IBM Launches Microsoft-Free Linux Virtual Desktop 344
VorlonFog writes "According to Information Week, IBM has introduced a line of business computers that avoid Microsoft's desktop environment in favor of open source software. IBM worked with Canonical and Virtual Bridges to create the platform, which IBM claims saves businesses $500 to $800 per user on software licenses and an additional $258 per user 'since there is no need to upgrade hardware to support Vista and Office.'"
eweek and WSJ articles. (Score:-1, Informative)
When the Wall Street Journal reports it [slashdot.org], you know M$ is in trouble. EWeek also has an interesting write up with more technical details.
Re:Most interesting line (Score:3, Informative)
IBM is offering virtual systems based on the Open Collaboration Client through its Global Services outsourcing and system integration unit.
Meaning, the software is cheaper than Windows (I'll let you conclude what you want about the cost of the the services to integrate it into your business).
Re:Desktop Environment? (Score:3, Informative)
What IBM is up to (Score:5, Informative)
I noticed that these computers make use of Lotus Symphony rather than Open Office, so I did a little reading. Lotus Symphony is based on an Open Office back end with a custom front end. This front end has gotten mixed reviews for having a better interface than Open Office, but less features.
Symphony is not open source. Open Office is open source, but has loose licensing rules which allow Symphony to build off of it without contributing back. Symphony is free, which is nice, but IBM retains control of it.
Control is the key here. The point of Lotus Symphony, and the point of this line of computers, is the same: to sell other Lotus software which will tie in with Symphony, and to sell support for Lotus products.
This isn't such a bad thing, really. Having an IBM-backed line of Linux business machines will give Linux a better reputation in the business world. However, I am wary of the closed source Symphony becoming a standard for Linux business machines. Also, if IBM is going to benefit from Open Office, I hope that they would also contribute back to it.
Re:Fantastic but... (Score:2, Informative)
Heck I would be happy for a mac port of Microsoft Project.
Have you tried Omni Plan [omnigroup.com]? I've been impressed with their products in general and supposedly it imports and exports to MS Project. Obviously it's not MS project and I have no idea how good the import/export work.
Re:If they did it right.... (Score:4, Informative)
On home network its a little more awkward, but in corporate environment, this is common and easy to do with Windows too. Its not auto-magical as it is with Linux, but still. Even at home, my User directory, and my user-specific settings are shared with a Windows Home Server, so I can go on any computer in the house and have access to my stuff.
Now, a little bit of configuration with a Windows Domain, and the registery settings and login stuff will follow. At work, I can go to any machine, and things follow. The only thing missing is that in Linux/Unix, 99% of software can be -installed- in your home directory, in Windows, many can, but not all. Aside that though, everything can be made not to be tied to the physical machine no problem. Windows wouldn't be a viable corporate platform without it.
If in Windows you really need the software to follow, for anything aside games, you can use Windows Server 2008's X11-like feature that allows you to remote app GUIs, and just install it on the server, problem solved.
Re:Desktop Environment? (Score:1, Informative)
The DMCA has nothing to do with it. "Windows" is a trademark, and trademarks are a different thing than copyrights.
Re:What IBM is up to (Score:3, Informative)
The OpenOffice.org project is primarily sponsored by Sun Microsystems, which is the primary contributor of code to the Project. Our other major corporate contributors include Novell, RedHat, RedFlag CH2000, IBM, and Google. Additonally over 450,000 people from nearly every curve of the globe have joined this Project with the idea of creating the best possible office suite that all can use. This is the essence of an "open source." community!
(Emphasis mine)
Re:upgrade? (Score:3, Informative)
Some have hte Vista downgrade forced on them when they buy a new computer. I bought it since I had to pay $20 more for XP and I was wiping that shit as soon as I got it anyway.
Sucks, but thinkpads are good enough I'll take it.
Re:If they did it right.... (Score:3, Informative)
The only difference is that in Linux, as long as the /home directory is mapped, you get all your settings and everything you installed in home. In Windows, you can map the user directory, so you get everything that doesn't need the registery right there, so a lot of app's settings, and your documents. The only thing missing is the registery, and thats just done by using roaming user profiles on the domain, which is one of the basic features.
So why exactly "can't I do it on Windows"? You -do- know that HKEY_CURRENT_USER can be roaming, yes?
Re:eweek and WSJ articles. (Score:4, Informative)
EWeek also has an interesting write up with more technical details.
And for the terminally lazy, here's the link [eweek.com].
Re:If they did it right.... (Score:3, Informative)
Yes, it is true. I'm sitting at a Windows machine right now. I could get up, move over the the next office, log in, and it would look exactly the same. Same settings, same desktop wallpaper, same homedir, same everything. It's just standard roaming profiles. The only difference is for locally installed apps, but as our app image is largely the same on every machine that's not much of an issue.
Re:Fantastic but... (Score:3, Informative)
For Project I use OpenProj from Projity. I use Thunderbird for all of my mail - calendar working with Exchange via WebDAV.
Re:TCO (Score:1, Informative)
That sounds similar to WSUS from Microsoft.. the local server downloads and stores updates from Microsoft and pushes updates out to the clients based on group policy settings.
Re:What IBM is up to (Score:1, Informative)
IBM has been and continues to contribute to OpenOffice.org. After Sun they are the largest contributor. If you look at the commit logs, almost 1/3 of the commits from email addresses at IBM. If anything its the community who should think about upping their number of contributions.
Re:Desktop Environment? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Fantastic but... (Score:5, Informative)
Something which is 10 pages in OO as a .doc will only show up as 8.5 on Windows
Something which is 10 pages in MS Office can be 8.5 pages in MS Office on a different machine with different printer drivers and fonts installed.
Re:Better? (Score:1, Informative)
I don't know about more complicated support, but IBM runs our helpdesk, and they usually pick up before the second ring and resolve my issue rapidly. Of course, all of my issues were relatively simple, mostly VPN and VOIP related stuff, and could have been answered by a well-maintained support wiki... but it's still pretty good support, from my perspective.
Re:TCO (Score:2, Informative)
You mean like WSUS?
Re:Clarification...bad editing... (Score:3, Informative)
Notes 8 is quite a lot better than prior versions. I've been using Notes since version 5, and it's made great strides in usability since then. Most things are where you'd expect them to be, and the software works about how you'd expect it to work.
Re:Just goes to show (Score:2, Informative)
Might I suggest The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Pirates [wikipedia.org]
29. The enemy of my enemy is my enemy's enemy. No more. No less.
Re:one small step for a company (Score:3, Informative)
I don't give them much credit for that. It's all the EU's doing.
Re:What IBM is up to (Score:2, Informative)