[ale] Help needed for a Non-Profit project - if not Linux then will go Windows

[Greg]

 I am helping out at a non-profit called Free Bytes
(http://www.freebytes.org) that is providing support to the Atlanta Food
Bank for an initial order of 30 computers - out of a possible future order
of several hundred.  We are looking for an OS that can be installed on
machines that will immediately dial up via modem to an ISP, have a web
browser come up so folks can use a web based form for ordering food
shipments, and the box must be configured so that it will not allow the user
to get to a command line or otherwise play with the machine.  A working
model must be done by this week and not only is there a time crunch, but
since the first distro we went with (a Slackware derived version) failed
miserably (only 1 successful install out of 4 machines and even then the
modem is almost unconfigurable). We need a solid victory or Windows 98 will
be installed on all machines (it is an all or nothing project - only 1 OS
will be selected).  MS Windows is our back-up if a Open Source solution
cannot be found.

Here are the HW requirements:
	RAM:	64 MG (sorry, we have little ram and the machines have varying slots)
	HD:	1 GB is the lowest size, we can put other hard drives in the PCs (all
less than 1 GB, though)
	CPU:	Pentium 133 MHz
	Modem:	We need an easily customizable interface so we can easily customize
it.

Here are the SW requirements
	Boot to a browser after the X windows comes up.
	GUI (for a browser and for a button to push that will do a shutdown/halt)
Need to have good looking fonts on browser.
	A button to push that will do a shutdown/halt
	Can meet the HW requirements.
	Easily installable.  I understand that given enough time any one can figure
out how to make a modem work, but we don't have the time or the folks who
have a high level knowledge of a *nix to configure the modems to work.  Our
installers have primarily Windows experience and work primarily on Saturdays
for several hours.  A member of the Free Bytes staff will go out to the
field to deliver, configure, and do a field test of the PC's as well as
teach the end users and supervise the initial install and test.

	Time Line:
	If I cannot find a easily configurable distro by Sunday night and no one
steps up with a viable alternative/solution, then I will have to call the
project manager at Free Bytes and tell them to go ahead with Windows 98.  We
would like to do a demo this week to the customer with a Linux box and show
how easy it is (think kiosk). If I can get a workable solution by Sunday
night I will call and tell the Free Bytes project manager we can use Linux -
with a demo box to follow by mid week.

	Current Problems:
	* HD size: most modern Linux distro's are horribly bloated and we don't
have the time to take out every single thing as well as the fact that the
minimum for most distro's is about 1.7 GB anyway.

	* Needs to be easily installable.  We may have to do several hundred of
these boxen.

	* Time.  We bet on a solution that has not worked out and does not have an
easy way to automatically crank up the modem and easily configure the modem
so we lost valuable time already.  A solution needs to be done ASAP - (in 2
days) and a working model by this Wed (so I can have a working box in the
project manager's hands by mid week).

	What I need help with:
	Suggestions on a good distro. I intend to try several of my old ones this
weekend.  The modern ones (RH and Suse bombed)
	An already scripted distro that can be installed that will provide a kiosk
or even just simple window manager, browser and a method to easily configure
the modem.
	Suggestions on good modem cards and/or external modems that work well with
Linux.  I know about the Linux hardware compatibility list but I want real
world advice.
	Any suggestions on how to EASILY configure modems. ( I only have experience
with TCP/IP and Linux).
	Any help to come by next Saturday to put some boxes out the door - unless I
have to recommend a Windows solution.
	Either Linux or a BSD solution is ok.  I know it can be done, I just don't
have the time now (already spending 12 hrs at work daily) to do it and test
it myself and Free Bytes needs it soon too.

	What I don't need help with:
	Any politically motivated flames.  I don't have the time nor the mind.  The
customer wants a simple computer solution and has already seen a Windows box
and considers it the standard to beat. We need to have a solution that is
realistic and will work.  The customer doesn't care about the how - just the
what.  I will not hesitate to recommend a MS solution to help them feed
people.
	I am sorry, but the hardware and other requirements are not negotiable.  I
really wish we had modern boxes with already installed <distro here> that
automagically just needed the phone # to work, but that is not the reality.
What is in the requirements is all we have to work with (unless some one
donates several hundred bigger/better/faster/newer computer's in the next 4
days).

	So, can any one help ?  in any way ? even advice on modems is needed.  It
would be nice if several dozen or even a few were to come by next Saturday
to help with installs too, but right now I need to get a demo working within
the requirements. If it passes muster, then we will worry about the initial
order of 30.

	If you want to help, then please email me at runman at speedfactory.net  If
anyone wants to seriously help take on this project AND CAN REALLY REALLY
DONATE THE TIME then just ask and we can talk on the phone to night - but at
any rate I need to give the project manager the word not later than Sunday
night.

	TIA,

	Greg Canter








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