Slashdot Mirror

I am running a small Austrian based IT firm. We are currently in the process of actively marketing Ubuntu 6.06 LTS for small firms that cannot afford to:

*) upgrade their operating software everytime Microsoft decides to "invent" something new (like Vista)
*) maintain an infrastructure for virus protection (the firms do not have an in-house IT dept.)
*) upgrade their hardware to display fancy 3D desktop gimmicks (like Vista should have, we all know who brought this first to market)

Comparing to RedHat/SuSE: I honestly don't know these distributions (I've once used Fedora for some days). But the neat thing about the Ubuntu desktop is that it is suitable for the average user (they focus strongly on usability of all the everyday tasks, see, for example, the Add/Remove ... entry in the Applications menu, which AFAIK is unique to Ubuntu, correct me if I am wrong). Sure, for enterprises, a RHEL (or a SUSE, which I wouldn't recommend no more because of the Novell-Microsoft deal, but this is not the topic) is better, they (or one of their partners) can provide 24/7 call center support, for example. To me, Ubuntu is the first Linux distribution that is end-user ready (meaning non-technical persons).

Sure there is much to do, so if you are worried about the security fixes, why don't you just join the ubuntu security team and help them to get the fixes out more quick? Also, for quality assurance, there is demand (then it won't happen so frequently that the X server doesn't start after an update, which happened once and was corrected in some 2-3 days or so, I can't tell I didn't have the problem). What I can recommend to everybody who uses and loves Ubuntu (or is about to start loving it) is *not* to use dist-upgrade. In most cases, it is broken.
When upgrading to a new Ubuntu release, reinstall it from scratch.

To me the main difference between Ubuntu and "commercial" distributions (RedHat, SuSE) is the intent: while all reach for "world domination", the reason is completly different (maximizing profit :: "Ubuntu" which means humanity towards others). The latter - to me - is the core philosophy of OpenSource in its origins. So, Ubuntu is (one of) the distributions that are consistent in the "philosophical" part of the distribution. Ever since the first commercial distributions came out (DLD, SuSE in Germany back in '95 or so) I've wondered how these both worlds should go together. As we know today (at least for SuSE/Novell) they do not (again the Microsoft/Novell deal). Seems to me that RedHat is the only big commercial Linux distribution vendor that is still independent and can survive. I really hope they will, because Ubuntu (and other similar distros) cannot, IMHO, penetrate the enterprise desktop market. On the other hand, communities (like the Vienna city administration) are starting to build their own distros (see http://www.wien.gv.at/ma14/wienux.html, in German), maybe for enterprises this would be the way to go ...

Just my Euro 0.02.

- thesmorf

PS: Sorry if the comment was a bit long, I am a first time /. user ...

It may not address your specific problem so much, but still be of interest for you:
The Citiy of Vienna is currently making a partial "soft" shift to OSS on the workplace, using a selfdeveloped debian-based distribution called Wienux (Wien is the german name for Vienna) that also includes Open Office.
Open Office is also beeing used on workplaces still using Windows and users are encouraged - but not forced - to switch to OO.
See more at: http://www.wien.gv.at/ma14/oss.html.
It's mostly German, but some of the Information is available in English too.

Meanwhile, Vienna has made their own Linux version Wienux, which is based on Debian GNU/Linux 3.1 with kernel 2.6.11 and intended to be used in small and middle businesses and muncipalities, available for download.

Meanwhile, Vienna has made their own Linux version Wienux, which is based on Debian GNU/Linux 3.1 with kernel 2.6.11 and intended to be used in small and middle businesses and muncipalities, available for download.

Side comment:
Vienna (wien) is the Austrian Capital and one of the three places where the UNO has dependencies (the other two being New York and Geneva)

The whohle thing is noteworthy because Vienna has not only jumped the Linux Bandwagon but because they are in close contact with the people doing the same in Munich (not that far away).
They have both offered to help and support other cities considering a change as well...

So this is not a single incident but - as they have stated themselves - a movement.

here the official information by the MA14 (thats Magistrats Abteilung or City Dept. 14)
http://www.wien.gv.at/ma14/rtf/oss-studie-englisch -kurzfassung-.rtf

And the link to the MA 14 itself - if your interested ask them. (This is german, mind)
http://www.wien.gv.at/ma14/

Side comment:
Vienna (wien) is the Austrian Capital and one of the three places where the UNO has dependencies (the other two being New York and Geneva)

The whohle thing is noteworthy because Vienna has not only jumped the Linux Bandwagon but because they are in close contact with the people doing the same in Munich (not that far away).
They have both offered to help and support other cities considering a change as well...

So this is not a single incident but - as they have stated themselves - a movement.

here the official information by the MA14 (thats Magistrats Abteilung or City Dept. 14)
http://www.wien.gv.at/ma14/rtf/oss-studie-englisch -kurzfassung-.rtf

And the link to the MA 14 itself - if your interested ask them. (This is german, mind)
http://www.wien.gv.at/ma14/

and here is the short (english) Version of the original Study:
http://www.wien.gv.at/ma14/pdf/oss-studie-englisch -kurzfassung.pdf

The german full version is here:
http://www.wien.gv.at/ma14/pdf/oss-studie-deutsch- langfassung.pdf

and here is the short (english) Version of the original Study:
http://www.wien.gv.at/ma14/pdf/oss-studie-englisch -kurzfassung.pdf

The german full version is here:
http://www.wien.gv.at/ma14/pdf/oss-studie-deutsch- langfassung.pdf

Vienna tried to provide such a service, too [German text]. However, this concept failed due to to much damaging and stealing of the bikes. Now they have a new high-tech system [German again], which is not anonymous, and where only the first hour is free. I don't know if it's technically the same system as in Germany, though.