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Linux Starts to Find Home on Desktops

Posted by Zonk on from the baby-penguin-steps dept.

WSJdpatton writes "The much-hyped notion that Linux would be a viable alternative to Windows to run desktop and notebook PCs for corporate users seemed dead on arrival a few years ago. But the idea is showing some new vital signs as companies look for cheaper alternatives to Microsoft products. The Wall Street Journal outlines several firms that are reaping savings and stability on their workplace desktops by rolling out Linux distributions. 'Auto maker PSA Peugeot Citroën last month said it will start using Linux on 20,000 of its workers' PCs. Novell Inc., which sells a version of Linux and is supplying it to Peugeot, says it has recently signed up several large U.S. financial institutions that are installing Linux on some employee PCs. Sales of Linux PCs are showing a really nice uptick at Novell, says Ronald Hovsepian, chief executive of Novell.' Not everyone is a convert, though. 'The State of Illinois recently consolidated its IT systems onto Microsoft software -- and has no interest in using Linux, says Paul Campbell, director of the state's Central Management Services department. "We don't have time for science projects in state government," he says.'"

9 of 364 comments (clear)

  1. Don't have time by Raistlin77 · · Score: 5, Funny

    'The State of Illinois recently consolidated its IT systems onto Microsoft software -- and has no interest in using Linux, says Paul Campbell, director of the state's Central Management Services department. "We don't have time for science projects in state government," he says.'

    Apparently, they don't have time for security either...

    1. Re:Don't have time by SnowZero · · Score: 5, Funny

      I heard that dead people prefer genuine Microsoft Windows(tm) to Linux by almost 4:1.

    2. Re:Don't have time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Is this the same person??

        CMS DIRECTOR RESIGNS
      SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- The head of a powerful Illinois government agency resigned today after a sometimes-rocky tenure.

      Paul Campbell's resignation from the Department of Central Management Services takes effect immediately. He had been director for nearly two years and was assistant director before that.

      A spokesman said Campbell will become a vice president at United Health Care.

      Central Management Services is the agency in charge of most state purchasing and hiring. Its influence has expanded under Governor Rod Blagojevich (blah-GOY'-uh-vich).

      But state auditors have repeatedly found management problems there, from paying improper expenses to overstating the results of cost-cutting.

      The agency's hiring procedures have also been scrutinized amid questions about whether Blagojevich has awarded jobs based on politics.

    3. Re:Don't have time by Raistlin77 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Decent IT departments have no problems with MS.

      Decent IT departments have no problems with Linux either.

    4. Re:Don't have time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      I also wonder how much Microsoft paid them. check out this link for more of the same. Another Story with Paul Campbell

    5. Re:Don't have time by TrailerTrash · · Score: 5, Funny

      Here in Illinois, we take the rights of Deceased Americans (formerly known as dead people) very seriously, including the right to vote. Many issues, such as elections of aldermen, are critically dependent on the outspoken support of Deceased Americans.

      The number of Deceased Americans is expected to grow to unimaginable proportions as time goes on, and so protecting their rights is important to do now.

      This is not to confused with Reanimated Americans (formerly known as zombies), who tend to be vocal almost exclusively on health care issues (notably, brains).

  2. So that explains it. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ""We don't have time for science projects in state government,""

    That's why they never bothered to find out how so many dead people were able to vote in Chicago elections.

  3. Re:Windows can be as secure as Linux by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Cutting the network cable doesn't count!

  4. Linux is getting there, slowly by sco_robinso · · Score: 5, Informative

    As a windows System Admin (although I run Ubuntu personally), I can finally say that Linux is starting to get there, albeit slowly. I would definately say that linux is ready for a corporate IT envrionment.

    It's still going to take a bit of time before it's fully ready for the home desktop though. I use 802.11 wireless as a perfect example of that - amongst the 'warm and fuzzy' distro's (SuSe, Ubuntu, Mandrake, Lycoris), I have yet to be able to set up a system where there wasn't a fairly significant amount of rigmoral to get something as simple as wireless with basic encryption running. It wasn't really 'hard' for me to get the wireless running, but in each case, it required editing of text files, and typically no less that 7 or 8 CLI entries. Linux has come a long ways, even in the past 2 or 3 years. I think Ubuntu is a great example of a good, easy to use OS. However, there's still a few dark and nasty corners of Linux which need polishing before it's ready for the masses. And let's not mention games and brand name apps which only run under windows.

    Overall, it is exiting to see and watch. For the first time ever in the past few months, I've been able to recommend Ubuntu to begginner and novice users, as an easy-to-use alternative to Macs or Windows, with a straight face.