[Sugar-devel] Getting data about the upgrading older machines and SoaS responsiveness.

[Caroline Meeks]

On Sun, Jun 7, 2009 at 9:49 AM, Sean DALY <sdaly.be at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hmmm I'm not sure a BIOS will be wiling to boot from a USB port on a
> card. However, combined with a CD boot helper might do the trick.


I have to use the CD at this point anyway. My goal is to have it boot more
quickly and  respond more quickly once its booted.

>
>
> Reconditioning older PCs (even just adding RAM or a USB card) is a bit
> of a thankless job :-(


But one that makes many high school  and young at heart computer geeks
pretty happy on a Saturday, especially if you add pizza and donuts.  If a
school IT person has to do it, its never financially feasible, but I could
see a lot of volunteers actually enjoying the work, and getting a lot of
satisfaction about getting faster computers into kids hands and keeping
computers out of the land fill.

>
>
> I'm wondering if there's a way for SoaS to automatically report what
> it has booted on. Computer labs are prime candidates for SoaS and are
> often populated with a single PC model; it would be great if we could
> offer good upgrade advice x30.


Ah actually Sebastian already wrote that! I forgot to do it when I was in
the computer lab. I will remember next time.  It would be cool to turn that
into an Activity so its super easy.

My work trying to get a Work Study student for GPA looks like its going to
generate a bunch of volunteers without the correct paperwork to get paid as
Work Study students.

Let me echo Caryl's question. Do we have a page with tasks for new
volunteers?

>
>
> Sean
>
>
>
>
> On Sun, Jun 7, 2009 at 3:34 PM, Caroline
> Meeks<caroline at solutiongrove.com> wrote:
> > This week, thanks for installing the Broadcom drivers separately, we got
> > Sugar on a Stick up and running on the GPA computers.
> >
> http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Gardner_Pilot_Academy#Current_computers_at_GPA
> >
> > They are older computer and they run faster then an XO but still not that
> > snappy.
> >
> > A big part of SoaS is using existing computers and donated computers.  I
> > wonder what it would take to upgrade  older computers, and make them
> > snappier.
> >
> > I don't know if we will get permission to open up these particular
> > computers, (which are owned by Boston Public Schools) but there are
> > certainly tons of older computers like them around.
> >
> > I think there are two things that might make them perform better.
> >
> > 1. Add a USB 2.0 port.  They are almost certainly USB 1 right now.  I see
> > that if the box has the right slots for it, USB 2.0 cards are less then
> $10.
> > http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815123010
> > 2. Add more RAM.  Earlier this year I worked with a group that
> specialized
> > in repairing and recyclying computers. They had lots of RAM they had
> > scavanged.
> >
> > It would be very cool if someone had some old computers and could try
> Sugar,
> > then do motifications like add a USB 2.0 port and RAM and document the
> > results.  Caryl, this is another potential project for someone who wants
> to
> > help.
> >
> > --
> > Caroline Meeks
> > Solution Grove
> > Caroline at SolutionGrove.com
> >
> > 617-500-3488 - Office
> > 505-213-3268 - Fax
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Sugar-devel mailing list
> > Sugar-devel at lists.sugarlabs.org
> > http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/sugar-devel
> >
> >
>



-- 
Caroline Meeks
Solution Grove
Caroline at SolutionGrove.com

617-500-3488 - Office
505-213-3268 - Fax
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