All of the points you mentioned I can cover on my Linux network (server + clients). Sure, I know what I'm doing, and your typical Windows Admin doesn't -- but that not my problem, is it? The real "business argument" I have is "can the users do their jobs without the technology interrupting their work?" Yes, they can.
"New user mode drivers will most likely be easier to program than their kernel-mode counterparts". Um. Sally Secretary really likes that. Do you actually know what a "business feature" is?
Quite simple, people. If all the Linux boxen in world had to go off-line right now, the whole world's economy will grind to a halt. Just do the math, and you'll see: how many misson critical systems run on Linux? There is NO WAY how the governments of the world will allow that -- they'll simply pass legislation to nullify the MS patents.
MS better be careful: anti-trust lawsuits are one thing, sabotaging economies is quite different. Don't mess with the guy who owns a nuclear warhead.
We don't teach Computer Science, but a 3 year Information Systems degree. 4 semesters programming; 3 semesters database design & programming; 3 semesters web programming (+ DB back end); 5 semesters OS and networking; 6 semesters systems deign, management and planning; 1 semester accounting. Then the students do an industry project (working with local industry) for 2 semesters and build a fully working system.
IMHO, CS is a small sub-set of what's needed. Industry needs flexible and adaptable IS professionals, rather than computer scientists. And BTW, all our students have jobs.
I have an old box with the Intel 815 graphics chipset on-board. Whilst RH7.x, 8, and 9; Suse 9.1; Xandros 2,3; Ubuntu; and Mepis all run perfectly on this box, FC3 installs up to a point, then simply freezes up with the screen showing some nice garbage. The real irony is that both FC1 and FC2 ran on this box -- why has Fedora 3 DROPPED support for the i815 chip?????
I have been using Xandros 2.0 since last year. I have played with Fedora 3, Suse 9.1, Mandrake 10.0, Ubuntu, RedHat 9 -- all OK-ish, but Xandros is by far the easiest and most stable. In our little town there are now 12 very satisfied HOME users that have switched from WinXP to Xandros -- all PAID for.
I can't wait to install Xandros 3.0, and I do not mind paying at all -- it just works and does exactly what I need. Yes, I like to play with OS's (see list) but my production work is done on Xandros.
...I have been installing various flavours of Linux (mostly Xandros 2) on more than 50 PC's over the last few months -- mostly for HOME users. These are ordinary Joe Soaps who have reached the stage where they are totaly fed up with all the malware infesting Windows boxes. And they do not have the time to download an 80 mb patch.... which doesn't work properly. Just last night an MCSE phoned me and asked for a copy of Xandros Open Ed. -- appears he went online with his XP machine and was compromised within 5 minutes.
Microsoft made it big when their CONSUMER product, Win95, took off big time. Consumers are now starting to discover easy-to-use Linux distro's, such as Xandros and Suse, and being able to surf the Web safely is a Big Thing. All these Joes want is to read their emails, surf the Web and do some simple budgeting on a spreadsheet -- and they are all VERY happy with their "new" computers.
The point is that CONSUMERS created the support base for MS in '95, and CONSUMERS are now quietly moving away from MS. Mark my words: 2004 will go down in history as the tipping year. I live in a small town, and the number of people using Linux is surprising, and INCREASING. A Quiet Revolution indeed.
I have been using Xandros 2.0 since it came out, and have recommended it to a number of friends. These are people who simply want a device to read email and surf the 'Net without being swamped with viruses and worms. All of us bought our copies, because we don't mind paying money for a stable and trouble-free computing environment. Also, we gave up trying to update Windows - when you are using a 56k modem it is simply not feasible to download 100 mb patches every second week.
People complaining about Xandros Networks miss one point: you can set up OTHER websites as sources for downloads (Xandros Networks is just a front end for apt-get) - which means you can get all the free software you want for your Debian based box. (And of course you can still use apt-get)
Really guys, Xandros is good. I have played with RedHat 7.x, 9, Fedora, Suse, Mandrake, Knoppix since 1999. Xandros simply works straight out of the box - no fiddling, no "just edit this file". There were a few very minor snags, but nothing serious.
AND: the Deluxe version does contain all the source code plus gcc & all the stuff you need to write code, so don't let anybody tell you it's "only" for ex-Windows people who can only point and click.
I did suggest to Xandros to release a bottom end product for free. I am not saying they did this on my recommendation, but I believe it is the right move. ANYONE can now have a solid Linux desktop at home, WITHOUT the pain / virusses / expense / flakiness of Windows - for FREE. Obviously one would want to upgrade to the Deluxe or Business edition, if only for the extra software - and I, for one, wish Xandros all the best. The whole point of the OSS business model is to add value and sell it.
Good job, Xandros. Thanks for letting me sleep at night!
Xandros 2.0. It just works. Seriously, folks, give it a try. EVERYTHING is pre-installed: Java, Flash, Mozilla, OpenOffice - and all works together. Drog 'n drop CD burning, automount of USB devices etc. If you can't use Xandros, you can't use a PC.
