: Re: [Balug-talk] Distributing OpenOffice to schools
>Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2003 14:48:57 -0700
>
>If that college bookstore is like most college bookstores that I've
>ever been aware of the business workings of, then they're run by some
>larger corporation (Barnes & Noble ran the one at my school, although
>you'd only find this out with a *lot* of digging) and care naught for
>saving students money.

Although if money is their only interest, they can still sell OpenOffice 
CD's for $20 each.  They could make a profit of roughly $19.73 per CD that 
they sell, at least until their customers realize that they can get 
OpenOffice for free somewhere else.

>
>In fact, one of my business ventures once had an office next to one of
>the used book folks that set up shop around class start to compete
>with the campus bookstores, and you wouldn't beleive the amount of
>harrassment that the campus store will reign down on any perceived
>competitors. To the point of the cop making the daily visit because of
>some complaint (ie: did they have a proper business license, etc...)
>looking *really* chagrined and saying "I'm sorry, I have to follow
>procedure, just tell me what I want to hear".
>
>The used book guys said "oh yeah, this is normal".
>
>College bookstores are *not* your friend.
>

There was such a used bookstore near SRJC that sold used textbooks at 
competitive prives (and I purchases almost all of my textbooks for Spring 
semester there).  However, they closed at the end of the semester, with no 
explanation.  Perhaps they were harrased into closing, I don't know.

>I think you'd do better by figuring out who runs the computer labs,
>and going straight to the professors. The professors usually have less
>of a profit motive in keeping alternatives out.

I know that several computer science teachers at SRJC are members of NBLUG.  
I'll see if I can get their attention.

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