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A Public Library's Linux Success Story
Joe Barr writes "What with the spate of professionally PR-generated FUD coming out of Redmond about Linux not being open source, or Windows having a lower TCO, and - believe it or not - even a claim that Windows is more reliable, it's good to read about some real world, grass-root results of successful migrations from Windows to Linux. This story at NewsForge takes a look at the Howard County (Maryland) Public Library's roll-out of over 200 public-use PCs, which used to run on Windows and now run on a custom Linux distribution called Lumix."
Using LFS as a starting point, Luis and Mike were able to build a minimal Linux kernel that included only the functionality required by the "kiosk style" machines. They added the Gnome desktop environment, the Mozilla browser, and OpenOffice.org to complete the picture.
If you don't need much more than websurfing and wordprocessing functionality, it doesn't make much sense to keep up with the Joneses running Windows.
Windows is a very capable OS with many features for many tasks. Most of those features, however, are wholly unsuited for a kiosk and totally extraneous.
Linux, OTOH, is able to step in at these places and fill just enough of the hole left by the Windows uninstallation with Windows software clones that the average kiosk user can hardly tell the difference.
I have been pwned because my
This site alone still generates to much Anti-Microsoft drivel that's based solely on hate and jealousy. "640K should be enough for everybody" still gets tossed around even though it's proven that Bill Gates never said it. BSOD jokes that are 4 years out of date. Baseless claims that Windows or Office breaks compatibility. Any of these ring a bell?
That's only the tip of the iceberg. You people shouldn't be throwing stones in this glass house.
SIG:Slashdot: indymedia for nerds.
This all relates to the SCO issue which is two-fold: SCO claims that Linux contains proprietary code, and second, that the GPL is invalid (they say unconstitutional!!!).
"Who are in control, they are not in control of anything - they don't even control themselves!" - Glen Beck
Using LFS as a starting point, Luis and Mike were able to build a minimal Linux kernel that included only the functionality required by the "kiosk style" machines. They added the Gnome desktop environment, the Mozilla browser, and OpenOffice.org to complete the picture.
Windows is a very capable OS. It has features that are designed to ease the many disparate tasks that different users will expect to handle. It is precisely because of this that Windows is unsuitable for a kiosk-like system. It is simply too powerful.
Linux, OTOH, is entirely suitable. It is free, and does not have built into the kernel all the extra luggage that Windows niceties bring with them. Providing websurfing and wordprocessing capabilities with Linux is pretty damn good and more than one would expect from an OS developed in the OSS manner. Users can use Lumix (the MD system's name) and have barely an inkling that something is amiss, that their Windows systems have been replaced with Linux (with flavor crystals).
Linux triumphs again, not by taking on Windows on the desktop, but by stepping into niches where smaller, less feature-filled operating systems are needed.
I have been pwned because my
screaming in panic. If enough public libraries realize it's cheaper to run OSS software MS is lost. How long do you think it's going to take before these librarians receive a visit from the local MS sales force and "Free" WindowsXP and Office2003 CD's arriving in their mail for "promotional perposes"?
In Soviet Russia, articles before post read *you*!
What with the spate of professionally PR-generated FUD coming out of Redmond about Linux not being open source, or Windows having a lower TCO, and - believe it or not - even a claim that Windows is more reliable,...
Is there any reason at all to include this statement in the headline of this submission? Does it seriously achieve anything other than reflect negatively on (particularly) the poster and, unfortunately (once again), the entire linux/os community? This submission is interesting in it's own right, it doesn't need to be put up in the fight against the Great Big Evil (TM).
In fact, for all you moderators, it perfectly illustrates the difference between (+1, interesting) and (-1, troll).
"Because it's there." - George Mallory, when asked why he wanted to climb Mt Everest, March 18, 1923 (New York Times)
This is a perfect example of an application where Linux is ideal (as opposed to "main stream desktop OS"). The puters are used for surfing the net and searching though library catalogs. Both these tasks are performed gracefully by Linux and Linux offers a lot better control for the sys admin to lock down the OS (relative WinXP for example). The only person who need any REAL computer knowledge is the sys admin, the users never touch anything other than the two or three applications they're supposed to use.
