Bob: I have sent a request to Don for his list of applications, and, requested permission to post to the discussion list too.
John Oram Bob George wrote: > > On Friday 02 August 2002 02:33 am, Heimo Claasen wrote: > > As I threatened already to take up this thread... here comes a first > > one, which touches two salient points: viability of non-M$ OSs and > > applications, and free alternatives to M$ apps in the "business" > > environment. > > > > [...] > > --------------------quote:-------------- > > [...], however the answer to the problem of > > ever escalating application software overheads is not as simple as > > tossing Windows in the trash and installing Linux or a Mac. Both > > these platforms suffer from a lack of suitable business applications > > A valid comment re: Linux (IMO). I'm following (and trying) the > OpenOffice suite, and it IS a nice package. Sun certainly seems > committed to supporting it. However, there certainly isn't the full > range available for Linux, at least not today. It seems to me that the > viability of Linux for any given situation really depends on specific > applications required. > > > [...], and Linux is still far too 'geeky' for the > > average desktop user (one day RedHat and Gnome will realise that the > > 'foot' and other paraphernalia are not welcomed by the average > > business user who prefers quality business-looking graphics on a > > computer desktop) > > I've seen some pretty hideous X desktops, and not everyone has perfect > vision. Anyone building a Linux (or other) distribution for business > should keep away from the clutter and reliance on cramming too much > onto the desktop. SIMPLICITY is an advantage for business. > > > ... plus the cost of retraining desktop users to > > Linux is still far higher than the cost of purchasing additional > > Windows licenses, > > IF a company standardizes on a Linux distribution and takes a "business" > approach to deployment, much of the complexity can be hidden. Speaking > from having done training and managed training operations for 8 years > or so, I'd want to see the details behind those numbers though. Most > "Windows training" is on a specific app, and OS training is usually > only an intro to the VERY MINIMAL needed to use a system. But yes, the > point about the training costs associated with ANY conversion away from > an existing set of tools is costly (and often overlooked). > > > especially considering that nowadays computer > > bundling packages usually provide the Windows OS for free... > > Ow. Not "free", you just can't take it out! > > The article is great, and I've always enjoyed shareware/freeware. It > sounds like they've found some great tools. However, I'm wondering if > just buying new apps will truly suffice for meeting what the author > describes. If you're still dependent on Windows as the underlying OS, > you'll be under pressure from Microsoft to update. BUSINESS PLANNERS > need to take into account that their OS will quickly move into > "unsupported" status if they don't update -- and thus get entangled in > the licensing problems they're hoping to avoid. (These business > factors are probably OT for this list -- sorry.) > > The wealth of alternative apps is a real boon for home users (and thus > this list) in any case. > > Heimo, are you going to get Don's list? > > - Bob > > To unsubscribe from SURVPC send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with > unsubscribe SURVPC in the body of the message. > Also, trim this footer from any quoted replies. > More info can be found at; > http://www.softcon.com/archives/SURVPC.html To unsubscribe from SURVPC send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with unsubscribe SURVPC in the body of the message. Also, trim this footer from any quoted replies. More info can be found at; http://www.softcon.com/archives/SURVPC.html
