Case studies show how to use Linux in the "real world"

Keywords: Match:

Jul. 28, 2004

Open source developer and noted skatepark advocate Mark Stosberg has posted a collection of "real world" migrations to Linux. These quick testimonals offer great case studies for how "Joe and Jane Sixpax" can use Linux and offer a great snapshot of all the ways Linux is meeting, and oftentimes surpasssing, user expectations.

Stosberg's friends and colleagues that have successfully moved to Linux all report that open source affords them the ability to do all -- or more than -- they could using more expensive operating systems. New Linux users profiled include the "demanding Mac user," and users who just needed low cost, easy to use, and no maintence systems. The case studies all address unique challenges and explore solutions available using open source.

Common to all the profiles are scenarios that address users' fear of moving to Linux. For example, there is the user who "needed" Microsoft Money, the gamer who could not live without "The Sims," and the user who had to use specialized programs for accessing a credit union and running a business. Both of these proprietary programs worked under WINE and are now listed as programs "known" to work with the popular open source bridge technology that provides Windows capabilities natively on Linux systems.

Skateboarding advocate turned Linux evangelist

Having used open source on his home desktop machine since 2001, Stosberg made a move to an HP system earlier this year. Equipped with Mandrake Linux 9.2, he now runs all business applications using his new system. Stosberg also found that by using CrossOver Office he could run Dreamweaver MX for Windows, as well as the official Windows Quicktime browser plugin.

Some of the other benefits of using Linux for Stosberg included the "abundance" of pre-compiled open source software over OS X. One extra benefit of running Linux, notes Stosberg, "some programs that worked on both systems worked better on OpenOffice 1.1 had not yet been released for OS X, and my fonts didn't look right on the older Mac version. This was installed and working great by default on Linux."

An unexpected bonus of using CrossOver office was that Stosberg could use Internet Explorer 6 and test website designs for IE browser compatibility directly from his Linux system. Additionally, he exports the program so that it runs on the desktop of the designer's OS X machine, calling it the "best solution we developed so far to allow a Mac user to test the Windows IE browser."

On his site, Stosberg hosts a tutorial page with tips and tricks for using Linux, including a guide for migrating using "Now Contact" (3.8) as an addressbook to the open-source KAddressbook (3.1), which runs on both OS X and Linux machines. He also provides an overview to set up Mandrake 10 on a Dell Latitude CPX H500GT laptop.

Stosberg has been using Linux for over six years. He is the co-owner and the principal developer at Summersault, a database driven web design company in Indiana. He is active in several open source software projects and is a maintainer of the popular Data::FormValidator Perl and CGI::Application Perl modules. His database-backed Skatepark.org project is a comprehensive resource for the skatepark community and promotes skateboarding in general.

In the collection of case studies Stosberg says that under Linux, networking the Macs was no problem (with Samba), and calendaring throughout his office supports both Linux and the Macs (with KOrganizer). Says Stosberg,

"With Windows, the decisions are pretty much made for you . . . The relative lack of virus and security problems with web-surfing is nice . . . The ease of installation and un-installation is refreshing. Not really so many surprises as when a person pays lots of money for a program, only to discover some prerequisite hardware or software missing." This same user reports his two "dinosaur" systems are still operating -- because of Linux.

(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.

Got a HOT tip? please tell us!

ADVERTISEMENT
(Advertise here)

Resource Library

Popular recent stories: • Linux an equal Flash player • Linux, netbooks threaten Microsoft's fat profits • gOS 3.0 goes gold • Browser swallows OS • Lenovo denies ditching Linux • Lightweight, Linux-compatible browser evolves • GNOME 2.24 gains "Empathy" IM • Review: Pardus Linux • Ubuntu to fund Linux development • Ubuntu "Intrepid Ibex" available All-time Classics: • Choosing a desktop Linux distro • Banshee -- the next best thing to Linux iTunes • Running World of Warcraft on Ubuntu • A simple Linux backup method • The Best Free Desktop Linux . . . and how to make it better • Linux-powered Asus Eee PC mini-laptop arrives • The well-tempered Debian desktop • Lenovo launches a netbook • What's the best Linux for beginners? • Getting to know Puppy Linux • Xandros 4: The best desktop Linux for Windows users • VirtualBox: The best virtualization program you've never heard of Linux-Watch headlines: • Amid controversy, Microsoft launches open source foundation • As open source surges, Microsoft admits Linux threat • Open source lobbying group emerges • Open source Linux device drivers submitted by -- Microsoft? • Google names Chrome OS partners • Google's new OS marries Linux and Chrome • Debian plans draw sharp warning from GNU guru • OpenSource World announces keynote speakers • Linux 2.6.30 gets new filesystems • Intel to buy Wind River for $884 million Join our Desktop Linux discussion forums: • Moving to Linux • Linux/Windows debate! • Linux Q&A . . . and more	Visit the...

