A lot of obsolete concerns are floating around and preventing users from embracing Linux. Jack Wallen from Tech Republic debunks some of the common myths and explains what you could be missing.

I hear it all the time: “Linux can’t do this or Linux can’t do that”… or: “You have to jump through a million hoops to get something simple to work in Linux.” The litany of FUD and myth is as deep as Bill Gates’ pockets. But it’s not the cornucopia of un-truths that concerns me, it’s the certainty of the people who spout them. So I figured I would take a moment to dispel these issues before anyone else can spread their vicious tone further. Not all of these issues are known as deal-breakers. But as a whole, they could easily combine to keep anyone from jumping on the Linux bandwagon.

1: You have to write your own device drivers

This one really makes me laugh. In my 12 years’ experience with Linux, the closest thing to a device driver I ever had to write was a bash script to keep a WinModem connected to my dial-up ISP. That was around 1997. Back then, it was quite a bit easier to find hardware that WOULDN’T work with Linux. That isn’t so much the case now. Linux has grown exponentially in the realm of hardware support since the early days. And the only people writing hardware drivers are the companies making the hardware or the programmers working on the distributions (or various aspects of the kernel). No end user will ever see a device driver on that level with Linux.

2: You have to know the command line to use Linux

Again I laugh. I challenge Linux users to see how long they can perform their day-to-day tasks without the command line. You will be surprised at how long you can go. Oh sure, the command line is much more efficient than its GUI alternatives. But if you don’t want to use the multitude of commands Linux offers, you don’t HAVE to use them. If you can’t go an entire release cycle of a distribution without having to use the command line, you haven’t explored the GUI much. Get out! Explore. Get to know your surroundings.

3: Games will keep Linux from succeeding

As much as gamers want to think this, it is simply not true. Games do not make or break the Windows operating system, nor will they make or break Linux. The most used applications on any given PC are the browser, email, word processor, spreadsheet, and finances. Outside of Solitaire and Web-based Flash games, games affect only a small portion of PC users. And any hardcore Linux user knows Cedega helps allow Windows games to be played on Linux.

4: Open source means the code isn’t secure

Not true at all. Because the code can be viewed by the public, developers across the globe can submit possible fixes, ideas, and solutions. When the code is under the discriminating eye of the public, it had better be solid. Not only is the reputation of Linux on the line, so is the reputation of the developers who create it. The programmers’ ego is a powerful force, and knowing their code is readily available is much more of a push than if their code was obfuscated from their peers. Bugs are also squashed much faster than they are with closed source code. And because Linux is updated more frequently than most other operating systems, those fixes get to the desktops and servers much sooner.

5: You can’t open Microsoft documents in Linux

Untrue. Even the dreaded “docx” issue has been surmounted by OpenOffice. The big problem here is that Windows does not follow standards like it should. Because of this, Linux (and its constituent applications) must remain agile to constantly enable applications to open and save so that Microsoft Office users can collaborate. OpenOffice does this excellently. There’s no longer and need to fear that by using Linux, you won’t be able to work alongside your colleagues who prefer the Windows operating system.

6: The desktops are too hard to use

How long has it been since you’ve used any of the Linux desktops? The modern iterations of both GNOME and KDE are completely redefining user-friendly on the PC desktop. Both camps have created desktop environments that anyone can use and use well. They are sleek, professional, stable, and fast. But most of all, the desktops have been designed so that they are easy to use. You’ll rarely find much (if any) learning curve with either GNOME or KDE. The main exception will be KDE’s new Activities features. But once a user understands the concept of Activities, it’s simple to use and makes the desktop much more efficient.

7: The Linux operating system doesn’t play well with others

On the contrary ,Linux was made to be online and to talk to other operating systems and devices. And with the later releases of the desktops, even sharing folders with Windows and OS X machines has become a no-brainer. You want to network a Linux and a Windows machine? No problem. You want to network a Linux and a Mac machine? No problem. Linux to Linux? Again, no problem. Networking is one of the many strong points of the Linux operating system. Typically, Windows has far more issues connecting to other operating systems on a network.

8: There are no applications for Linux

Have you ever opened the Add/Remove Software utility? Linux has a plethora of outstanding applications, all housed in one convenient location. You don’t have to bother searching the Web for applications; just fire up the tool and look around. If I look on Synaptic (one of the Add/Remove Software tools for Linux) on my Ubuntu 10.04 installation, I see 30,486 applications I can add or remove. All of them free. And even if only half of those applications are useful, that’s still more than 15,000 applications… all in one convenient spot.

9: Windows is used on more PCs than any other OS in the world

To this, I say “Prove it”. Yes, you can prove (within a certain percentage) how many installations of the various Windows operating systems there are. All you have to do is check the Microsoft records to see how many units have been sold. For Linux, this isn’t so easy. If I just examine my own personal usage, I find that I have downloaded the Ubuntu 10.04 ISO and have installed it on numerous machines. And this is typical behavior. Because of the way Linux is distributed, it’s nearly impossible to know just how many installations there are across the globe. Asia and Europe are rife with massive Linux deployments and have been since around 2005.

