Linux on Cheap Laptops

This is the first of many course outlines that I am designing for my new occupation. Naturally, if it becomes formal, I'll flesh it out.

Linux on Cheap Laptops

Course Outline

There has been a lot of misunderstanding of the purpose of net-laptops (the term 'netbook' is claimed as a trademark). The basic requirements of the net-laptops were first laid out by the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) program. In order to get the absolutely cheapest price, they stripped out everything, down to the core requirements for education. As such, by definition, the Cheapo (whatever!) will always be the most stripped-down machine that the market accepts.

Not everybody will accept this, since some will want to run games or major applications that they are familiar with. This machine is not for them. But if you want to get the minimum price, you have to accept Linux, and running all your applications on the Internet.

This course will cover the history of Linux, and how it is acceptable for a 'no-frills' portable computer. It will then go on to cover the basics of installation and maintenance. There will be demonstrations of the installation process on a typical Cheapo.

It is then expected that each participant will proceed as though they only had a minimal laptop, even though this would most likely be simulated by their own computer, or library facilities. We shall proceed to 'live the El Cheapo life', using internet facilities. The course will be graded by having each person creating a blog, and profiling what they have done.

At the end of the course, it is hoped that each participant will be comfortable with the 'Net Experience', and fully capable of utilizing the cheapest computer they can get!