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Ask Slashdot: How To Start With Linux In the Workplace?

Posted by timothy on from the sounds-like-mint-works-for-you dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Recently my boss has asked me about the advantages of Linux as a desktop operating system and if it would be a good idea to install it instead of upgrading to Windows 7 or 8. About ten boxes here are still running Windows XP and would be too old to upgrade to any newer version of Windows. He knows that i am using Linux at work on quite outdated hardware (would have gotten a new PC but never requested new hardware — Linux Mint x64 runs quite well on it) and i always managed to get my stuff done with it. I explained to him that there are no licensing issues with Linux, there is no anti-virus software to deal with and that Linux is generally a bit more efficient on old hardware than operating systems from Microsoft. The boss seems interested." But that's not quite the end; read on for this reader's question. "Since I am the only guy with Linux experience I would have to support the Linux installations. Now the problem is what works perfectly fine for me may be a horrible experience for some of my coworkers, and even if they would only be using Firefox, Thunderbird and LibreOffice I don't know if I could seriously recommend using Linux as a desktop OS in a business. Instead I want to set up one test machine for users to try it and ask THEM if they like it. The test machine should be as easy and painless to use as possible and not look too different compared to Windows. Which distro and what configuration should I choose for this demo box?"

6 of 452 comments (clear)

  1. Lubuntu by hobarrera · · Score: 4, Interesting

    [url=http://lubuntu.net/]lubuntu[/url] is pretty lightweight, and looks pretty similar to windows as far as I can tell. Plus, it's all Ubuntu under the hood (for better or for worse). You know you'll have updates for a looong time coming.

  2. Mixed Linux/Windows Environments Don't Work Well by rafjaimes · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Interoperability between LibreOffice and Microsoft Office is less than ideal in my opinion. You will always run into some issues, with references, equations, fonts, something. If Linux has all of the software you need to get the job done, then go for it. If you still use programs for Windows, using a VM or dual booting is not worth it in my opinion, better off staying with Windows. If you do go Linux it is better to go full force: change over everyone. Have everyone use LibreOffice and make .odt, .ods, etc standard for your workplace. You should have minimal problems. Do not recommend Linux to someone if you're not the IT guy and it is not your job. You will be blamed for everything that goes wrong and will waste time fixing or explaining differences. Do use a spin creation system for your distro of choice and have all of your software pre-installed for your tasks to minimize customization and difference between workstations.

  3. Nope. by 228e2 · · Score: 4, Interesting
    The first sentence answers the question.

    Since I am the only guy with Linux experience I would have to support the Linux installations.

    You're going to be the new Sys Admin. On top of your other work, which I am just assuming is not a Sys Admin role.
    Let IT worry about IT.

    --
    Since when does being a Socialist mean 'someone who has a different opinion than me'?
  4. Re:Don't start on the desktop by ogdenk · · Score: 4, Interesting

    In fact Linux is a much more mature product as a server than Windows NT. SysV and BSD UNIX are *FAR* more mature server products that existed long before NT was even a gleam in Microsoft's eye.

    Linux/UNIX is not "the alternative". Windows NT was "the alternative" to Novell Netware, OS/2 and UNIX. Most people born before the 90's already know this however.

  5. Re:PCs aint expensive by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Get new Optiplexes for ~$800, with Win7 Pro, and be done with it.
    Something like this:
    Dell 469-3925 OptiPlex 7010 MT i7-3770 3.4G 4GB 500GB DVDRW W7P 64-Bit
    http://www.provantage.com/dell-469-3925~7DELD05L.htm
    Dual monitor support, it'll do everything you need for the next 4 years. And if you want to put Linux on there, slap a different drive in and do it. Limping along with crappy old hardware is false economy.

  6. Re:Looking like Windows by Entropius · · Score: 5, Interesting

    True story:

    I needed to buy a laptop once, and wandered into a Best Buy and started poking at one of the machines. I hadn't seen Win8 before; all of my machines run some linux or other, or Win7 with the classic UI.

    I'm curious about the system specs of one machine, so I want to go to Control Panel->System and see. I call over one of the Best Buy reps:

    "How do I get out of whatever tonka-toys demo software this is and back to the OS? I want to check the specs."

    The guy answers: "Uh, that *is* the OS. Don't like Win8 either, eh?"