| My Desktop Odyssey Update - Conclusion |
by Michael C. Barnes
Conclusion
GNU/Linux distributions are improving. The very best distributions are getting closer and closer to offering the rich desktop experience Microsoft Windows XP users enjoy. For those people still using Windows 95 or Windows 98, migrating to one of the better GNU/Linux distributions would be an upgrade. For those users currently running Microsoft Windows XP, the justification to migrate would most likely be for economic reasons.
In part one, I concluded that the best two distributions are Alt Linux Junior 2.0 and ELX 1.0. The reason that I prefer these two installations is that they have done more work so that the native distributions are more completely installed than other distributions. ELX Powerdesktop and Xandros Desktop 1.0 are the real standouts. I continue to like Alt Junior 2.0 very much and it remains the lowest cost distribution for mass deployment. ELX Power Desktop and Xandros Desktop 1.0 are the best two GNU/Distributions I have tested. Both integrate very well with existing Windows and Unix networks. Both allow automated updates and both offer copyrighted code in addition to the Open Source code that makes their offerings more user friendly and better integrated than most other GNU/Distributions.
ELX Powerdesktop has the advantage of offering more applications and utilities. ELX Powerdesktop is a more integrated desktop and offers the advantages of grouping applications on launch pads. Xandros has the best file manager and includes Codeweavers Crossover Office and Crossover Plugin. ELX Powerdesktop and Xandros are both more expensive than many other GNU/Linux distributions. Given the fact that both of them are complete environments and not just a base OS, both ELX Powerdesktop and Xandros are viable alternatives for Microsoft Windows.
Some users who already own Microsoft Office 2000 licenses will be able to run these applications on both Xandros Desktop 1.0 (with Codeweaver's Crossover Office) or ELX Powerdesktop. Codeweavers Crossover Office is sold separately and is a very worthwhile investment for those users with existing investments in Microsoft Office and a limited number of other Microsoft Office applications.
ELX Powerdesk 2.0 offers the best support for existing Microsoft Windows based applications that I have tested. ELX Powerdesk promises to extend this capability far beyond its current capability. It looks as if it will not be long before the choice between Operating Systems will have more to do with functionality and less to do with applications.
OEone might be a better choice than all of the above choices for those users that are looking for a clean desktop that provides easy access to the basic applications. I can imagine that OEone would be ideal for about 80% of the professional world. It is not for the power user. It is for those people who write letters, create small spreadsheets, browse the web, keep contact information, and send e-mail.
Knoppix is a complete desktop that boots from a CD. Despite the fact that it runs directly off a CD, Knoppix is one of the best GNU/Linux distributions available. Knoppix is well worth downloading and keeping around in case of emergencies. It is also a very good way to try out GNU/Linux without having to reformat your drive and creating a new partition.
Peanut Linux is not as polished as the commercial applications, but it is one of the best free installations I have seen and it beats some of the more expensive GNU/Linux distributions. Vector Linux is even smaller than Peanut Linux. Vector Linux is the smallest, fully functional GNU/Linux that I have tested. I tested Vector Linux with only 32 MB RAM and Vector Linux ran very well.
ELX Powerdesktop 2.0, ELX Bizdesk, Xandros Desktop 1.0 and Alt Linux Junior 2.0 offer the user a very rich desktop experience. OEone is ideal for the non-power user and is easier to learn than almost any other desktop solution I have seen.
If you are worried about going with one of the lesser-known GNU/Linux distributions, Mandrake 9.0 and SuSE 8.1 are very much improved. Mandrake 9.0 is polished, complete, stable, and reasonably well integrated. SuSE offers excellent hardware support.
Red Hat 8.0 is worthy of consideration for office use. It is very stable, simple to install and easy to use. The only reason that Red Hat isn't scored as high as other choices is that other GNU/Linux distributions simply worked harder to provide more and better integrated working applications. None-the-less, there is nothing to fault in this latest Red Hat.
After you install most versions of GNU/Linux, you need to do a lot of additional work such as set up Samba, configure Webmin, install Flash viewer into your browser, download and install Real Audio, and install Java.
ELX, Xandros, and Alt Linux Jr. do all this work for you. Some distributions offer users the ability to pay for the right to download and install applications for a fee. ELX Powerdesktop 2.0, Xandros and Alt Linux Jr. allow customers to do this without signing up to an expensive service. They have implemented a feature called apt-get that allows users to update and install software easily.
OEone is the best platform for the user who primarily e-mails, tracks customers, schedules appointments, writes letters, and browses the web. OEone is as easy to master as a PDA. OEone is also a perfect front-end to organizations deploying web-based applications.
