Burlington Coat Factory installs 1,300 Linux boxes 53
funkwater wrrote in to tell us that Burlinton Coat Factory has been
noted as the first significant retailer
to deploy the Linux operating system in all 250 stores. Do the
responsible parties over there read Slashdot? Want to write
something to help convince other companies to join you? This
is a great step forward- many people in similiar situations
regularly email me to ask for help making this sort of thing
happen in their organization. The geeks know. The suits
are catching on.
No Subject Given (Score:1)
Step-at-a-time. (Score:1)
They are not replacing their POS systems with Linux. Yet. But they are replacing the the back-end server in every store. Do you know how committed a company has to be to a technology to do something that big? They are also replacing their Sun workstations on engineers desks with Linux machines, one at a time.
Burlington was already smart enough to use Unix everywhere and avoid NT at all costs. Now they have proved smart enough to adopt Linux in a big way. I'd be willing to bet they'll be doing Linux at POS eventually as well.
Radio Shack and Linux (Score:1)
Suits, Understand? (Score:1)
Daniel
Wish them the best! (Score:1)
Hopefully, MS won't send the goons out and make things difficult. [dejanews.com]
Wet Blankets? (Score:1)
Not only that, check out their home page. [burlington...actory.com] They advertise the Linux implementation right on the front page!
No matter what anyone else says, this is exactly the kind of mainstream corporate acceptance we've been hoping for all along.
Burlington sucks. (Score:1)
Hey CmdrTaco! Why doesn't this guy get his post deleted?
Jay Jacobs (Score:1)
They may be the first in the U.S. but not in the w (Score:1)
I don't want to sound sarcastic, but they are not the first large retailer to use Linux and Open Source in the world.
In México, there is a large retailer 189 stores
with 6,000 employees called "Telas Parisina" who uses Linux, Postgres and Perl.
We choosed Linux not because of the price, but because the price/benefit ratio, we ended spentding a lot of money because we had to train our employees, develop our own code and do the needed things to connect ourselves with our suppliers, but it was money with a good justification.
I was the CIO and never, never used the word free (as is spanish "gratis") I always tried to show the performance part of the project, because I knew the CEO will always try to cut the assigned budget for the "computer projects", (you must understand that in Mexico not everybody is used to the computers and information technologies do not play such important role in the people's life than in the U.S.)
Today the project is a success, it allowed the business to grow from 40 stores to 189. And now I'm fixing a little biplane aircraft, and teach at the university in Mexico City, I seep well and I know that the CEO and the administrative people like me because of the results the Open Source has given (note that I don't work as CIO at Parisina anymore I only do consulting once in a while).
Please everybody be careful about how you say "it is going to be cheaper" because that is not the main reason of the free software after all, the main reason has to be: "it is better because we have full control by having the source code"
user training (Score:1)
Re: Burlington Coat Factory installs 1,300 Linux b (Score:1)
Yes, we (Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse) do in
fact have some people who read Slashdot, albeit we
don't have much time so we're a bit behind (hey,
we've got to get this project rolling you know).
In any case it's a great E-zine.
At the bottom I'll give an address whereby you
can address further queries, but first I'd like
to make a few comments:
1) BCFW is in fact going to use Linux at the
front end where people can see it. At first
we're simply using it to replace X terminals
in the stores and in our corporate offices.
Later we're going to use it as the main
processor in the stores (actually using the
Linux X-Terms as redundant servers). We
also may use it for kiosks for some projects
coming up (so real users may well see it).
We'd love to use it for POS terminals but it
isn't cheap to replace the older boxes we
have that are frankly functioning just fine.
As we migrate to more powerful platforms
you may see Linux for those applications.
2) We choose Linux because not only because it
was cheap, but because it was open. We've
long been proponents of open systems and open
standards. We've been using TCP/IP, RPC, NFS,
etc. for over 10 years. We started out with
Sun and Sequent Unix and never looked back and
it's saved us lots of money and development
time. We currently have no legacy mainframes
to support and we want to keep it that way.
We also don't love Microsoft's tactics in
the marketplace. That's not however to say we
don't use their products. We have to be
realistic and they do make some good products
that are hard to replace. We frankly believe
in using the right tool for the right job
and therefor we don't think it's healthy to
turn our backs on any products. On the other
hand, for reasons the readers here are well
aware, most of our systems engineers
prefer Unix and Linux.
3) Yes, we're interested in getting resumes for
people who are "Linux Gurus". We run lean and
fast so there aren't a lot of openings but
if you're interested send to the address below.
We're busy so it may take a little while to
answer.
4) Yes, we are the unfortunate company with the
dog problem. It was a horrible accidental
purchase and sale to which everyone I've met
in the company feels terrible about. We've done
everything in our power to correct the mistake
and we have worked closely with the Humane
Society to make things better. We can only ask
that you all forgive us. Believe me, most of
the people here have dogs and absolutely none
would had purposefully sold those jackets.
5) No, I don't think we can claim credit for
being the first retailer to use Linux and I
don't think anyone in our company intended to
sound that way. We are however one of the first
large retailers in the US to do so.
6) We don't think Linux will be that much of a
learning curve because:
a) We've been using diverse front ends for
some time so our users are pretty savy (or
is that shell shocked?).
b) We're probably going to use the AnotherLevel
Win 95 emulation. We figure the largest
part of our end users will be familiar
(comfortable) with this look and feel.
Thats it. You may contact me with more questions or resumes at:
Matt Fahrner
Manager of Netorking
Matt.Fahrner@COAT.COM
Because I haven't put this through our PR
department I'm obliged to indicate that this
letter does not necessary reflect the view of
Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse, its management,
or it affiliates and is strictly "my personal
opinion". You can take that whatever way you want.
Note that because we're still in development any
or all of what I discussed here may change, but
I wouldn't bet on it.
Re: Burlington Coat Factory installs 1,300 Linux b (Score:1)
project to roll this (Linux) out using Microsoft
Project. Oh well....
Ahh, Burlington Coat Factory (Score:1)
;)
Only 250 (Score:1)
EExcellent quotes! (Score:1)
Heh, this sysadmin sounds a tiny bit bitter
Suits, Understand? (Score:1)
Free At Last! (Score:1)
But it's not only the management who benefit. This escape from software secrecy makes it possible for employees who take an interest in computers to start learning what goes on under the hood, and maybe even suggesting improvements. Under the M$ regime, such curiosity only results in frustration. I can imagine Linux providing someone in a dull job with a here-and-now chance to start learning something valuable and have it appreciated and rewarded on the spot. Linux is good for everybody.
Bingo (Score:1)
We wanted to (and did) write a custom GUI tailored specifically to our company's needs, with just the features we required, and certain "features" that can't be found in any OS (like remote keyboard locking...don't ask). When I was initially approached by the higher-ups about locating software that was "better suited to our needs", I immediately suggested Linux. When I explained to them that we could integrate our apps and OS into one stable package they were ecstatic, when I mentioned that it was free I didn't even get a shrug.
It won't take the suits long to catch on. (Score:1)
Is this the same company that had dog fur coats? (Score:1)
Also, they call linux shareware!?
Spot Couture (Score:1)
Any blue cheese fans out there, y'all should try it.
-bonkydog
Only 250 (Score:1)
Hello from the Philly / So. Jersey area! (Score:1)
Try http://www.coat.com for all of their locations.
Perhaps, but if I do, I do it well. (Score:1)