Linux Starts to Find Home on Desktops 364
WSJdpatton writes "The much-hyped notion that Linux would be a viable alternative to Windows to run desktop and notebook PCs for corporate users seemed dead on arrival a few years ago. But the idea is showing some new vital signs as companies look for cheaper alternatives to Microsoft products. The Wall Street Journal outlines several firms that are reaping savings and stability on their workplace desktops by rolling out Linux distributions. 'Auto maker PSA Peugeot Citroën last month said it will start using Linux on 20,000 of its workers' PCs. Novell Inc., which sells a version of Linux and is supplying it to Peugeot, says it has recently signed up several large U.S. financial institutions that are installing Linux on some employee PCs. Sales of Linux PCs are showing a really nice uptick at Novell, says Ronald Hovsepian, chief executive of Novell.' Not everyone is a convert, though. 'The State of Illinois recently consolidated its IT systems onto Microsoft software -- and has no interest in using Linux, says Paul Campbell, director of the state's Central Management Services department. "We don't have time for science projects in state government," he says.'"
It's true (Score:5, Informative)
I haven't completely weaned myself off XP yet, but I'm working on it. I advocate Ubuntu though to anyone who wants to find out for themselves that desktop Linux, even though it may not have been in the past, is now a genuinely viable reality.
Linux is getting there, slowly (Score:5, Informative)
It's still going to take a bit of time before it's fully ready for the home desktop though. I use 802.11 wireless as a perfect example of that - amongst the 'warm and fuzzy' distro's (SuSe, Ubuntu, Mandrake, Lycoris), I have yet to be able to set up a system where there wasn't a fairly significant amount of rigmoral to get something as simple as wireless with basic encryption running. It wasn't really 'hard' for me to get the wireless running, but in each case, it required editing of text files, and typically no less that 7 or 8 CLI entries. Linux has come a long ways, even in the past 2 or 3 years. I think Ubuntu is a great example of a good, easy to use OS. However, there's still a few dark and nasty corners of Linux which need polishing before it's ready for the masses. And let's not mention games and brand name apps which only run under windows.
Overall, it is exiting to see and watch. For the first time ever in the past few months, I've been able to recommend Ubuntu to begginner and novice users, as an easy-to-use alternative to Macs or Windows, with a straight face.
Re:It's true (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Don't have time (Score:5, Informative)
Re:80% Solution - Printing? (Score:3, Informative)
Case Study of Corruption. (Score:3, Informative)
According to this [ap.org], the office was a scandal. If anything, it's an example of how not to do things.
Where there's corruption, expect M$ to be crammed down your throat.
Re:Don't have time (Score:2, Informative)
If it's irrelevant, then why did you feel the need to make it a point in the first place?
The point is that solid IT is the difference between a secure system and an insecure system, not the OS.
Oh right, because the OS that a system is running has absolutely NOTHING to do with the security of the system...
In case you've been absent, the initial point was that there's no case to switch. If Illinois was switching from paper and typewriters to computers, we might have a situation where going with Linux could potentially be cheaper.
The point about OS security should not be taken out of context. Within reason, linux and windows are basically secure if implemented properly in an enterprise environment. Just because a fair share of home Windows users like to go on wild clicking sprees and download everything in sight does not make the OS less secure- there just happens to be more idiots using it, since it's more common. My company is entirely run on Microsoft-based servers and workstations internationally and we've yet to have any major security issues or virus outbreaks. I'm fairly sure the "Linux is more secure" argument would fade away if the system ever became dominant... you know, if Hell freezes over.
Re:Don't have time (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Don't have time (Score:3, Informative)
As a state employee, I can assure you we have the time.
On a more serious note, MS solutions certainly don't work right out of the box. They take a fair amount of massaging and coercing to get them to operate in a mostly functional way. Is Linux a drop-in replacement? By no means. Is it a feasible replacement? Absolutely. And figuring that state governments have huge contracts with whatever vendor they work with, getting the vendor's assistance on porting related issues might be a more reasonable expectation.
Re:Then I have a suggestion for your boss (Score:3, Informative)
"It is the reaon you see those semi-cars"
Must be a European thing.
The US equivalents are "hot shot" rigs where a large "dually" pickup pulls "gooseneck" or fifth-wheel trailers.
Our Department of Transportation is getting wise to this and ticketing appropriately when the rigs aren't permitted for interstate commerce.
Comment removed (Score:2, Informative)
Re:donations (Score:2, Informative)
52 records found in 0.0469 seconds.
Total for this search: $1,892,584
Search Criteria:
Donor name: Microsoft
Donor State: WA
Cycle(s) selected: 2006, 2004, 2002
Then it goes on to list all the seperate donations -- majority of which appear to go to RNC but there are substantial amounts to DNC also.
http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?key=