Thanks all for thoughts on this subject. Shane
NOTICE:: This communication is intended ONLY for the use of the person or entity named above and may contain information that is confidential or legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient named above or a person responsible for delivering messages or communications to the intended recipient, YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that any use, distribution, or copying of this communication or any of the information contained in it is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by telephone and then destroy or delete this communication, or return it to us by mail if requested by us. The City of Calgary thanks you for your attention and cooperation. -----Original Message----- From: Dave Lee [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 2004 June 21 3:05 PM To: CLUG General Cc: Clements, Shane Subject: re: [clug-talk] Linux Advocacy Shane Clements wrote: > So far the case (in a few words) is: > > 1) Linux costs less > 2) Linux is more secure, virii-free > 3) Linux has similar, compatible applications (mozilla instead of IE, > OpenOffice instead of MS Office) > > The downsides seem to be: > > 1) User reaction to unfamiliar interface > 2) Greater administration expense (fewer Linux experts out there than MS monkeys) > 3) Loss of custom applications (a safety training program written in C++ for Windows > -- I'm not sure if WINE would run this.) > > Are there some issues I'm overlooking? Here are my initial reaction to the items in your list of downsides: 1) Since the users typically do not have have their own computer, they are probably not hardwired to a windows user interface, which means they will hopefully adapt faster than your typical office or home power user. If the apps they intend to use function w/o troubles, this will probably be a non-issue. One other thing to mention is the abundance of Windows like themes if desired. 2) I think this may be arguable. There are definitely more MS admins than Linux admins on the market, but the one advantage that Linux and it's admins have over windows is the ease in which you can remotely administer multiple computers. From my experience, an average linux admin can do far more automated and remote administration of networks than the equivalent average windows admin. I don't claim to be an expert on this, this is just from my anecdotal observations. Another advantage is that MS workers have often invester larger amounts of money to gain their knowledge, and thus have careers focused on gaining returns on their investment. Linux experts, however, are often completely, or primarily, self taught, and do so out of genuine personal desire and interest, not necessarily for monetary or career reasons. Again, anecdotal observations. 3) I would say that pre-existin windows apps which have no linux eqauivalen, along with software and file format interoperation between linux and windows, are probably the biggest issues in a windows to linux migration. Your custom windows app may run under wine (or commercial wine alternatives), you would have to test this. As far windows/linux interoperation, I think linux has reached critical mass and thus interoperation issues are in a constant decline and will pose less troubles than a typical windows system already deals with, such as security, virii, bugs, crashes, etc. Does this help? Dave _______________________________________________ clug-talk mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://clug.ca/mailman/listinfo/clug-talk_clug.ca
