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You can always reinstall if the kid messes with the OS too much. --> then all your sysadmins will be reinstalling os all the time? so they figured why not give the users an OS that cannot be messed with...

unless maybe the sysadmins are also linux tutors or something? their job is teaching kids how to use linux. not to make sure their computers can work for the math class.

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That can be easily automated, and has been in a variety of ways. Just plug a USB or an Ethernet port, press 1-2 keys and done. The sysadmins won't have to go through a normal install wizard.

if only i could compel the org to only buy laptops that have built-in lan ports..sigh

But with a LAN port, wouldn't you agree that reinstallation could take 1-2 human minutes of work, even if the whole process takes an hour? Take the laptop, plug it in, press a key, wait however much, then take it out and give it back to the student. The student could even do it themselves.

And even without a LAN port I assume there are various ways to automate it so it isn't really an issue. If you keep /home or if most files are synced, students could break their OSes every day if they want to. One of those students will actually learn from it, at least.

many wants yes

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