On Wed, Nov 8, 2017 at 5:42 PM, Julian Park <julianfrancispark(a)gmail.com>
wrote:
Hi Ed,
As I understand it, these devices were a donation to GCEA. As GCEA does
not have a dedicated space at Omni, and since the delegates assembly agreed
having more devices in te library hall wouldn’t be an issue and could maybe
be a plus, that was, as I recall, OK’d. Obviously passwords limit their
common use. Nonetheless, I see no reason why, nor has anything happened to
my knowledge to suggest otherwise, we shouldn’t continue to consider GCEA
and Almaz (as the regular GCEA delegate, and all around Omni volunteer) as
the stewards of those device. So before anything more gets done to them, I
believe it should be cleared with Almaz and GCEA.
My personal opinion is that a dual boot using that minor of a portion of
the HDs is a good solution. I see no reason why GCEA would object once the
proposal is communicated clearly (not everyone knows what a “dual boot”
is); it makes sense that there be a way for Commoners to use the devices
since they are in a Common area; it also makes sense that GCEA have the
installation they want on there for the youth etc to study with. But again,
I think this suggestion should first be cleared before acted on further. I
can understand why you and “someone” went forward with the previous Linux
installations previously without asking, given the locations of the devices
and given hacking habits of Sudoers, nonetheless I think that when the fate
of a given set of devices is unknown, and the devices themselves are not
in, e.g., Sudo Room itself, now and in the future it would be best for
people to ask and wait for confirmation before going ahead rather than
going ahead and asking after the fact. Cleary, you’re currently asking.
Relatedly, would it be possible to restore Windows to the first device down
there with Linux on it, from which it sounds like it was removed?
It would be an immensely good idea if collectives would label things that
are not in their designated spaces such that people know what's up with
those items and who to contact about them. If things are unlabeled and left
in a common area then it is not unreasonable to assume that they are up for
use and improvement by anyone who stumbles by.