Yes, but not everyone has everything they need right there. In my company it is almost impossible since we have windows only software that we can't port, or use wine for (believe me I've tried) This is for the banking industry. So until there is a way to make that work, I've done what most places have done, put linux in the server room.
However, the department I was in was almost entirely into *nix development, but we would have to do some kinda stuff related to Windows from time to time.
We also learnt that it's quite useful for you to have some kinda virtual machine like VMWare [vmware.com] on your box, to boot into alternate OSes. Really really useful.
And the problem is that it's really hard being in the development industry with only Linux -- sooner or later, you're going to run into some client who'd ask you for development on the Windows platform. And it's not as simple as saying, sorry, we don't do Windows:-)
Yea, unfortunately we can't afford to buy 200 copies of vmware, plus the os licenses, plus the fact half the people would be clueless as to what they were doing. Maybe one of these days....
That's the problem. Rather than have 200 copies of VMWare plus the overheads, it's easier to dual boot into Windows. Not to mention the technical support problems that would crop up among other issues.
Useful as it may have been for us, for most people, VMWare would be an overkill.
It really sucks, I remember the time when VMWare used to actually free. We showcased running Linux off Windows off Linux and a few applications based on that, on a 500 MhZ processor. Ah, those were the days:-)
Use a Windows Terminal server with the "bitchy" application, connect from linux boxes with rdesktop and voila...
A customer accounting system runs ONLY on windows NT/2000/XP/2003 so we installed in a windows 2000 terminal server, and connect from many desktops with only rdesktop, the problem is that you must purchase anyway some software/licenses/cal from MS, but you can cut down costs in the client OS, antivirus software, virus downtime, office software and computer support.
We also learnt that it's quite useful for you to have some kinda virtual machine like VMWare on your box, to boot into alternate OSes.
For even a home user VMware is great. Even supports running OS from physical disk in addition to virtual drive. For cost reasons, I'm going to evaluate XP and Virtual PC.
Let's not forget, te focus here is "business desktops". Not "development desktops". That means we need 100% interoperability with a variety of MS document formats, including:
- Word
- Excel
- PowerPoint
- Project
Word and Excel are mostly there, but PPT is iffy, and I'm not aware of anything for the OSS desktop that is 100% (or even close to that) interoperable with Ms. Project. If someone can point me to solutoins to those two problems (PowerPoint, Project), especially if there are free or reasonably priced, well supported versions for both Linux and OSX, we'd be down to 3 WIndows users within a week (from 10-12).
I dunno. Excel was the one sticking point for my gf when I tried to go cold turkey on Office. Everything else she was ok with (well, that means Word since who the fuck uses PowerPoint at home unless you have no life and spend your time making presentations for your kids' birthday parties), but she wouldn't go for Calc. Honestly, I think it was more of an issue with visual formatting than any underlying functionality, but when you're competing with an 800lb gorilla, you need to be able to [do whatever gorill
"Let's not forget, the focus here is "business desktops". Not "development desktops". That means we need 100% interoperability with a variety of MS document formats, including"
Strangely, I just like to have a good word-processor. Getting stuff done quickly and easily can be more important than being able to open whatever random crap people send you in emails.
You mention that Word documents and Excel documents are fully-compatible with OpenOffice, but I'd like to extend that by saying: These file formats are compatible NOW. Migrate within the next year or forever lose your chance. The file formats will change, and history shows that microsoft will make it more difficult in the future for you to choose alternatives.
Powerpoint presentations... well let's just say most people don't keep them for long (new presentation for each meeting, etc.) so perhaps it's possible to (a) create new projects in some nice new tool such as kpresent or OpenOffice, (b) convert some old files by exporting as a common file format, (c) if there's any polically-inconvenient naysayers (i.e. the management team), hire a trained monkey to convert/retype their presentations for them, and (d) if anyone is monumentally stupid enough to use powerpoint as a graphics program, give them crossover-office to use. And don't encourage them in the future.
Phil Greenspun has some web-based presentation software which might be worth looking at, which doesn't support whoosh-y text:-) and has a nice centralised searchable, repository. You might even create a CSS file for your company's presentation format, so they all get updated each time for free.
MS-Project: I just mentioned in another post that I've written a web-based project planning software which is truly multi-user (assign owners to projects, and those owners can create sub-projects and assign tasks in each project to people etc.) which will be commercial but free (with source) for the first company to try it. Reply for details.
Also I notice that with project-planing software, you can't read MPP directly, but you can export from MS-Project to an XML format, and loads of programs read the exported format.
oh, p.s. Even if you've got MS everywhere, have a play with OpenOffice Draw for some diagrams, charts, etc. - thoroughly reccomended program!
As a replacement for MS Project i would recommend IPE from Intellisys [webintellisys.com]. It's java, multiplatform, multiuser and a lot better than MS Project IMHO. Can read and write MS Project files.
In any reasonably complex windows environment you can't switch cold turkey (or completely) to a Linux desktop.
Here is an part of a report I made on the subject:
Linux Desktop Server I have been running Linux on my desktop for the last two years and have enjoyed the added flexibility ever since. It combines the features you're familiar with on Windows and Macintosh as well as adding several of its own to the mix. Check the "Linux Desktop Features" sidebar for details.
Don't have too big of worries. My predictions are that if enough companies decide to make the switch to Linux, Microsoft will make a Linux port of Office, much like they did for Apple. Hopefully it's only a matter of time.
