[NTLUG:Discuss] Re: Linux article

[Greg Edwards]

Neil Aggarwal wrote:
>>Interesting article on Linux versus Windows, check it out.
>> 
>>http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,115770,00.asp
> 
> 
> This article is completely focused on Linux as a desktop
> solution.  In that arena, I have to admit that Linux is not
> ready.  As much as I would love to run Linux on my desk,
> it is impossible or far too time consuming to get the software 
> that I need to run my business (Please do not start a flame 
> war on this).
> 

> 
> Thanks,
> 	Neil
> 

I agree about Linux not being ready to contend head to head in the 
desktop market.  I would love to see Linux as a real alternative to MS 
on the desktop.  The problem is not Linux's fault (IMHO) because at the 
OS level Linux is the better solution.

The problem has been, and will remain, at the application level.  The 
business model that Linux has fostered, and seems to be stuck with, is 
that it has to be Open Sourced and free, or it doesn't belong on Linux. 
  Without a real ROI for Linux apps the business community won't get 
behind funding projects.  And without funding there's no money to pay 
developers, and without a paycheck most developers can't commit to 
working on a project.

After several years of beating my head against the wall I've even given 
up and setup a real MS desktop so that I can run those apps that I need 
to get the job done.  I've tried living with VMware for a few apps but 
it just isn't enough to cover what I need.  I agree that most of the 
apps that are available for MS can be found on Linux.  But the Linux 
versions are not very mature and I just can't keep waiting for them to 
catch up.  The difference between a funded app and a non funded app 
isn't in the quality level of the end result, it's in the delivery time 
and speed to maturity.

As a development platform I'll never give up on my Linux desktop, but as 
a publishing platform and business administration platform I just can't 
continue to suffer the lost productivity from using Linux apps. 
However, IMO, at the server level, webserver, mailserver, firewall, 
router, DB server, or a server of any kind MS is not in the same league 
as Linux (or *nix in general).

-- 
Greg Edwards

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