Freedman's article- was Re: back for modem advice
Rick Sivernell
res005ru
Wed Jun 7 19:15:37 PDT 2006
On Wed, 07 Jun 2006 05:49:37 -0700
"Bob Hemus" <ol.bob at sisqtel.net> wrote:
> The isn't the best, but...
> I 'What's Next I ByDazvid H. Freedman
>
> Tec lt geeks have long praised open-source software. Now's the time
> to see what the fuss is about
>
> MICROSOFT'S RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT that the longanticipated new version of its
> Windows operating system, Vista, has been delayed into January
> 2007 leaves several questions hanging. Will Vista offer enough benefits to
> make it worth the cost of upgrading? Will those who hang on to the
> current version of Windows end up locked out of new software and
> peripherals?
> A recent report by the research firm Gartner asserted that as many as half
> of all pes will not be able to run many of Vista's most sophisticated
> features. Given that, is upgrading even a smart option? But if the
> t'0nfusion over Windows is deepening, the opposite is true of Linux.
> Linux, of course, is the alternative to Windows that comes from the world of
> open-source software-meaning no company owns it, it's available for free,
> and
> it boasts a worldwide network of programmers constantly trying to perfect
> it. For the most part, Linux has been used by geeks who enjoy rolling up
> their sl
> eeves and getting under the hood of their software. Even the mention of
> Linux is enough to pull most nontechie managers out of their comfort zone.
> But the notion that Linux is a complicated, alien, experts-only operating
> system is no longer true. Not only is Linux becoming a mainstream product
> that can be
> considered a reasonable alternative to Windows for just about anyone, it's
> actually easy for nontechies to install. Linux looks pretty much like
> Windows
> these days, so you won't face a steep learning curve in putting it to work.
> And you'll probably never have to worry about a big-bang upgrade to a
> radically
> new version because Liriux gets updated routinely every six months or so,
> incrementally, at little or no cost.
> I'm not suggesting that switching an entire company over to Linux and other
> open-source software is a no-brainer. There are pros and cons that need to
> be assessed by a
> smart tech person. On the plus side:
> You'll save money on computing costs with Linux, you won't be locked into
> Microsoft (or Apple), and your computers will be safer from hackers and
> viruses. On the other hand, you'll have fewer options in application
> software than with Windows, and you'll need access to some new technical
> expertise. But let's say you're at least mildly intrigued about this notion
> ofless expensive software that leaves you free of Microsoft's strategies and
> whims. Perhaps you've heard of other companies in your industry switching,
> and you've had some of your own staff mention an interest in Linux. Why not
> see for yourself what the fuss is about? The Linux world has come up with
> some utterly painless and riskless ways for any average Joe to give Linux a
> test drive-on your own PC, in as little as a few minutes, no expertise
> required. Go for it. It's easy, it won't cost you anything, and if you're at
> all in touch with your inner nerd you might actually have some fun. What's
> more, it just might end up being the first small step in a revolution in the
> way your company approaches technology. There are dozens of versions
> ofLinux-called "distributions;' or "distros" -out there, but hold that
> thought. Your more immediate decision is how to get it on your Pc. There are
> three ways:
>
> Live CD: If you want a truly riskless means for experiencing Linux, this is
> the way to go. Just stick one of these CDs in your computer, restart it, and
> Linux will fire up entirely from the CD, ignoring Windows. Until you turn
> off your computer again, it will operate as a fully functional Linux
> machine, albeit a very, very slow one. Pull out the CD, restart, and it will
> be as if the entire trial were a dream. You can even run some distributions
> ofLinux, such as Damn Small Linux, from one of those tiny USB drives.
>
> Parallel installation: Some Linux distributions are easily downloaded and
> installed on your PC's hard disk alongside Windows, so that each time you
> turn on your computer you'll have a choice ofLinux or Windows. Your Windows
> world will remain entirely separate and unaffected. You won't be able to
> switch back and forth between the two operating systems while the computer
> is running-it's one or the other between restarts-so this wouldn't be a
> long-term solution for someone who really wants constant access to both.
