> Here here, it PISSES me off that Linux isn't really taken seriously on > the desktop as I happily use it everyday.
The answer is, IMHO, twofold. 1. legacy business data - the main one being ms word documents. Do not try and sell me linux or open source word processors that will open complex word documents 100% correct every time. It does not happen. I have 171MB legacy word docs that I may want to use at any time,thats right goddamn now, not once I have fiddled around for twenty minutes resetting stuff or finding where the headers & footers & para numbereing went. 2 closely allied, training. The average secretary/wp operator etc is not as adept at change as a geek who likes to fiddle and is prepared to play with some software for hours playing with the features, finding how it works etc. I don't have time to train my secretary on openoffice or retrain her on word perfect (she probably last used 5.1). Put most office workers in fronnt of a new program and they spin out. Now theres a lot happening to the desktop and its better every day. But Neal's article was about what is REALLY happening in business out there NOW. What is really happening in businesses is services - mail, file, print, database. It is a positive spin for linux so I wonder why it is getting bashed?? P.S If I was setting up my own business now I probably would go for star/open office on linux, but now its too hard to change. -- Nick Rout Barrister & Solicitor Christchurch, NZ Ph +64 3 3798966 Fax + 64 3 3798853 http://www.rout.co.nz
