http://www.osnews.com/story/8552/Review_Moving_to_the_Linux_Business_Desktop_By_Marcel_Gagn_ Exploring the Future of Computing en-us Copyright 2001-2009, David Adams adam+nospam@osnews.com Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:33:32 GMT http://www.osnews.com/images/osnews.gif http://www.osnews.com http://osnews.com/thread? http://osnews.com/thread? So what type of wine goes well with this particular offering?

(Readers of Cooking with Linux will understand.) Wed, 13 Oct 2004 20:26:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Anonymous) Comments http://osnews.com/thread? http://osnews.com/thread? I -- like others of TLUG (Toronto Linux Users Group) -- got to meet Marcel Gagné when he gave a presentation at one of the meetings, he is very knowledgeable...and I enjoy reading his article in Linux Journal; I have read his two previous books and find them to be very well written and I have high expectations of this one as well.


Michael Wed, 13 Oct 2004 20:37:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Anonymous) Comments http://osnews.com/thread? http://osnews.com/thread? Too bad that he could not have done one extra page, then it would have been an evil 666 pages! Wed, 13 Oct 2004 21:31:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Anonymous) Comments http://osnews.com/thread? http://osnews.com/thread? Well, it's definately cheaper to learn how to use free software, I mean - moneywise, but, if it's not one's hobby to tinker with new software, why whould one spend valuable lifetime, which could be used to do something much more amusing or at least to earn some money? Wed, 13 Oct 2004 22:55:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Anonymous) Comments http://osnews.com/thread? http://osnews.com/thread? Sorry but I don't know of any companies going to the linux desktop. What a lot of people forget in the land of linux is that companies use 3rd party applications that are not available for linux. I'm not just talking about web browsing and email, i mean those specialty apps. Sure you can suggest WINE, but WINE is shoddy at best. Thu, 14 Oct 2004 02:05:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Anonymous) Comments http://osnews.com/thread? http://osnews.com/thread? Yeah? I heard there's a few small companies moving to Linux on the desktop.

Really small operations though that don't make much money...I think their names were Novell and IBM. Not very big names, I know. They are in the tech industry. I think that they both have a website that you can visit. You might have to google a bit for them. Thu, 14 Oct 2004 02:22:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Anonymous) Comments http://osnews.com/thread? http://osnews.com/thread? Ok now to make you feel like the dumb ass dick that you are. Your examples of two software companies selling linux don't mean squat. The ONLY reason they would use linux on their desktop would be because they are selling it. Simple business. Duh. Now why don't you provide examples of doctors offices, accounting offices, and other business offices in my town that are using linux or switching to the linux desktop. Whats that, you can't? I didn't think so either. So like I said, I don't know any companies switching. You jack ass. Thu, 14 Oct 2004 02:28:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Anonymous) Comments http://osnews.com/thread? http://osnews.com/thread? As soon as I can scrape up enough pennies I am going to purchase this new book. It's well worth my time to purchase and read.

With Mr. Gagne's knowledge, I was able to go "redmond" free in October of 2003. Thu, 14 Oct 2004 03:00:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Anonymous) Comments http://osnews.com/thread? http://osnews.com/thread? I have read the book and I agree with the author it is a good book. Marcel goes into great detail in this book about the Linux desktop. The only thing I have with this book is that he is striking at pree 200/XP Windows Operating Systems and that many of the solutions that he covers are available for the Windows OS. Speaking from a business point of view this book would not sway my decision on whether or not toi choose Windows or Linux. If I was planning a definate move to Linux or just migrated to Linux this is an excellent resource. Thu, 14 Oct 2004 03:28:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Anonymous) Comments http://osnews.com/thread? http://osnews.com/thread? Is the new book written in his "Linux Journal Style"? Some people like his "french cooking style", others (myself included) find it a tad too "overcooked". Thu, 14 Oct 2004 03:51:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Anonymous) Comments http://osnews.com/thread? http://osnews.com/thread? Ditto. I personally can't think of any local companies and small businesses that have made the switch. Too bad they modded your response to hobbit's stupid comment. Not too well thought out on his part. They'll probably mod mine too for this. Thu, 14 Oct 2004 04:14:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Anonymous) Comments http://osnews.com/thread? http://osnews.com/thread? I've not seen a Blue Screen for a very long time.. is the author still referring to Windows 98? (which was not meant for business use anyway)

