Don't really understand what the big deal is, so they have switched from Unix to Linux and have no intention of dropping windows from their desktops. As far as other comments go about Windows being given away, it will never happen unless Gates wants to give even more of his personal fortune up to the US Justice Department.
I use and see the advantage of Linux but it will never be a big player as it is too difficult for a layman or typical computer user to use.
Steve; In a superior manner to Windows, Linux desktops have been undergoing major revamps, improvements and refinements. Most of the applications for Linux desktops have seen major improvements as well.
Calgary won't be changing their desktops for a while, yet, but I'm sure that it will be a topic of discussion in the next year or so, as soon as their desktop licenses expire, or they need to replace existing systems.
The big deal is that Federal, Provincial and Municipal governments are now adopting Linux in a big way. I can quote you chapter and verse about the various ones that are already using it. As the article mentioned, their systems are running 400 to 500 percent faster, so it's pretty obvious that they're seeing the value of it.
But even if they don't switch their desktops, I'd be willing to bet that they'll be trying out Open-Source software on their PC's in the near future. It's the next logical step.
So, I guess the big deal is that another government is making the switch, at least partially, and surely you can see the value in that?
As for your second comment, no one said it was a fact, more that it was a rumour or possibility, and based on Microsoft's business practices, it wouldn't come as much of a surprise if they decided to try that out, legal consequences or not. Like you I'm thinking that it would cause them legal problems, but I can also see where Linux and Open-Source has essentially shot themselves in the foot on this one, because it could be argues by Microsoft that Linux has an unfair advantage over Microsoft because it's free. Microsoft might dodge the legal bullet just because of that fact alone. Let's hope not, but you never know.
Your third comment is highly subjective though. I see kids sitting down in front of Linux and having the desktop nailed in 2 hours. I have many clients who have been using it for a long time, and even some new ones who already understand enough to perform their normal tasks. The big difference is that many of these clients are now asking intelligent questions, because they enjoy learning about computers again. Linux gives them a level of freedom and enjoyment that they haven't seen in a long time.
What this one boils down to is a question of how linux is presented, installed and preconfigured for the end-user. On my laptop, I keep a demo system of KDE available for interested clients, using Windows 2000 icons and a theme that resembles Windows XP. I've set up Windows sound themes, and renamed various programs using Microsoft names instead of their real names.
Then I let the client know that I've acquired a demo of the new "Windows" that's due out soon ( Grin! Grin! ), and I let them play with it while I do other work. You'd be surprised how many ask me for a copy before I leave their offices, and you'd be pleasantly surprised to see their faces when I tell them that they've been using Linux!
If I had told them before they started playing with it, they would have been nervous and apprehensive to try it. Once they have, they're very surprised how easy it is to use. That's when the orders come in. It's a bit sneaky, but it manages to get them past that fear of the unknown, which, from my experience is the biggest detractor to getting people to switch to Linux.
One last point on this topic. Most PC retailers, including the big guns usually do preconfigurations of various applications and services before the PC's get shipped out the door. If anyone is going to try selling Linux in this manner, they have to be prepared to do the same. in either case, there are a lot of tools which make the job considerably easier to pre-configure, and to automate installations - whether it be Linux or Windows. That would also go a long way to making things easier on new users. Besides that, the difference in retail pricing should allow anyone selling Linux-based PC's to include some form of support package, and most consumers would be tickled pink if they knew they could get tech-support for a reasonable fee, as long as that support was top-notch.
Hope this resolves your confusion about what the "Big Deal" is.
Lanman
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