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Sean, <br>
<br>
One development that seems to be ignored on these lists is
Microsoft's announcement that it will support Bash on Windows 10. As
I understand it, the goal is to be able to run Ubuntu programs on
Windows 10 using a standard 'short-cut'. If so, it is possible that
Sugar can run as a native Windows application within months.<br>
<br>
Tony<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 04/12/2016 05:33 PM, Sean DALY
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote
cite="mid:CANnY+GPEuefJp4=eEqFFSBPY6gFruGXXrWnmddgdO1Q3V=ersg@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
<div dir="ltr">
<div>Excellent analysis.<br>
<br>
</div>
<div>I think Sugar could have an impact in the US if it was
extremely easy to install and configure (or "connect to and
use"), and teachers would get behind it.<br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
Sean<br>
<br>
</div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Apr 12, 2016 at 11:22 AM, Tony
Anderson <span dir="ltr"><<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:tony_anderson@usa.net" target="_blank">tony_anderson@usa.net</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0
.8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000"> Of course, the
question is what is our market? I think Sugar has no
chance to impact the American education market. Chris
Doerndorfer presented that point very effectively at the
Malaysia summit noting that major requests for proposals
by UNESCO, USAID, and others eliminated proposals of Sugar
or XOs on technical grounds (e.g. proposal from
non-qualifying origanization, insufficient capital to make
escrow requirements and so on). Rabi Karmacharya noted
that OLE Nepal could not qualify to bid on Nepal's
request. <br>
<br>
Many schools in the US are adopting a BYD policy. I
suspect that an XO with Sugar would not qualify as an
acceptable device. Obviously, such a policy is impossible
for community schools in the developing world.<br>
<br>
I believe our opportunity is to convince private
philanthropic individuals and organizations to support
specific deployments in specific countries. To do this <br>
we need a reliable source of hardware, a credible support
organization (e.g. Red Hat, Moodle, ...), a proven track
record of success in similar situations, as well as open
software and content. This needs to be combined into a
solid story to present to potential sponsors. <br>
<br>
I don't think it matters whether we have large numbers of
computers running Sugar in the US or US private schools.
We should, of course, have an ability to demonstrate to
sponsors what we are offering.<br>
<br>
So a G1G1 needs to be positioned as primarily benefiting
the Give side. Making half of the package deductible is
helpful. Offering a Give2 option at full deductbility may
work. Describing in detail, how the Give1 or 2 laptops
would be used is essential (a point ignored by OLPC). <br>
<br>
In the second G1G1, OLPC was introduced to basic business
management. The manufacturer, not unreasonably. required
payment for the laptops on delivery (to Amazon). The made
all of the available funds illiquid and so OLPC was forced
to riff many very valuable developers. <br>
<br>
Apparently no one at OLPC was familiar with inventory
loans or managing cash flow. <br>
<br>
Crowd-sourcing makes clear that many Americans will put up
cash for what they consider a worthy cause. This might be
a way to mange a G1G1 or G2 program. Any such program must
pay serious attention to financing. For example, suppose
the minimum build order is $2M. While those 10000 laptops
are in inventory, they tie up the funds. When all of the
laptops have been paid for and deployed, a new order can
be placed. Better would be to order 20,000 units at $4M.
Then when 10,000 have been deployed and paid for, a new
order can be placed. However, this means at least $2M will
be tied up in inventory. <br>
<span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"> <br>
Tony</font></span>
<div>
<div class="h5"><br>
<br>
<br>
<div>On 04/09/2016 10:12 PM, Sean DALY wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div dir="ltr">
<div class="gmail_extra"><br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Sat, Apr 9, 2016 at
5:57 AM, Dave Crossland <span dir="ltr"><<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:dave@lab6.com"
target="_blank"><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:dave@lab6.com">dave@lab6.com</a></a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote"
style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px
#ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">Finding ten
ritzy private primary schools in the US
where the parents can drop $400 in a hat
shouldn't be too hard for a savvy sales
person</blockquote>
</div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br>
</div>
<div class="gmail_extra">I'd like to think that's
so, but it may well be more likely that parents
would be more impressed with a tablet-based
solution, or with spending that money on home
equipment.<br>
<br>
</div>
<div class="gmail_extra">Private schools
definitely have more resources and more leeway
in IT buying, but they also need to fit IT
activity into a curriculum.<br>
</div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br>
</div>
<div class="gmail_extra">It's possible a
charity/social responsibility oriented approach
could work, but it's also possible that a
school's IT buyer would find XOs a tough sell
compared to, say the Dell Latitude 13 education
offer. And no need to pay the salesperson so
well - we would need to hire (lots of) staff for
the sales logistics at the same time.<br>
<br>
</div>
<div class="gmail_extra">Models exist where a
nonprofit org or foundation controls a business
(e.g. Mozilla), which might be necessary in this
scenario. However OLPC (and by extension Sugar
in its ecosystem) happens to have an awful image
problem. What would be the value proposition of
our offer over the commercial offers, for large
scale buyers to take the risk? The
charity/solidarity aspect? Wouldn't OLPC rather
want to manage such a project?<br>
</div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br>
</div>
<div class="gmail_extra">I encourage big-picture
thinking, perhaps more brainstorming is in order<br>
</div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br>
</div>
<div class="gmail_extra">Sean<br>
<br>
</div>
</div>
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<br>
</div>
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<br>
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