BREAKING NEWS

• Knoppix Live CD distro rev'd
• Debian Linux-based Google Chrome OS debuts, goes open source
• Mint 8 achieves RC1, and Fedora 12 goes final
• Dell PCs cram multimedia power into tiny package
• OpenSUSE 11.2 and Novell's Mono Tools ship
• ABI's Jeffrey Orr on rising Linux netbook sales
• Moblin v2.1 goes beta, adds 3G support
• Linux owns 32 percent of netbook market, says study
• Skype working on open source VoIP UI
• Ubuntu 9.10 final ships as IBM spins Ubuntu-based cloud distro
• CentOS rev's to version 5.4, tries on KVM
• Fedora 12 optimized for Atom-powered netbooks
• Puppy Linux 4.3 gains bugfix, rave reviews
• Hulu comes to Linux
• Reviews praise Ubuntu 9.10, knock Ubuntu Moblin Remix

Linux Netbooks

Linux smartphones!

news feed

Or, follow us on Twitter...

Home \| News \| Articles \| Forum \| Polls \| About \| Contact

	Ziff Davis Enterprise Home \| Contact Us \| Advertise \| Link to Us \| Reprints \| Magazine Subscriptions \| Newsletters Tech RSS Feeds \| White Papers \| ROI Calculators \| Tech Podcasts \| Tech Video \| VARs \| Channel News
	Baseline \| Careers \| Channel Insider \| CIO Insight \| DesktopLinux \| DeviceForge \| DevSource \| eSeminars \| eWEEK \| Enterprise Network Security \| LinuxDevices \| Linux Watch \| Microsoft Watch \| Mid-market \| Networking \| PDF Zone \| Publish \| Security IT Hub \| Strategic Partner \| Web Buyer's Guide \| Windows for Devices
	Developer Shed \| Dev Shed \| ASP Free \| Dev Articles \| Dev Hardware \| SEO Chat \| Tutorialized \| Scripts \| Code Walkers \| Web Hosters \| Dev Mechanic \| Dev Archives \| igrep
Use of this site is governed by our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Except where otherwise specified, the contents of this site are copyright © 1999-2009 Ziff Davis Enterprise Holdings Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Ziff Davis Enterprise is prohibited. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

Home \| News \| Articles \| Forum \| Polls \| About \| Contact

	Ziff Davis Enterprise Home \| Contact Us \| Advertise \| Link to Us \| Reprints \| Magazine Subscriptions \| Newsletters Tech RSS Feeds \| White Papers \| ROI Calculators \| Tech Podcasts \| Tech Video \| VARs \| Channel News
	Baseline \| Careers \| Channel Insider \| CIO Insight \| DesktopLinux \| DeviceForge \| DevSource \| eSeminars \| eWEEK \| Enterprise Network Security \| LinuxDevices \| Linux Watch \| Microsoft Watch \| Mid-market \| Networking \| PDF Zone \| Publish \| Security IT Hub \| Strategic Partner \| Web Buyer's Guide \| Windows for Devices
	Developer Shed \| Dev Shed \| ASP Free \| Dev Articles \| Dev Hardware \| SEO Chat \| Tutorialized \| Scripts \| Code Walkers \| Web Hosters \| Dev Mechanic \| Dev Archives \| igrep
Use of this site is governed by our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Except where otherwise specified, the contents of this site are copyright © 1999-2009 Ziff Davis Enterprise Holdings Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Ziff Davis Enterprise is prohibited. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.