>
> But chances are you'll soon decide you want to either commit to Linux or
> ditch it. Windows replacement: This is going whole hog. Windows is wiped
> out, freeing up your whole disk, so you're all Linux, all the time. Going
> back to Windows requires a full-on reinstalL
>
> Now, on to the question of which distribution of Linux to try. An
> exploration ofthe tradeoffs of the multitude ofLinuxes would take a small
> book. But it's worth noting that while the majority of Linuxes are available
> for free, a companywide move to Linux might best be undertaken via one of
> the major vendors that offer business-oriented support, most notably Red Hat
> and NovelL If you're also in the market for new PCs, consider buying them
> with Linux preinstalled from HP, or on the cheap from upstart Koobox. If you
> prefer to do business with a physical store, Micro Center carries Linspire
> Linux, available with support. Some companies, including SpikeSource, offer
> businesses third-party support for Linux and other open-source software. But
> if your main interest is in giving Linux a test run, then you'll want a
> distribution that provides a full range of installation options with the
> least fuss. I recommend that you consider Ubuntu Linux. Though not yet
> widely known outside the programming community, Ubuntu is winning raves for
> ease of installation and use, as well as for its robust functionality.
> Ubuntu will send you CDs for free, or you can download the program. You'll
> have a choice of running it as a live CD or installing it either in parallel
> with or instead of Windows. I tried Ubuntu both in the live and install
> versions with a year-old Dell Dimen- sion 2400, a fairly standard desktop
> PC, and I found it significantly easier to install than Windows XP Home.
> Most notably, it did a better job than Windows did of automatically
> recognizing my wireless network, local and network printers, and even an
> off-brand external DVD burner that never quite worked right with Windows.
> Equally impressive, it also installed and ran perfectly on an eccentric
> four- year-old Sony Vaio laptop that's crash-prone under Windows Me and
> nonfunctional under Windows XP. Ubuntu fires up right to a Windows-like
> desktop, complete with OpenOffice.org-a sophisticated clone of Microsoft
> Office with word process- ing, spreadsheet, slide show, database, and
> drawing software. Also included are an Outlook-like e-mail and calendar
> program called Evolution, the Firefox browser, multimedia players, and many
> other nifty programs. Most of these applications even worked with my
> existing Windows files. Everything ran perfectly and intuitively. Did I
> mention that all this is free? And when a new version of Ubuntu or anyone of
> these programs comes out, you can pick that one up for free, too. That
> you're not in Windows-land anymore hits home when you want to install
> software that is not included with Ubuntu-in my case, a program to play
> DVDs, left out by Ubuntu to avoid legal hassles with entertainment
> companies. Doing that and other things in Linux occasionally requires some
> fancy tech footwork, and I was initially intimidated. But it took only a few
> minutes on Ubuntu's extensive and well-organized online forums-you'll find
> much the same for most major distributions ofLinux-to get a simple,
> step-by-step recipe for the job. Even better, a new program called Automatix
> automates the process of adding dozens of programs you might find handy. And
> that's typical of the Linux world: By the time you wish for something,
> someone else will already be working on providing it. And usually for free,
> as I may have already pointed out. If you just can't see taking the time to
> play around with Linux, you can dip your toe into open-source software
> without leaving the comfort of Windows. There are versions of OpenOffice.org
> and Firefox that run on Windows, and soon the e-mail and calendar
> application Evolution should, too. No need to replace anything; try them out
> in parallel with your current software and see if the open-source world does
> anything for you. Oddly enough, you can even run Linux itself on Windows:
>
> A version of Damn Small Linux is available for Windows, and others are in
> the works. Conversely, there is software for running Windows programs under
> Linux, including Wine and Code Weavers CrossOver Office. And newer PCs with
> "dualcore" processors should be able to switch between operating systems
> without having to reboot.
>
> Maybe this sort of gentle approach to trying out Linux will convince you to
> take a closer look at the idea of switching over your entire company. But
> don't kid yourself. That sort of jump wouldn't be without its trials and
> tribulations. The biggest potential hurdle: If you're reliant on
> enterprisewide software such as a customer-relationship management system,
> you might have trouble getting it to run on Linux PCs and you'd probably
> have to replace it with a Linuxfriendly product.
>
> That's a conversation to have with your top tech person, of course. But ifhe
> or she pales at the mention of Linux and tries to get you to dismiss it out
> of hand without clear reasons, you may want to consider the possibility that
> it's not just your operating system that might need replacing.
>
> David H. Freedman (whatsnext at inc.com), a Boston-based writer and Ine.
> contributing editor, is the author of several books about business and
> technology.
>
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Bob
Is this food for thought, hmmm, I do think so. ell written but needs to check
grammer and spelling. It looks like something I could have written, bad grammer
and spelling that is.
Many thanks Bob, enjpyed it.
--
Rick Sivernell
Dallas, Texas 75287
972 306-2296
ricksivernell at verizon.net
Registered Linux User
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