I'm the Chief Strategist for Red Hat's US Public Sector group, where I work with systems integrators and government agencies to encourage the use of open source software in government. I'm a founder of Open Source for America, one of Federal Computer Week's Fed 100 for 2010, and I've been voted one of the FedScoop 50 for industry leadership. I'm a member of the Military Open Source working group, the SIIA Software Division Board, the Board of Directors for the Public Sector Innovation Group, the Open Technology Fund Advisory Council, and New America's California Civic Innovation Project Advisory Council. I perk up when people talk about cross-domain security, edge innovation, and interagency collaboration through the open source model. I'm also co-host of the Dave and Gunnar Show. Prior to joining Red Hat, I worked as a developer, systems administrator, and IT director for a series of internet businesses. I've also been a business and IT consultant to not-for-profit organizations in New York City. During that time, I spearheaded the reform of safety regulations for New York State's electrical utilities following the tragic death of Jodie Lane.When I'm not spreading the Good News about open source, I'm wishing I had a dogenjoying time with my dog and my wife.
Authored Comments
It's not really about kids hacking kernels. Although that would be awesome.
I was making a broader point about whether this device is a means to ensure a school's enduring fealty to Apple. My strong preference is for educational tools that don't strongly bind schools to a single ecosystem.
Put another way, when should schools trade choice and freedom for a closed ecosystem and a decidedly capricious platform owner? I'm as sympathetic as anyone to the "ease of use" argument, but the cost seems very dear.
I agree that a hackable platform isn't appealing to everyone, though I have a soft spot in my heart for those people. That's not the point I was making in the article. My concern is with the closed ecosystem that makes schools beholden to Apple in a uniquely damaging way.