[CLUE-Cert] Re:Linux Eductation.Certification Site: www.freeclassware.com

Lynn Danielson lynnd at techangle.com
Mon Sep 18 10:22:13 MDT 2000


Jim Intriglia wrote:
> > > Came across another Linux education/certification firm ...
> > > their CD-ROM/Book course for $950 (special 1/2 off intro rate).
> 
> > That's Half Off?!  Week long boot camps cost less than that!
> 
> Good price as compared to the education/certification offerings of Red Hat
> and GlobalKnowlege ($1500 - $6000). Love to see a ROI argument on their
> training and certification programs.

Which in my opinion is way to much.  I agree it would be nice to see
some justification of a program this expensive.  Maybe it really is
worth it, but it's not an expense I could justify.  But if $1800 is
the full price for the before mentioned on line course, I'd happily
give my money to Batky-Howell for a week long course before paying
that much for CBT.  I could at least trust them to sit me down in 
front of a machine with Linux installed on it.

> <IMHO>I still have mixed feelings about the cost/benefits of certification
> (went through this with Java) in general, as a large segment of the employer
> market still is hiring based on $ and short-term needs, not capabilities and
> long-term ROI. (With respect to the cost or hiring trained and experienced
> IT pro's, ref.: the growing trend of overseas outsourcing, H1-B visa cap
> increases and growing investments/interest in college recruitment
> programs?)</IMHO>

Your not alone.  But I believe paying a few hundred bucks for a few
tests is probably worthwhile.  If you've got a lot of experience and
good references to back your experience up, maybe it's not worth as
much.  But for someone like myself who doesn't have a comp sci degree
and has never had a job with "systems administrator" in the title, 
I believe certification will make me more marketable.

The biggest problem I have with self study is distraction and 
lack of discipline.  Which is why I'm interested in a study group.
It will help me stick me to my goal of Linux certification by
structuring my efforts with peer pressure reinforcement.
 
> it's cheaper to hire a Windows (educational) application programmer,

Yes, especially if they've already paid for the courseware for MCSE 
or the like.  I have no doubt it's cheaper to shoehorn a Linux course
into existing software than to port their software to another operating
system.  But they're asking for a lot of money to be taking the cheap
way out.

> . . .. They did acknowledge many flames on this issue,
> and are rethinking developing Linux-based CD-ROM's. I suggested that
> they make installing the courseware part of the educational material.

Good suggestion.
 
> I did point out that growing numbers of devlopers such as myself are
> dropping Windows altogether, as the cost of maintaining two systems is
> prohibitive time/moneywise and perhaps pointless as well. I think that

Sounds like you gave them a lot of good info and constructive criticism.
Hopefully the information makes it to someone who gives a shit.  I'm
afraid I'm a cynic.  But if no one makes the effort to communicate to
these folks they're even less likely to try.

> they believe that most of their target audience will have Winders-based
> systems at home/work, which is likely.

This may be a good bet, but it's a rationalization for promoting
a bad decision.  Something I can see PHBs and marketeers rallying
around.  If they're market is Windows people who are interested
in Linux, perhaps they're even on target.  But I'm inclined to
believe that Linux certification is going to be of more interest
to those who have been using Linux for a while and prefer not to
use Windows.

Yes, I could dual boot my computer, but with a CBT program, 
I'd like to be able to check things out for myself as I go.  
The only way that will work with Windows courseware is if it 
will run under wine or vmware or else to have two computers 
in close proximity one running Windows and the other running
Linux.  I don't see dual booting as a good option.  

In any event, with the possible exception of using wine, this
program will force a Linux user to use a copy of MS Windows
which means that Bill Gates and company benefit from people
seeking Linux certification.  I don't like it.  I don't like it
one bit.  The courseware should run under Linux and preferably
be Linux native.
 
> Good thing about knowing what is desired is that it makes quick
> work of evaluating candidates, Yes?

No doubt.



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