Ignalum Linux - A Bridge to Windows?

linux slacker writes "Ignalum Linux 'is an intuitive graphical environment that works right out of the box and offers unrivaled compatibility with Microsoft Windows' or so says their website. The company is owned by four university students in Ontario, and one of their goals is to allow companies to incorporate Linux into their Windows environment, so users could still run Word, Excel and other popular Microsoft fare."

Comments

Hmm... screenshots look suspicious

[thesaur]

They look like it's just another variety of Linux. How their compatability is better than others, I have no idea...

Programs first, then the OS

[SixArmedJesus]

I think that if people really want companies to start switching over to Linux, they need to start changing their stratagy. Companies use programs, not the OS. In other words, I don't believe that the OS is really what's important to most companies. It's the fact that the software that they need to run works under that particular OS that is the deciding factor. (and there's usually not even a decision to be made! It's already made for them by where the software is targeted) If companies are going to switch, then the software that they need will need to be written to work on both environments.

Here's how I look at it. At this point, most companies (or at least their IT departments) have heard enough about Linux to at least be curious. But they can't even begin to try it out because all the programs that they work with will only run under Windows. How can you try out something that will be mostly useless to them? So, if those major programs that the company used were written to run on Linux AND Windows, then those IT departments would at least be able to try it out, and see how it goes for them.

So with this, the software is where the focus needs to be. There needs to be office software that can not only compete, but surpass anything that MS offers. (yes, I know that OpenOffice is out there, and yes it's good, but it's not good enough for most companies to make the switch. And no, I can't put my money where my mouth is and start helping with development because I'm just an average Joe user. I'm not a programmer, or even a corporate user. I honestly don't know what it is that companies need. But there are people out there who do, and who can help) Graphics software is also sorely needed. Yes, the Gimp is good, but it does lack the polish, and some of the features (so I've heard) of Photoshop. And where the heck are the vector graphics programs? Nothing, at this point, can compete with CorelDraw or Illustrator.

These are only two "major" fields where excellent software is needed. Not just clones or ports of what's currently used under Windows, but truely exceptional software needs to be developed to bring people over.

Yes, I also know the argument that if the companies have the software under Windows, and the same is available under Linux, why would they bother to switch? As I said, I think that companies are curious, and they want to try it out now, but they can't. As far as adoption, I think it winds up being more of a grassroots sort of thing. Smaller companies will start to change first, because they are more able. As it starts catching on better, bigger companies will take the plunge.

Granted that a OS needs to be day-to-day usable, and perhaps for companies, Linux isn't quite there yet, but the more the BIG software gets developed for Linux, the more talent that flows in from the former MS camp and starts putting effort into making Linux a true competitor against MS.

Then the only thing we have to watch out for is Linux turning into another MS. :-p