The real cost of switching to Linux - Is TCO really lower than Unix or Windows?

Info World ^ | 08.29.2003 | By Dave Margulius

[RedBloodedAmerican]

FYI ~ InfoWorld is a free subscription.

[sasquatch]

I like DOS.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

I still play asteroids on my PC. :o)

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Rockin' on without Microsoft

[Dutch Boy]

I'd love to see what would happen in my office. I'm surrounded by people that are stumped with performing easy Windows tasks. Daily I'm asked to help find "lost" files, change print orientations from portrait to landscape or link a Lotus Notes document to an email. I once spent 2 hours showing a guy how to use a BAT file to automate some simple repeated tasks. In less than 20 minutes it was like I had never talked to the guy. OTOH it might be fun watching brains explode when someone has to grep a file.

[general_re]

I'd love to see what would happen in my office.

Linux can do many wonderful things. Causing a rise in intelligence among your users is not one of them ;)

[rdb3]

The Penguin Ping.

Wanna be Penguified? Just holla!

Click and find out!

Got root?

[ErnBatavia]

I have no idea why I click on these "tech threads". I keep hoping I'll learn something, but all I end up seeing is a big ole pissing match.....I may check back on this one later; then again, I may just go to bed and then fire up this HP equipped with something called XP and tune in tomorrow.

I'm so confused....

[Poohbah]

"I like DOS."

C:\DOS

C:\DOS\RUN

RUN DOS\RUN

[demlosers]

Bump for later...

[Ukiapah Heep]

Bah! MVS Rules.

[ErnBatavia]

Got root?

I did the other night, during a dream....it was a beautiful thing. I now know that a fifty-something can do amazing things.

(:

[MarkL]

I'm a very strong believer in using the best tool for the job. Linux definately has it's place in many, if not all, organizations.

For example, in a small office setting where people have been using individual workstations, often it's cheaper and easier to install a linux server rather than a Windows or Novell server. If high levels of security aren't needed, SAMBA works just fine. And there are backup utilities that automate both the backup and disaster recovery.

On the other hand, a church where I volunteer got a proposal to "upgrade" their system. Right now, the place is strictly a Novell shop. They've got 2 NetWare 4.11 servers (they used to have two locations that have since been combined into a single site), GroupWise for email, and a BorderManager system as their firewall...

This other company also likes Novell for their file and print services, as well as email (GroupWise), but suggested putting in a "real firewall," a PC running BSD, and setting up a linux system for their website (they currently pay for web hosting). I was shocked to hear that BorderManager wasn't a "real firewall," and suggested that they barely know how to change the tapes on their systems, are they sure that they really want to bring two new and different OSs into the mix? More importantly, if they want a "real firewall," why not just get a Cisco PIX firewall and be done with it?!?!? Geez! If they want to run their web site on Apache, just use NetWare! They weren't aware that they could do any of that... Personally, I hope that the other company gets the contract, that way I won't be called at all hours! lol.

In closing, just use the right tool for the job!

Mark

[RedBloodedAmerican]

I am totally satisified with the Windows 2000 line.Take this article with a grain of salt; the magazine is heavily *nix slanted.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Win2k eliminates the need for Netware.

[FormerlyAnotherLurker]

I'm still working on Zork.

[hugorand]

Will Linux run on my TRS-80?

[general_re]

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Is it possible to find Zork on the internet? Awesome game!