Better control for the sys admin, ease of use for the n00bs, increased stability and security, and lower TCO for the library. Could it be any better?
SIG: TAKE OFF EVERY 'CAPTAIN'!!
They are just worried about not having a number to call.
Please tell me who they would call for service/support on Windows 98 or NT in the year 2004? Certainly not Microsoft... so the library being concerned about "Offical Vendor" support doesn't seem to be a factor here as they were running old, unsupported software to begin with.
Not to metion the fact that there's virtually no support from MS even when the software in question is still "Officially" supported by them. The whole idea of them actually standing behind their product and answering consumer phone calls is a myth.
This is kind of ironic if you think about it, but average non-tech people will not take Linux seriously until game companies start releasing top titles for Linux. Which of course means video card companies have to start doing a better job of card drivers and smooth driver install. The fact that so much of getting a Linux install to work requires being computer literate does not work in Linuxs' favor as far as wide-spread acceptance with non-tech types.
"Who are in control, they are not in control of anything - they don't even control themselves!" - Glen Beck
Most other patrons don't notice the OS change at all, except that they don't crash or get hit with popups/malware/etc, which is an excellent endorsement for Linux in public terminals.
I hope the library has a good remote method for updates though. As much as I dislike Windows, SUS is A Good Thing. Also, they really ought to jump to Firefox when it hits 1.0.2 or so.So many people become inured to the nuisances of MS Software that they don't realize that there's an alternative. Also, they don't realize that those alternatives are as good as Microsoft's or better and
Now, if they could only get that patron to download Firefox at home...
Headline: Linux is not Open Source
Microsoft Rep: Open Source is not Linux
I am suspicious of why TechWorld could so blatantly take Microsoft's quote so out of context.
"Ask not what your country can do for you." --John F. Kennedy
Exactly.
Actually, despite the average poster's contrary views, Microsoft lost the so-called "browser war".
Netscape is destroyed, but Microsoft failed to destroy the Internet (and they did try to do exactly that with their at the time proprietary, incompatible MSN in the early 90's, which even got an icon in the default Windows 95 installation) and now they are scared because computers are connected with TCP/IP, HTTP, HTML, FTP, etc. all invented (or "innovated") in the OSS community, all open, all free and most importantly, all available on non-MS platforms.
Even the most rabid winlots won't be able to claim with a straight face that a browser-only setup is cheaper with Windows. With more and more specialized and in-house software being developed web-based (mostly because of easier maintanance), Microsoft's lock on many desktops has weakened or even disappeared.
>Most libraries are stuck with Windows simply because they don't have enough money to move away (it does COST money to get everything working with linux)
As geoffeg also notes, libraries are extremely crunched for money. They love volunteers for that reason. If a local linux users group worked out a long-term volunteer agreement with their local public library to help with their catalogue and IS systems, I'm sure it could result in switching their systems over to linux. It would take a bit of time and energy to earn trust and to help the librarians see the value, but I'm sure it could be a great way to help your local library and expose more people to linux at the same time.Some mornings it's hardly worth chewing through the restraints to get out of bed.
I would invite you and anyone else that thinks Linux would be a simple switch from Windows to take a tour through a major corporation and review the number of third party applications that are Windows based and are mission critical, if not legally required. Financial institutions are good example. Although they have a great deal of *nix systems, they also have a ton of Windows-based departmental systems that *nix doesn't offer and yet are required for SEC reporting and basically running their business.
I agree that if you have an environment that requires a limited scope of software which is vertical in nature, Linux is a very viable alternative, but to say this is possible everywhere isn't very forthcoming.
This is why Sun failed and yes, I am saying this in hindsight. If Sun had promoted client-side, windows, _compiled_ development back in the late '90's, they would have pulled in tons of Visual Basic developers and a lot of these third party applications would now be running in Java and therefore portable to *nix platforms.
But the unrealistic passion for cross-platform-ness over basic good business sense overwhelmed Sun and we now see the results of those poor decisions. Some may say there was no way to get in bed with Microsoft with windows and survive, but I disagree....the way to beat Microsoft is to build better _clients_, not better OS's, better compilers, or better office products. You need to have tens of thousands of easily built departmental applications that run efficiently.
