Most of the machines out of Oakland run DOS, a low-end browser, and Geoworks or Windows 3.1. They prefer Geoworks because it delivers a lot of power per byte and can make good looking output on a nine-pin dot matrix printer. Low budget, almost hobbyist, thinking precludes all other considerations. The main server at Oakland Tech is a 386, for example. Students do a lot of the work, get classroom credits, and learn a lot about how these machines work and how they are repaired.
Monitors are impossible to store neatly.
It's just easier to make an ugly pile. Six or seven years ago, we thought these machines were great. Now they're junk to a power user but better than no computer at all for an inner city kid who needs to surf the Web and print a term paper. Check with your local school districts to see if there are programs like this in your area. To find out more about the Oakland program go to its Web site at and check in.