Savannah Ga to giveaway refurb machines run on Ubuntu OS

[LinuxMint-4]

City, AWOL, partner to boost computer ownership on MLK corridor

http://www.connectsavannah.com/gyrobase ... id%3A10851

The refurb machines run on Ubuntu OS and use open source software
Patrick Rodgers
A
THE SAVANNAH Development Renewal Authority (SDRA) and local arts education non-profit All Walks of Life Inc. (AWOL) are joining forces to help increase computer ownership among low-income families along the MLK corridor as part of the City's wireless internet initiative, which will create wi-fi hotspots along MLK from Bay Street to Gwinnett Street.

In January of this year, the City of Savannah received a $600,000 grant from the state’s Technology Authority to increase wireless access to the internet, effectively doubling the amount of fiber optic cable downtown from 5 miles to 10 miles. The first 5 miles of fiber optic cable was installed as part of the upgrades preceding the Olympics in 1996, and has been used almost exclusively by the City since then.

One of the issues facing the SDRA was “the digital divide,” the lack of computer ownership among low-income residents in areas like Yamacraw and Kayton-Frazier, which became a stumbling block for the planned expansion.

The solution was found in a partnership with local non-profit organization AWOL Inc, whose new IT program, affectionately known as The Goon Squad or G-Squad, takes donated computers and teaches young people how to repair them.

“The mission and activities of AWOL fits so nicely with what we’re trying to accomplish,” Federling says. “What they were already doing with some of the new programs geared at tech training just seemed to fit almost perfectly with what we are trying to accomplish.”

Once the donated computers have been cleaned and tested, all the existing software is uninstalled, and an open source Linux-based operating system known as Ubuntu is installed along with open source Office and other programs like games, media players, web browsers and more.

The open source software is completely compatible with more commonly used software applications like Microsoft Office, but it’s available without the exorbitant licensing fees that would have to be paid to install Windows, Office and other corporately developed programs. The open source software also tends to run more efficiently, meaning that even if a computer is several years old, it can still be useful.

“We’re giving these computers a new lease on life,” explains Murray Wilson, a local network consultant who is volunteering time to help instruct the G-Squad.


AWOL’s goal is to refurbish up to 20 computers per week, and thanks to initial donations from several local companies, including Memorial Health, and over a dozen personal computers donated during GreenFest, they have already collected over 100 units, including both PCs and Macs.

“Word of mouth has been spreading like crazy,” says AWOL’s CEO Tony Jordan. “We’re getting 5-10 computers a day now. I’ve got computers out there that I can’t even pick up because we don’t have space for them all. We’ve already filled up a room in our office and rented a storage unit.”

If everything goes according to plan, AWOL will be ready to begin distributing the refurbished computers sometime early in 2009, around the same time that the new wi-fi becomes available.

“What we’re gearing up for at this time is to have the fiber in place by the end of the year and to have service bandwidth available during the first quarter of ’09,” Federling says.


For more information about how to donate computers to AWOL's G-Squad program, or to find out more about receiving a free computer once they become available, contact the All Walks of Life office at 912.303.4987, or email qburroughs@awolinc.org.
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