How about using Terminal Services for those few people who absolutely HAVE to use Windows apps? The Terminal Services client on the Fedora distribution works pretty well. Just set up a Win2000 or 2003 server with however many Terminal Services licenses and the needed apps and away they go. If you have hundreds of users, and only a small percentage of them need a few Windows apps this is probably cheaper than buying XP licenses for those people.
Even easier -- have one of your existing Winows 2000 or 2003 servers allow for a few remote desktops. Problem completely solved.
About twice a week I have to run some stupid windows based app that the persons who wrote it don't even know its IE specific, or is Active X based, or whatever.
I do this:
rdesktop -g 1152x900 server_IP
(my laptop is 1400x1050 so this fits nicely)
Log in, do my thing and log off. Takes less than a minute, usually, for what I have to do.
Easy Peasy
Yes, but not everyone has everything they need right there. In my company it is almost impossible since we have windows only software that we can't port, or use wine for (believe me I've tried)
This comes up all the time. "We can't switch OSes because we have always used Microsoft based stuff".
Not true. MS didn't exist before 1975. MS didn't have a real product until 1992 or so when Windows 3.11 (aka Windows for workgroups) came out.
If I were a bank, I would demand that my vendor supply me a computer
Easy to do (Score:1)
months now. Didn't even bother to dual boot. I
have everything I need
Re:Easy to do (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Easy to do (Score:5, Interesting)
However, the department I was in was almost entirely into *nix development, but we would have to do some kinda stuff related to Windows from time to time.
We also learnt that it's quite useful for you to have some kinda virtual machine like VMWare [vmware.com] on your box, to boot into alternate OSes. Really really useful.
And the problem is that it's really hard being in the development industry with only Linux -- sooner or later, you're going to run into some client who'd ask you for development on the Windows platform. And it's not as simple as saying, sorry, we don't do Windows
Re:Easy to do (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Easy to do (Score:2)
Useful as it may have been for us, for most people, VMWare would be an overkill.
It really sucks, I remember the time when VMWare used to actually free. We showcased running Linux off Windows off Linux and a few applications based on that, on a 500 MhZ processor. Ah, those were the days
Re:Easy to do (Score:1)
Re:Easy to do (Score:1)
A customer accounting system runs ONLY on windows NT/2000/XP/2003 so we installed in a windows 2000 terminal server, and connect from many desktops with only rdesktop, the problem is that you must purchase anyway some software/licenses/cal from MS, but you can cut down costs in the client OS, antivirus software, virus downtime, office software and computer support.
The other option can be to use
Re:Easy to do (Score:1)
Easy *except* for... (Score:4, Insightful)
- Word
- Excel
- PowerPoint
- Project
Word and Excel are mostly there, but PPT is iffy, and I'm not aware of anything for the OSS desktop that is 100% (or even close to that) interoperable with Ms. Project. If someone can point me to solutoins to those two problems (PowerPoint, Project), especially if there are free or reasonably priced, well supported versions for both Linux and OSX, we'd be down to 3 WIndows users within a week (from 10-12).
Re:Easy *except* for... (Score:1)
Re:Easy *except* for... (Score:4, Insightful)
Strangely, I just like to have a good word-processor. Getting stuff done quickly and easily can be more important than being able to open whatever random crap people send you in emails.
You mention that Word documents and Excel documents are fully-compatible with OpenOffice, but I'd like to extend that by saying: These file formats are compatible NOW. Migrate within the next year or forever lose your chance. The file formats will change, and history shows that microsoft will make it more difficult in the future for you to choose alternatives.
Powerpoint presentations... well let's just say most people don't keep them for long (new presentation for each meeting, etc.) so perhaps it's possible to (a) create new projects in some nice new tool such as kpresent or OpenOffice, (b) convert some old files by exporting as a common file format, (c) if there's any polically-inconvenient naysayers (i.e. the management team), hire a trained monkey to convert/retype their presentations for them, and (d) if anyone is monumentally stupid enough to use powerpoint as a graphics program, give them crossover-office to use. And don't encourage them in the future.
Phil Greenspun has some web-based presentation software which might be worth looking at, which doesn't support whoosh-y text
MS-Project: I just mentioned in another post that I've written a web-based project planning software which is truly multi-user (assign owners to projects, and those owners can create sub-projects and assign tasks in each project to people etc.) which will be commercial but free (with source) for the first company to try it. Reply for details.
Also I notice that with project-planing software, you can't read MPP directly, but you can export from MS-Project to an XML format, and loads of programs read the exported format.
oh, p.s. Even if you've got MS everywhere, have a play with OpenOffice Draw for some diagrams, charts, etc. - thoroughly reccomended program!
Re:Easy *except* for... (Score:1)
Don't go cold turkey (Score:2, Informative)
Here is an part of a report I made on the subject:
Linux Desktop Server
I have been running Linux on my desktop for the last two years and have enjoyed the added flexibility ever since. It combines the features you're familiar with on Windows and Macintosh as well as adding several of its own to the mix. Check the "Linux Desktop Features" sidebar for details.
You will get the power of the Linux
Re:Easy *except* for... (Score:1)
Re:Easy to do (Score:1)
Re:Easy to do (Score:1)
Re:Easy to do (Score:2)
This comes up all the time. "We can't switch OSes because we have always used Microsoft based stuff".
Not true. MS didn't exist before 1975. MS didn't have a real product until 1992 or so when Windows 3.11 (aka Windows for workgroups) came out.
If I were a bank, I would demand that my vendor supply me a computer
Re:Easy to do (Score:1)
I ask because, if it's all packaged, then at least there's a snowball's chance in hell that Linux software developers can compete.