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"Corporatism" is another word for "Fascism" Look it up - frightening.
All of the points you mentioned I can cover on my Linux network (server + clients). Sure, I know what I'm doing, and your typical Windows Admin doesn't -- but that not my problem, is it? The real "business argument" I have is "can the users do their jobs without the technology interrupting their work?" Yes, they can. "New user mode drivers will most likely be easier to program than their kernel-mode counterparts". Um. Sally Secretary really likes that. Do you actually know what a "business feature" is?
Quite simple, people. If all the Linux boxen in world had to go off-line right now, the whole world's economy will grind to a halt. Just do the math, and you'll see: how many misson critical systems run on Linux? There is NO WAY how the governments of the world will allow that -- they'll simply pass legislation to nullify the MS patents. MS better be careful: anti-trust lawsuits are one thing, sabotaging economies is quite different. Don't mess with the guy who owns a nuclear warhead.
We don't teach Computer Science, but a 3 year Information Systems degree. 4 semesters programming; 3 semesters database design & programming; 3 semesters web programming (+ DB back end); 5 semesters OS and networking; 6 semesters systems deign, management and planning; 1 semester accounting. Then the students do an industry project (working with local industry) for 2 semesters and build a fully working system. IMHO, CS is a small sub-set of what's needed. Industry needs flexible and adaptable IS professionals, rather than computer scientists. And BTW, all our students have jobs.
I have an old box with the Intel 815 graphics chipset on-board. Whilst RH7.x, 8, and 9; Suse 9.1; Xandros 2,3; Ubuntu; and Mepis all run perfectly on this box, FC3 installs up to a point, then simply freezes up with the screen showing some nice garbage. The real irony is that both FC1 and FC2 ran on this box -- why has Fedora 3 DROPPED support for the i815 chip?????
I have been using Xandros 2.0 since last year. I have played with Fedora 3, Suse 9.1, Mandrake 10.0, Ubuntu, RedHat 9 -- all OK-ish, but Xandros is by far the easiest and most stable. In our little town there are now 12 very satisfied HOME users that have switched from WinXP to Xandros -- all PAID for.
I can't wait to install Xandros 3.0, and I do not mind paying at all -- it just works and does exactly what I need. Yes, I like to play with OS's (see list) but my production work is done on Xandros.
...I have been installing various flavours of Linux (mostly Xandros 2) on more than 50 PC's over the last few months -- mostly for HOME users. These are ordinary Joe Soaps who have reached the stage where they are totaly fed up with all the malware infesting Windows boxes. And they do not have the time to download an 80 mb patch.... which doesn't work properly. Just last night an MCSE phoned me and asked for a copy of Xandros Open Ed. -- appears he went online with his XP machine and was compromised within 5 minutes.
Microsoft made it big when their CONSUMER product, Win95, took off big time. Consumers are now starting to discover easy-to-use Linux distro's, such as Xandros and Suse, and being able to surf the Web safely is a Big Thing. All these Joes want is to read their emails, surf the Web and do some simple budgeting on a spreadsheet -- and they are all VERY happy with their "new" computers.
The point is that CONSUMERS created the support base for MS in '95, and CONSUMERS are now quietly moving away from MS. Mark my words: 2004 will go down in history as the tipping year. I live in a small town, and the number of people using Linux is surprising, and INCREASING. A Quiet Revolution indeed.
I have been using Xandros 2.0 since it came out, and have recommended it to a number of friends. These are people who simply want a device to read email and surf the 'Net without being swamped with viruses and worms. All of us bought our copies, because we don't mind paying money for a stable and trouble-free computing environment. Also, we gave up trying to update Windows - when you are using a 56k modem it is simply not feasible to download 100 mb patches every second week.
People complaining about Xandros Networks miss one point: you can set up OTHER websites as sources for downloads (Xandros Networks is just a front end for apt-get) - which means you can get all the free software you want for your Debian based box. (And of course you can still use apt-get)
Really guys, Xandros is good. I have played with RedHat 7.x, 9, Fedora, Suse, Mandrake, Knoppix since 1999. Xandros simply works straight out of the box - no fiddling, no "just edit this file". There were a few very minor snags, but nothing serious.
AND: the Deluxe version does contain all the source code plus gcc & all the stuff you need to write code, so don't let anybody tell you it's "only" for ex-Windows people who can only point and click.
I did suggest to Xandros to release a bottom end product for free. I am not saying they did this on my recommendation, but I believe it is the right move. ANYONE can now have a solid Linux desktop at home, WITHOUT the pain / virusses / expense / flakiness of Windows - for FREE. Obviously one would want to upgrade to the Deluxe or Business edition, if only for the extra software - and I, for one, wish Xandros all the best. The whole point of the OSS business model is to add value and sell it.
Good job, Xandros. Thanks for letting me sleep at night!
Xandros 2.0. It just works. Seriously, folks, give it a try. EVERYTHING is pre-installed: Java, Flash, Mozilla, OpenOffice - and all works together. Drog 'n drop CD burning, automount of USB devices etc. If you can't use Xandros, you can't use a PC.