I would love linux on the workfloor, but this kind of argument will not convince experienced windows administrators. Stability is quite good with the latest flavors of Windows. Thu, 14 Oct 2004 06:29:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Anonymous) Comments http://osnews.com/thread? http://osnews.com/thread? Windows 98? (which was not meant for business use anyway)
----

really?. can you please ask MS to admit that. what about "ME" Thu, 14 Oct 2004 07:56:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Anonymous) Comments http://osnews.com/thread? http://osnews.com/thread? really?. can you please ask MS to admit that. what about "ME"

The NT line has always been the version of Windows Microsoft pitched at business. That so many chose to ignore Microsoft's recommendations is their own stupid fault. Thu, 14 Oct 2004 08:51:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Anonymous) Comments http://osnews.com/thread? http://osnews.com/thread? A small list of (large) companies using Linux: http://www.aaxnet.com/design/linux2.html

Finding such a list for small businesses in yer local area is harder obviously, but you might want to ask yer local LUG.

BTW, found that link using Google, which just happens to be on that same list Thu, 14 Oct 2004 09:29:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Anonymous) Comments http://osnews.com/thread? http://osnews.com/thread? http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/ntwrkstn/plan/sysplan/...

There are many reasons why Microsoft® Windows NT® Workstation 4.0 is fast becoming the operating system of choice for all business users. ....

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/ntwrkstn/plan/sysplan/... Thu, 14 Oct 2004 09:39:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Anonymous) Comments http://osnews.com/thread? http://osnews.com/thread? So small businesses should take the advice of a document from 6 years ago ('Published: December 1, 1998')? *Some* things have progressed since then you know? Thu, 14 Oct 2004 09:50:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Anonymous) Comments http://osnews.com/thread? http://osnews.com/thread? This is all hype, saying a business owner is having blue screens and linux will solve all his problems.

Windows NT 2000 Server/2003

Windows NT 2000/XP Professional is geared towards business and are rock solid stable.

Plus, what about the Windows based Accounting programs the Small Business owner uses on a daily basis and other must have software packages not available in Linux.

This book is nothing more than Anti-Windows, with nothing more than fluff stating you can run linux. A business owner is worried about growing his business not some non-sense 'hobby' operating system with a shrew set of 'free' software with NO functionality, NO support and NO applications that meet his needs.

Total fluff, total non-sense and total lies. Thu, 14 Oct 2004 12:23:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Anonymous) Comments http://osnews.com/thread? http://osnews.com/thread? ***"Well, it's definately cheaper to learn how to use free software, I mean - moneywise, but, if it's not one's hobby to tinker with new software, why whould one spend valuable lifetime, which could be used to do something much more amusing or at least to earn some money"?***

Excellent response, if you want to talk about COST and REAL world Small Business concerns time and money. Plus the fact there are NO applications for the small business owner written or even exist.

Why even bother trying to run 'emualation' software as WINE when you can be done with it by running Windows in the first place.

I believe this book must have been written by slash-dot, it is fictional not even close to reality. Since when did a 'small business' have the money to hire a consultant and internal IT Professional to administrate Linux, purchase new hardware and pay for all the EXTRA COST that comes with this pipe dream.

I would rather read a book on how a Small Business can help by providing healthcare, benefits and leverage the money they make by investments than non-sense of linux being their only problem.

When the author lives in France and the Liberal Socialist Gov pays for you to sit on your butt all day and write books, while paying for your food, then I guess it might work for you. Thu, 14 Oct 2004 12:43:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Anonymous) Comments http://osnews.com/thread? http://osnews.com/thread? Is this book late for the print?

In 2004-2005, we should expect much more relevant "Moving to the OS X Business Desktop" or "Finally Moving to the Windows XP Pro SP2 Business Desktop from the Windows NT/2K Desktop."

Linux should be a last resort for Windows users who can't afford moving to OS X or upgrading to Win XP. Thu, 14 Oct 2004 12:48:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Anonymous) Comments http://osnews.com/thread? http://osnews.com/thread? Washington IT Analyst,

I see that the culture of your namesake has rubbed off on your POV. This book is not about blue screens and the author makes no claims that Linux will solve all of your problems. The Windows 2000+ lines are more geared towards business than their predecessors, however, rock-solid stable? You have made a baseless and unsupported claim. Many times, when applying security hotfixes the operating system REQUIRES a reboot - how can this be considered stable by any rational individual.

