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IBM Launches Microsoft-Free Linux Virtual Desktop
VorlonFog writes "According to Information Week, IBM has introduced a line of business computers that avoid Microsoft's desktop environment in favor of open source software. IBM worked with Canonical and Virtual Bridges to create the platform, which IBM claims saves businesses $500 to $800 per user on software licenses and an additional $258 per user 'since there is no need to upgrade hardware to support Vista and Office.'"
What do we do about Powerpoint, Xcel, Visio, and the other MS utilities? Please don't act like OO is a feasible alternative for these programs. Other than that I would be a huge fan of this.
Either you've never worked in an office or if you are working in one then your network and security guys need to be fired.
This IBM thing is good for a small company (under 15 people) but as the Parent poster described most medium to large companies have third-party or internally written software that isn't going to run on The Linux. And binaries aren't always possible because they person who wrote it doesn't work there, died, retired or the third-party company isn't around anymore.
I love OSS but I really wish some of you would figure out that it is NOT going to work for everyone.
Build me a OSS insurance agency management system that is easy to use, works without problems, interfaces into an OSS email client that resembles Outlook, integrates with an office suite that resembles Office, has to import the existing 100,000+ tables I currently have plus our 120gb database.
Oh yeah, it has to interface with 25+ national and international insurance company's download and underwriting systems (Insurity being a big one)for rating and policy updates even though most of them don't use the ALG3 standard.
Also, it has to be licensed with ISO so that it has the most updated Acord forms which I need to be able to download as their released because if I can't then my agency is liable under E&O. That Errors and Omissions, which I could be sued over if my stuff isn't up to date.
Your auto insurance policy? The form the insurance company used had to be approved by ISO. Just to use their reference library to download the most up to date forms costs $2800.
You make that and give it to me free and I'll switch the entire company over to it.