After months of research, I conclude that there is no “silver bullet” for desktops. Microsoft would seem to be the silver bullet, but even this is far too simplistic. Older hardware will not support Microsoft Windows XP. While Microsoft Windows 98 can support older hardware very well, Microsoft is dropping support for Windows 98. So long as these older configurations have 128 MB or RAM and 266 Mhz processor or better, most GNU/Linux distributions should run very well. Most GNU/Linux distributions will be an upgrade to the Windows 98 environment. Codeweavers, either purchased separately or as part of Xandros, allows users to run some existing Microsoft Applications directly on GNU/Linux, including Office 97 and Office 2000. Newer versions of Wine, which is included in most GNU/Linux distributions will support some Microsoft applications as well.
Microsoft XP is still the most complete desktop environment available for the x86 platform. No GNU/Linux distribution can match Microsoft XP's ability to support such a wide variety of applications or its very large application base. Some will point out that GNU/Linux is more stable or that it is more secure than Microsoft Windows XP. While there is probably some truth in both statements, these facts will not be enough for companies to replace Microsoft Windows with GNU/Linux.
The overwhelming factor that is now causing companies to consider alternatives to Microsoft is the costs associated with using Microsoft. As pointed out in my first article, companies using Microsoft can still take advantage of open source software. Open Windows, GIMP and many of the other excellent open source packages run on Microsoft Windows as well.
Some companies will want to create custom distributions where they choose all the software. Red Hat, Mandrake, SuSE and Alt Linux are among the best choices here. Mandrake offers the most applications while Red Hat provides a good platform to build on.
Organizations looking to save money can also consider using GNU/Linux in order to create thin clients that can support Microsoft Windows using Rdesktop. Not only is this solution less expensive, it is also far easier to administer.
Read the entire article here:
Introduction
Go to Part 2
Go to Part 3
Go to Conclusion
Also by Michael C. Barnes:
 About the author: Michael C. Barnes is currently president of NorhTec. Mr. Barnes has over 20 years experience with computers and another 10 years experience with more primitive networks, to include paper tape and morse code. Mr. Barnes has 18 years of experience with various Unix systems and spent 13 years with Sun Microsystems.
Mr. Barnes became fascinated with GNU/Linux turned the common PC into a Unix like workstation. By 1998, GNU/Linux surpassed the desktop environments offered on traditional Unix workstations.
When GNU/Linux is combined with low-cost x86 platforms, organizations now have the power to create enterprise computing for the small organization.
Mr. Barnes, born in Kentucky, now lives in Bangkok, Thailand with his wife, Linda Kubota-Barnes and his daughter Karen Barnes.
Copyright © 2003 by Michael C. Barnes. Reproduced by DesktopLinux.com with permission.
Talk back! Do you have comments or questions about this story? talkback here
(Click here for further information)
|
|
|
Approaching the Linux Desktop
The purpose of this paper is to help organizations evaluate the Linux desktop against their own enterprise needs and discover what benefits the Linux desktop might bring to their organizations.
Migrating To Linux: Application Challenges and Solutions
Several solutions exist to help organizations migrate in an orderly fashion from Windows to Linux desktops. This paper establishes the characteristics of an ideal cross-platform solution and reviews these alternatives in light of this ideal standard. The paper takes a closer look at the pros and cons of various solutions and outlines the business benefits that can be achieved.
Linux Advantages: Publicly Available Information on Linux Software
This paper offers a brief summary of readily-available Linux information to help businesses sort out this widely misunderstood operating system.
Top 5 Strategies for Managing Linux
Despite continuous evolution in the manageability of Linux, a 2006 survey cited manageability concerns as a top reason why organizations are hesitating to adopt Linux. Levanta believes Linux can be as manageable, if not more so, than other operating systems by following key strategies. These strategic recommendations were developed from experiences in numerous customer environments, both large and small.
Why Choose Novell for Linux?
This paper outlines the benefits of switching to the Linux platform and choosing Novell as a high-performance, enterprise solution.
Enterprise Linux Selection Guide
Considering moving your enterprise to the Linux operating system? Since there are so many similar versions, choosing the right one can be tough. This paper offers a clear process to help you make an informed decision and get the features, support, and cost that are right for your business and technical needs.
Overcoming Challenges in Managing Linux
Levanta has created a new administration model with innovative technology that breaks down the barriers to making the most of Linux systems. This paper will provide an in-depth look at the workings of Levanta’s product, the first Linux appliance of its kind.
SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 for Retail Businesses
Discover why major retailers have switched to SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop in the back office. SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 is a low-cost desktop that offers a complete set of productivity applications and interoperates seamlessly with the other Windows, Macintosh and UNIX desktops in your store.
Moving to a Linux Desktop
Migrating from Windows to Linux on the desktop can be a substantial undertaking because it has the potential for touching -- and perhaps disrupting -- every user in your organization. Unlike a data center (server and infrastructure) migration that is largely transparent to users, the cultural and administrative transitions and environment readiness required to support a Linux desktop migration are extensive.
Seven Good Reasons to Exchange Exchange
This paper describes seven compelling reasons why you should switch from Exchange to Scalix.
|
|
|
|
|
news feed
