FR: Paris region students to get Open Source mobile office on USB key
175,000 students in Paris and environs will be handed USB keys preloaded with Open Source applications when they return to school after this summer.
Students, aged 15 and 16, can use the key to access their e-mail, bookmarks and documents on computers at school, home or elsewhere. "Supplying students with USB keys is far cheaper than providing laptop computers", said a spokesperson for the Greater Paris Regional Council last Friday.
According to a statement by Jean-Paul Huchon, who heads the Paris region council, the USB key should make young people more familiar with Open Source software. The keys should also reduce social inequalities and differences between schools.
The USB keys with a capacity of 1 or 2 Gigabyte will be pre-loaded with several Open Source applications. The exact mix is to be defined by the company that wins the contract to supply the sticks, according to a report by IDG News Service. The project will be put to tender in March.
The keys will at least contain Open Office, a suite of office applications, webbrowser Firefox, email programme Thunderbird and media player VLC. The USB key will also provide access to regional information for the students.
The project is estimated to cost 2,6 million euro, or slightly less than 15 euro a key.
First versions of the USB key will only work on PCs running the Microsoft Windows operating system. Versions for Mac OS X or GNU/Linux will be developed later. The applications will be packaged by the Open Source application Framakey, which takes care of synchronisation and updates of the software.
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