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<font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">I second Stephen's
points, it is important that things are out in the open. Curate
the way your kids learn hard topics, don't prevent them from
learning them.</font><br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">Aaron E-J
The Other Realm LLC
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://otherrealm.org">http://otherrealm.org</a>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://theotherrealm.org">http://theotherrealm.org</a> (Blog)</pre>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 2020-04-15 12:43 PM, Stephen Michel
via Hidden-discuss wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite" cite="mid:1586969034.106145.0@smichel.me">
<div id="geary-body" dir="auto">
<div>
<div><span>To me, these are are downsides:</span></div>
<div><br>
<blockquote type="cite">2. has very good parental controls,
whereas a standard Linux installation like Ubuntu can
always be subverted <br>
3. doesn't allow them free access to programs and the
Internet. <br>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><span>Being hard to tinker with makes locked-down devices
a poor choice for encouraging intellectual curiosity. Open
devices teach that if you don't like your environment, you
can work to change it. I think that's an important life
lesson, not just in computers; among other things, it's
important for a functioning democracy. </span></div>
<div><span><br>
</span></div>
<div><span>This may be more controversial, but I also don't
believe in trying to prevent humans, however small, from
ever engaging with "bad stuff". I don't think technical
barriers are a good substitute for open communication and
trust. Better to talk about these topics, where you have
control over the framing, </span><span>than wait for
children to discover them in a different context. Now, t</span><span>hese
conversation can happen too soon, so I'm not opposed to
weak parental controls. But, by the time a kid has figured
out how to bypass those controls, they're probably also
ready for that conversation. Finally, figuring out how to
bypass the controls involves a fair amount of learning —
an excellent educational outcome, even if not ideal from
other perspectives.</span></div>
<div><span><br>
</span></div>
<div><span>So, I'm also in favor of installing a full linux
distro. If these computers will belong to the kids
permanently, I might even suggest providing the older kids
with a small flash drive (4-8GB) and a suggestion to try
out different distributions.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="geary-signature" dir="auto">--<br>
I try to write short, functional emails.</div>
<div id="geary-quote" dir="auto"><br>
On Wed, Apr 15, 2020 at 11:19, Rich@OTN via Hidden-discuss
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:hidden-discuss@lists.hidden-tech.net"><hidden-discuss@lists.hidden-tech.net></a> wrote:<br>
<blockquote type="cite">
<p>Interesting comparison.<br>
Major notes about ChromeOS<br>
1) The publizied download ChromeOS is nothing
specific to Google (regardless of URL) and is heavy
ad-infested.<br>
2) The Neverware version is far newer.</p>
<p>SO the place to get ChromeOS is <a
href="https://archiveos.org/croslinux/"
moz-do-not-send="true">https://archiveos.org/croslinux/</a><br>
While actually comes from an archive on sourceforge: <br>
<a
href="https://sourceforge.net/projects/archiveos/files/c/cros/"
moz-do-not-send="true">https://sourceforge.net/projects/archiveos/files/c/cros/</a></p>
<p>The neverware is not free (since they maintain it) - more
on that as I contact them.<br>
</p>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 4/15/2020 10:27 AM, Sam
McClellan via Hidden-discuss wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:4ef44db4-5009-dc74-4488-d15b6d216720@itabix.com">
Hey Rich,<br>
<br>
You probably know a fair amount about Chromium vs Chrome OS
by now, but I've included all the info here for general
consumption.<br>
<br>
Chrome OS is Chromium OS redesigned for Google's Chromebooks
but is also available for PCs. Chrome OS is designed for end
users, whereas Chromium OS is designed for developers/geeks
and requires more knowledge and maintenance and has less
functionality targeted to kids and regular users. <br>
<a
href="https://www.chromium.org/chromium-os/chromium-os-faq"
moz-do-not-send="true">https://www.chromium.org/chromium-os/chromium-os-faq</a><br>
<br>
Chrome OS is a good choice for kids for five reasons - <br>
<br>
1. designed to be simple to set up and maintain <br>
2. has very good parental controls, whereas a standard Linux
installation like Ubuntu can always be subverted <br>
3. doesn't allow them free access to programs and the
Internet. <br>
4. set up to be used by schools and kids<br>
5. can now also run many Android apps <br>
<br>
The downsides: <br>
1. It's very reliant on an Internet connection and can't run
Linux or Windows apps (although the alternatives can run
Linux apps)<br>
2. If you don't have an actual Chromebook, there are some
limitations although the alternatives can make up for these.<br>
3. you have to be part of The Google to use it. <br>
<br>
You can download ChromeOS for regular PC's here:<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="https://sites.google.com/site/chromeoslinux/download"
moz-do-not-send="true">https://sites.google.com/site/chromeoslinux/download</a>
which just links to<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://getchrome.eu/download.php"
moz-do-not-send="true">http://getchrome.eu/download.php</a><br>
but the first link at least shows you it's actually a Google
download.<br>
<br>
However, most reviews say that Neverware's version of Chrome
OS is the best:<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="https://www.neverware.com/freedownload#intro-text"
moz-do-not-send="true">https://www.neverware.com/freedownload#intro-text</a><br>
<br>
Here's a good recent review:<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="https://www.electromaker.io/blog/article/flint-os-vs-chromium-os-vs-cloudready-which-chrome-os-is-best"
moz-do-not-send="true">https://www.electromaker.io/blog/article/flint-os-vs-chromium-os-vs-cloudready-which-chrome-os-is-best</a><br>
<br>
Other options for kids:<br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="https://www.pcworld.com/article/2030685/make-your-pc-kid-friendly-with-four-custom-operating-systems.html"
moz-do-not-send="true">https://www.pcworld.com/article/2030685/make-your-pc-kid-friendly-with-four-custom-operating-systems.html</a><br>
<br>
Best,<br>
Sam<br>
<div class="moz-signature"><br>
<hr> Sam McClellan<br>
<strong>Itabix, Inc</strong><br>
<i>One place for all things Web</i><br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:sam@itabix.com" moz-do-not-send="true">sam@itabix.com</a><br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://itabix.com"
moz-do-not-send="true">https://itabix.com</a><br>
Main - 413.587.4600<br>
Toll-free - 877-7ITABIX (877.748.2249) <br>
<br>
</div>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 4/14/2020 8:27 AM, Rich@tnr
via Hidden-discuss wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:0dfd74a8-b771-e787-a8c7-e1f8b2b1c468@tnrglobal.com">All,
<br>
I need some suggestions, I'm being asked to process a
batch of Dell laptops for the local school kids. <br>
<br>
SO I need to <br>
(1) Wipe the hard drives <br>
(2) install a chromebook (like) environment so they
can use typical virtual school sw. <br>
<br>
I'd prefer something free or close. <br>
<br>
I found 'Chromium OS' <br>
<br>
Any specific suggestions as to which of each you've had
experience with. <br>
I will collect the suggestions as well as the results and
post on HT web site <br>
This is for the Greenfield school kids, if anyone is
handling other areas, please let me know and I'll make a
list. <br>
<br>
(BTW, which has a set of covid-19 health and business
(CARES act) details. <br>
<br>
Thanks - Happy Tails and Stay healthy. <br>
<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
<br>
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