This brings up an interesting point. Many people and organisations don't
switch to GNU/Linux because they don't know of any real-world case studies
that demonstrate its success. My information systems subjects at uni are full
of real-world case studies, and we (well, at least I) learn well by reading
them (we've done a few great GNU/Linux studies too :-). In one assignment
earlier this year, I had to compare two e-commerce sites on a technical (not
just superficial) level. Although I wanted to profile companies that ran
GNU/Linux, I couldn't find any good examples on the WWW to use. In the end, I
was forced to stoop to the worst possible level -- I consulted Microsoft.com.
There, I found a large section full of case studies describing the systems
infrastructure of companies that have decided to implement MS software. I
found excellent studies of Dell.com and Compaq.com, and I proceded to compare
those. The assignment turned out well, and I gained full marks. Of course, I
was a bit biased in emphasising Compaq.com's "rock-solid" Tru64 backend :-)
My point here is that GNU/Linux, or at least individual distribution
companies, need to have a central case database describing in detail the
various implementations GNU/Linux is used for. This, I believe, is one the
most effective forms of advertising that can be done, and it can go a long
way in persuading businesses to adopt GNU/Linux. Perhaps MandrakeSoft should
set up their own such system, or better yet sponsor one that represents
GNU/Linux as a whole, irrespective of distribution?
I think I'll post this at MandrakeForum as well. It looks like a good topic
for discussion :-)
On Sat, 23 Jun 2001 11:32, Lanman wrote:
> Yeah, Yeah, Yeah,...Here we go again. I'd like to suggest that we send in
> Duke Nuke'm to slap these guys around. What they don't seem to realize (Or
> maybe they do???Hmmm.) is that they're not just reporting the news (?) but
> they're one of the biggest reasons that popularity of Linux is being
> affected. Have you noticed that they spend a lot of time balancing their
> scales when pumping out this crap? Nope, Nada! Not one story of Linux in
> the office and on the desktop! Nice job of reporting the news objectively !
> Guess that might cut down on your readers, eh?
>
> I was just at LinuxExpo Montreal, and one guy (Glenn Jacobson, President of
> Unique Systems Ltd. - www.uniqsys.com ), did a presentation about the Linux
> desktop in action. A legal firm of 100 people all running Linux, and ONLY
> Linux. This was just one of his clients. And it all runs on a Linux "Thin
> Client/Thin Server" network, too ! You don't hear about the success
> stories, do ya ? Of course Linux is great on servers. That's a known fact.
> Of course Linux still needs refinement and more apps for the desktop. So
> did Windows when it first came out! But you never hear about the increased
> security on the Linux workstation compared to Windows NT, do ya?
>
> What about the U.S. federal governments' imperative to push city
> governments, libraries, schools, etc., into switching over to Linux? I
> think the article I read said something like a total of 320 different
> government institutions? What about India (Or was it Pakistan?) where 50%
> of all government networks are totally Linux? The City that I admin for in
> Quebec, Canada has been getting a major roll-out and a migration to
> Mandrake-Linux, with only a few exceptions (Graphics on PC's and Macs). The
> staff has been undergoing retraining, and they're loving it! No more
> B.S.O.D.'s, fewer lock-ups and crashes, better solitare (er, forget that
> one, the boss is watching!)
>
> Personally I'm getting fed up with ZDNet, and some of these Linux sites
> where the writers and editors are bashing Linux in the name of "reporting
> the news". Hey guys, if you're not part of the solution, You're part of the
> problem. Grab a brain. After all, are you running a Pro-Linux web-site to
> support the Linux Community? Or did Bill Gates slip you $20.00 ?
>
> Big Guns indeed. Maybe something even bigger?
>
> Someone else just posted to this group about Linux being dead for the
> desktop. Nice of him to send it to the list. But look at the references
> that the writer used for his article ! Eazel (which due to the availability
> of the source code can continue to develop in the Linux community), and
> Corel Linux! Please, don't make me laugh! Ever since Mike Cowpland left
> Corel, they haven't done diddley with it. Think that might have something
> to do with the Microsoft buy-in? Nah! Couldn't be! Microsoft wouldn't throw
> pocket change into Corel to stop them from developing Linux, would they?
> After all, they've never done it before, have they? And all of a sudden,
> Cowpland books! Gee, what a coinkydink!
>
> Personally, I'm going to be giggling my butt off when the Linux Community
> shows these guys how wrong they are! Good luck to all Windows XP users!
> You're in for the "dot NET" ride of your life! Enjoy the lack of privacy,
> and having all your financial records moved from your office to Microsoft's
> !
>
> Dan LaBine
> Registered Linux User#190712
>
> On June 23, 2001 07:55 am, you wrote:
> > Where are our big guns? Please read this story when you have time.
> > However, it's not all doom and gloom.
> >
> >
> > http://www.zdnet.com/enterprise/stories/linux/0,12249,2778923,00.html
> >
> >
> > Roman
> > Registered Linux User #179293
> > Email Powered By Tux Email Utility
--
Sridhar Dhanapalan.
"There are two major products that come from Berkeley:
LSD and UNIX. We don't believe this to be a coincidence."
-- Jeremy S. Anderson