Take note of Mono now and start writing Mono WinForms apps. When the Mono people get smart-client technology working, you will see a surge in linux based departmental applications.
My two cents.
http://chicagodave.wordpress.com
I didn't see any indication that they were making it clear to the Library patrons that they were using Linux and not Windows. I think that's a massive lost opportunity.
Seriously. It's great that Linux can seamlessly replace Windows in such a high-traffic environment. It would be even greater if there were signs near the kiosks reading something like:
Our kiosks run Linux, the free alternative to Microsoft Windows. We have made this switch to keep costs down as well as reduce virus problems and computer crashes.
Slowly, but surely, the patrons -- or other librarians, or visiting school teachers -- will notice -- it may not matter then, but later...
For example, six months later, a secretary who has been using the library is switched to Linux at work. Now, instead of freaking out when I.T. Guy he's removing Windows from her/his machine, (s)he thinks, "Oh! They run that at the library. I can do that."
Or better yet, perhaps (s)he, having gotten hit with yet another virus, starts telling her supervisor, "Why don't we switch to Linux? It's free and has fewer viruses, and I know how to use it."
Will it happen fast? No. But floods start with a trickle. HoCo is to be commended for making the switch -- now they should toss in a little marketing, too.
Wow, what's up with you? It's interesting when people migrate to Linux. This story is particularly nice because of the public-library angle (arguably, Ben Franklin, institutor of the first public libraries in the colonies, was a founding father of open source ideas ;-) ).
Uh, this is in no way FUD (fear, uncertainty, distrust): FUD is misleading statements to prevent people from trying what they don't know.
The phrase you want is "propaganda". But I still think you're wrong. It's cheerleading maybe. Nothing wrong with that. So what? If you're not interested, don't read it.
Cheers!
People won't change to Linux because of the nerd-factor involved.
I highly doubt that Joe user knows of the "geek" stigma that Linux has. I'm willing to bet provided you didn't have to have them install anything, and to just sit there, send an e-mail, browse, and write resumes, you could probably convince them it was Windows Longhorn and that they should just shut up and use it.
But on the other hand, what is the use of Linux if all that is needed is what Windows is capable of doing?
My car can turn both right and left, signal (usually) turns, accellerate and brake on command. Why would anyone have any other car than the one I have? Because some cars (and OSs) are better in certain ways. Linux is great for Grandma who isn't trying to tweek her system, install the latest video driver, etc. If she just wants to browse the internet for crochet designs, and to use her e-mail to keep in touch with her grand kids, then why not Linux. Once it's set up it's stable. And that's all she needs.
Why are you here?
I really love these "axe to grind" kind of posts. You've really captured the feeling and the flavor of a spurned member of a mailing list (I've seen numerous examples of that).
My suggestion: build your own site and post the kind of stories you want and see if anyone shows up. Hell when you're ready you could even advertise your new pro-MS, pro-RIAA, and dare I say it pro-SCO (your comments about their situation were profoundly amusing) site here and see if anyone joins you.
Otherwise, just save your breath....
My library still uses dumb terminals...no really! For the web comptuers though, this makes alot of sense. I just hope that CLUELESS web designers start to design pages that DO NOT exclude ANY browsers that are not IE. Just because I am using Safari or Mozilla doesn't mean that your crappy website won't work on it!
Gorkman
Just read the article. Why didn't they simply walk around from machine to machine popping in a Knoppix CD? Computer acting up, just reboot it.
Glonoinha the MebiByte Slayer
Or perhaps some slashdotters are pro-end user. They really don't like the way M$ has been treating non-technical folks, but they've seen the linux community treating them just as badly. Being against the way that linux is currently doing things does not make one pro-Microsoft.
I've seen a lot of Slashdotters (and Free Software developers in general) yell "Desktop world domination" or "Our software is just as easy to use as Windows" or "Lobby your government to replace Windows with Linux" one second and then the next start beating up someone for daring to criticize (often justifiably) the usability of Linux, telling them "quit whining about what you get for free" or "go code it youself" or "you're engaging in the mental destruction of Free Software developers."
Evil is evil, and I don't give a damn whether its outfit du jour is a Windows logo or a cute penguin.
Ergonomica Auctorita Illico!