In Europe, Microsoft aims to mute open-source 'noise'

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Not quite

Not that I belong to either ABM or NBM camps, but I think you're not giving Linux a fair enough shake.

You state that you don't have Linux in your shop because "Its scary for some to buy something that has no real owner." I hear you saying that, when Linux fails, you can't turn to someone and expect support. This can't be further from the truth. When a company buys a corporate edition of Linux, they get support from the vendor. When a company buys a corporate edition of Windows, they get support from the vendor. In either case, someone at whom to point a finger is available for both systems.

You said: "To think a 'free' operating system would have the ability to compete with the software giant." Do you realize how Windows got to be so popular? Don't forget that Windows was packaged with nearly every computer sold worldwide, making it a defacto standard. Even though we now realize that we were charged for that copy of Windows, it is nearly impossible to get a refund for it, so the cost of Windows was, in effect, free. So how does a free OS compete? By doing exactly what Microsoft did and give away the system.

You said: "...anyone who can use a computer has expierence or knows how to use Windows." Actually, the same can be said for Linux. Knowing how to use a computer and knowing how to use Windows are two different things. My daughter can use Linux or Windows easily (her system dual-boots so she can play her Windows-based games, but she does everything else in Linux) because I taught her how to use them both. My Mother-In-Law just bought a computer a couple months ago (the concept of "click" had to be taught), and she was able to learn Linux (thought I showed her Windows as well).

Speaking of learning how to use Linux, you said: "To retrain all of the employees to use a new system, new software, new methods and have that annoying opprotunity cost of putting employees through class instead of working doing whatever they do." What retraining? The OS is inconsequential because the important bit is the user interface. When one learns how to navigate the interface, then it's a matter of learning the available programs. If you have a room full of Windows users who, like me, must log on before working, then they still log onto a Linux workstation. If they're used to a start button, one can be fashioned (KDE does a good job of that). The GUI can be configured so that buttons and effects mimic Windows, and most applications can be similarly configured.

Training becomes more important when you explore programming or server management. But since Linux so closely matches Unix in such arenas, the training curve is not very steep.

Finally you made mention of games. In a business environment, I don't see that games should be a measuring tool for useability of a system in a work environment, except may for a games developer. Mainstream software written for Windows may never see light on a Linux machine. But Linux never has and should never be considered a drop-in replacement for Windows. Windows is a defacto standard, nothing more.

Posted by: Larry the Security Guy   Posted on: 06/30/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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