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Spanish Language Station
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Spanish Language Station
7:52 PM EDT 6/26/06
We're finally upgrading our original Gates grant computers. We had received 1 Spanish language computer in the original grant - does anyone have tips to
share about where to purchase another Spanish language computer and software?

Thanks, Ed
Re: Spanish Language Station
10:00 AM EDT 6/27/06 as a reply to Ed Erjavek.
As far as I know, I am not aware of a vendor that sells a pre-configured public access computer (PAC) model that supports the multi-lingual editions of Windows XP and MS Office and is configured with a Spanish or Language user account / profile. My recommendation is to look at the software available for public access computers available through TechSoup Stock program and build a multi-lingual capable PAC that way or look to other options such as Ubuntu.

Ubuntu and/or Edubuntu, a Linux-based operating system that is getting rave reviews for ease of use also provides multiple language support. Information on these products can be found here -

Ubuntu on the desktop - http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop - Ubuntu offers you a complete Linux-based operating system, including all the major applications you need to play and work. With a strong focus on a desktop that Just Works, Ubuntu is a great choice for home or the office.

Using Edubuntu - http://www.edubuntu.org/UsingEdubuntu - Welcome to the world of Edubuntu, a Linux distribution designed for schools and other educational environments. Built on the popular Ubuntu, it is a complete operating system that includes an office suite, web browser, many educational applications, and much more.

You can obtain a license for an upgrade to an existing Microsoft operating system (OS) by paying an administrative fee to TechSoup Stock. This fee is $8 and covers their overhead. In addition, you can obtain a license for MS Office here for a $23 administrative fee. Both of these MS products support multiple languages - I believe 27 different languages. It would require some setup and configuration obviously to make this easy to use, but that is my first recommendation.

There are restrictions on how many licenses you can purchase and a minimum of 5 licenses that you must purchase, so it is best to make sure that you are ordering all of the software that you think that you will need for your public access computers all at once.

Beyond the operating system and MS Office multi-lingual support, I do not think that TechSoup Stock has any other Spanish titles available.

Full details to be found here -
Microsoft Public Libraries Software Donation Program
http://www.techsoup.org/stock/libraries/microsoft/default.asp
Re: Spanish Language Station
4:19 PM EDT 6/29/06 as a reply to Chris Jowaisas.
I just want to follow up on a couple of points Chris makes.

With the NT Spanish model, the only choice was to have the entire OS be in Spanish, which wasn't very convenient for English speaking (and most Spanish speaking) library support personnel. Windows 2000 and XP, on the other hand, allows you to add language capabilities to turn the interface for a particular user account into Spanish, or one of the other 26 languages. This is much better since not only can you still manage the computer in English, but you can set up all your PACs to have English and Spanish accounts, or any of the other languages offered.

To do this, you need to get a Multilanguage version of XP. The US Library donation program, that Chris mentions is not only a good way to get it, it is likely the only way you can obtain this version of Windows. It isn't normally sold to individuals (no I don't really know why). For Office, you can actually download the language support files for the languages you want, so you can again get Office through TechSoup, or elsewhere.

Once you have the OS and applications installed, you just set up an account, maybe named Spanish, and log into it and change the regional and language settings in that account, and then apply whatever PAC security you are using.

Finding other Spanish language applications can be a challenge. I know that at least several of the Living Books titles (Little Monster, just Grandma and Me, etc.) have multi-language interfaces. But it seems pretty random, and i don't know of a good resource that lists what's available.
Re: Ubuntu
5:36 PM EST 12/13/06 as a reply to Chris Jowaisas.
Is this the flavor of Linux that is finally going to make it really feasible for libraries to adopt open source solutions? It's billed as "linux for human beings."

Has anyone implemented Ubuntu?
Re: Ubuntu
6:43 PM EST 12/13/06 as a reply to Betha Gutsche.
My 13 year-old son has. ;-)
Re: Ubuntu
1:32 PM EDT 4/11/07 as a reply to Betha Gutsche.
Our library is total Linux. Ubuntu 6.06 Dapper Drake on the staff and public access computers and Debian Sarge on my web server.

It can be done. emoticon

The money that I saved by not purchasing microsoft stuff was wonderful. I ordered all my machines with no operating system and that saved money. After the first machine (learning experience) I now have the setup time - install Ubuntu, install updates to Ubuntu, install internet filters, install flash -- start to finish 3 hours. I can setup multiple machines at the same time because the procedure is the same for all.

It's great.

I have a background in computer science and that was very much in my favor. But I also found that the Ubuntu and Debian forums are full of people that are very friendly and VERY helpful. I was also fortunate to have the help of some gurus in Alabama. John and Anthony and Trevor. But it mostly came from me and having access to the forums.

I have looked in webjunction and did not find very much support regarding Linux. I hope that changes soon.