I am afraid schools have a few problems. Experts who make school decisions have been seduced to believe Mr. Gates and Mr. Jobs provide the only viable solutions. It will cost you more than money to get a deal from them. You are so right. We also have fallen under that spell. As a consumer, if we don't see it on the shelf, we don't think about it, for all practical purposes, it doesn't exist. We are so overly comforted by a familiar brand-name. Businesses ask if you have experience with MS Word, rather than experience with word processors. Need to change the language to include not exclude. I think we are like an elephant, chained as long, we remember it long after the chain is gone. I am an avid Linux user and have used open source software on my MS powered machine as well. All the Linux and open source softwares have the exact same tools, functions, looks, feels, and output as any MS windows based software. But because there is no brand-name advertising, nobody knows about it. It is a no-brainer solution to the digital divide. Same tools, low to no cost, easily available. To give you all some resources to check out:
WEBI.ORG - Open Source Software & Free Software and
Education Software for Schools: Free Software, Open Source | School Forge and
The Linux Alternative Project - linuxalt.com and
http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/...ndows_software. These are but a few.
My latest realization, guys with the best engineered sneakers in the world are consistently beaten by guys running with shoes made from recycled tire treads.