Why does competition have to imply an anti bias at all?

gnillort is fun, but the facts are better - every time you say NO, it simply is not true.

Practical, senseful and honest. Thu, 14 Oct 2004 12:51:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Anonymous) Comments http://osnews.com/thread? http://osnews.com/thread? *
Well, explain to me how a small business is going to conduct itself with NO applications to run on Linux???

This book is nothing but fluff, HYPE and nothing more than OPINION from the author on pipe dreams of saying linux is cheaper. But he offers NO software applications written for small business to run on Linux.... Now you tell me who is stating the facts here, it sure is not you.

The uptime on Windows Server 2000/2003 is 99.9% here is the link:

http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=040D01B7-ADED-436D-B... Thu, 14 Oct 2004 13:05:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Anonymous) Comments http://osnews.com/thread? http://osnews.com/thread? Just to quote your unsourced reference, "Unisys found that, in a stand-alone configuration, over the course of two years, the ES7000s running Datacenter Edition provided an average of 99.9% system availability in a stand-alone configuration. That's with no high-availability clustering."

Wow, Datacenter Edition running in stand-alone configuration without high availability...

Oh, and this is even better from the same source, "Microsoft co-sponsored the reliability study initially".

That is rich. Not that Unisys would ever report anything but the truth about Microsoft, in the first place....

Here's an article that might be of interest to you [Shankland 2002]:

Unisys, Microsoft to launch anti-Unix ads
http://news.com.com/2100-1001-870805.html

Let me suggest that you read the book before making more erroneous conclusions - the entire book is devoted to discussing numerous business software applications. Thu, 14 Oct 2004 13:42:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Anonymous) Comments http://osnews.com/thread? http://osnews.com/thread? My father bought this book and burst out laughing when after a few minutes using the customised Knoppix supplied with it it had a kernel panic :-)

It was overall far, far less stable than XP. Hence he's still using XP, albeit with OO.o and Firefox, which he picked up from Linux

Still, its somewhat false advertising. Linux may not BSOD but it sure as hell can crash fatally. Thu, 14 Oct 2004 16:05:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Anonymous) Comments http://osnews.com/thread? http://osnews.com/thread? Linux may not BSOD but it sure as hell can crash fatally.

---

yes but there is a different between bsod's every other minutre and kernel crashes due to serious faults Fri, 15 Oct 2004 14:46:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Anonymous) Comments http://osnews.com/thread? http://osnews.com/thread? Read all my post - I said Linux crashed a LOT more than XP did. Might have been a bad configuration on the part of Knoppix, or whoever customised it, but it was less stable than XP. Hence my point about the book being ironically titled - Linux crashed MORE than the Windows he was telling people to "leave behind the BSOD" on. Fri, 15 Oct 2004 14:48:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Anonymous) Comments http://osnews.com/thread? http://osnews.com/thread? "Sorry but I don't know of any companies going to the linux desktop. What a lot of people forget in the land of linux is that companies use 3rd party applications that are not available for linux. I'm not just talking about web browsing and email, i mean those specialty apps. Sure you can suggest WINE, but WINE is shoddy at best."

Really! Attempt to convince a whole raging herd of teenagers running Linux in their parents basements of this.
They will set you straight...
btw: Have you ever read the teachings of RMS? Fri, 15 Oct 2004 15:18:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Anonymous) Comments http://osnews.com/thread? http://osnews.com/thread? To be fair, on both of my Athlon systems, and a laptop I recently installed Mandrake 10 on - almost no modern Linux will boot without me passing 'acpi=off noapic nolapic' parameters to the kernel.

This is most likely due to buggy ACPI implementations from both Asus, Soltek and whatever chipset was in the Acer laptop - but the fact that Linux is incapable of detecting this and falling back to a 'safer mode' instead of simply freezing, kernel-paniccing or crashing seems a bit of an omission.

I can only imagine how confusing this is for newbies who have heard how wonderful linux is and the kernel just crashes on boot on their machines. Fri, 15 Oct 2004 20:31:00 GMT donotreply@osnews.com (Anonymous) Comments