10: Linux has no hardware support

Years ago, this was the case. When you wanted a new video card or a new sound card, new printer, mouse, scanner, etc., you had to do your homework. You couldn’t just hop over to the big box store, purchase that shiny new toy, plug it in, and watch it work. Fortunately, for the most part, those days are gone. You can now enjoy much broader hardware support now than you ever had before with Linux. You might still have issues in certain areas. But those areas are always centered around companies that refuse to release the specs on their hardware. Such companies are dwindling in number. NVidia, for example, offers outstanding support for Linux. And with the help of proprietary drivers, even the wireless issues are becoming a thing of the past. Is it perfect? No. There are still pieces of hardware that are iffy in their support. But if the trend continues, Linux will soon enjoy as wide a range of support as does Windows.

Myth or reality?

The FUD machine is slowly coming to a creaking, grinding halt, and Linux continues to slowly gain momentum. Over the last 12 years, I have seen a huge shift not only in support but in perception of Linux, and open source, as a whole.

Original Article By Jack Wallen of Tech Republic

Just as a matter of interest … this website is hosted on a *nix machine!!

According to Netcraft.com’s surveys, the market leader in web hosting is Linux, a Unix-type operating system. As of August 2009, more than 66.9 percent of the million busiest sites are using a Unix variant to power their websites.

Read more: Unix Vs. Windows Web Hosting | eHow.com

Looks like I’m in good company!

If you’re thinking about making the switch to Linux, Tech Republic’s Jack Wallen is all for it — but only if you approach the migration with your eyes open. He recommends that you evaluate a number of key issues before taking this big step.

With the unsure economy and Microsoft Vista failing to gain overwhelming acceptance, many people are considering a migration to Linux. As a supporter of Linux and open source, I regard this new popularity as a coup — but it comes with a hint of danger. What happens when the average IT department doesn’t take its time examining the pros and cons before doing the migration? Although I find Linux to be far superior to Windows, certain criteria MUST be considered before making the switch. Otherwise, you may find yourself having to back-pedal to square one. If you’re considering a migration to Linux, be sure to answer these 10 questions first.

#1: Will that proprietary, mission-critical application run on the new platform?

One of the first things I tell people who are considering a migration is that, yes, most likely there is a Linux equivalent to the application you use. Photoshop? Gimp. Adobe Reader? Scribus. But there are certain instances where an application has been written specifically for a purpose (or company) and does not have a cross-platform equivalent. In this case, I would say you could try running your application with Wine or you could run a virtual instance of Windows to get that app running. But this takes time and effort and, in some cases, isn’t as stable as one would like (especially in the case of Wine).

If you have mission-critical applications that were created for the Windows environment (and only the Windows environment), your best bet is to avoid migrating those systems that make use of the proprietary software. Of course, if the proprietary software is Web-based, you can probably go ahead because Firefox is on par with Internet Explorer.

#2: Which desktop are you planning to use?

This is not a question most people have to face. With Windows and OS X, you have one desktop metaphor. With Linux, the desktop choices are about as vast as the choices of breakfast cereal at your local supermarket. If you select the wrong desktop, you could wind up with a lot of confused users. But the decision isn’t difficult really.

If your users are accustomed to OS X, the best choice is GNOME. If your users are accustomed to Windows XP, your best choice is KDE 3.5.x. If your users are accustomed to Windows Vista, your best choice is KDE 4.x (although be sure to skip the .0 release and go straight to .1 or better.) And the Linux desktop goes well beyond the Windows and OS X metaphors. You could really stretch your imagination and create a desktop specific to your company. But the idea behind this is that, when considering a migration, you must take into account your users and which desktop they would be most comfortable with.

#3: Is your IT department up to the task?

One of the biggest mistakes made with a Linux migration decision is assuming that your IT staff can make the transition from one operating system to another without any extra training or help. Sure, they may know more about Windows than you know about your own family. But that doesn’t mean they know their way around Linux well enough to administer a system or network of Linux boxes.

If you’re planning a migration from one operating system to another, find out the level of knowledge your IT staff has for the new OS. If they don’t have enough knowledge, there will be trouble both during and after the migration. We always like to think our IT department is well versed in every technology used today. The reality is that most IT pros are well versed in what they need to know to get the job done. If Linux isn’t part of getting the job done, they may not have the necessary knowledge. Of course, many IT administrators use Linux in other instances (such as at home) and will at least have a foundation to build upon.

#4: Does your corporate headquarters get a kickback or benefit from Microsoft?

Work with me here. Many companies and/or institutions benefit from using the Windows operating system in less obvious ways. For instance, some universities can offer students large discounts on software (such as Visual Studio and Office) because they deploy hundreds of instances of Windows desktops across campus. Without these installations, there would be no software discounts. So making the migration in such a case would be disastrous for those who benefit. Of course, if your institution used and supported Linux, the software would all be free, negating the need for any discount (such as student-purchased software.)

#5: Do your employees use a lot of removable media?

Linux has come a long way with removable media. (Remember the days of having to manually mount and unmount floppy disks?) But there are still instances where handling removable media is not as simple as it is in Windows. The automount system doesn’t always work as seamlessly as your users are accustomed to.

Consider removable thumb drives. In many of the modern Linux distributions, it’s a simple matter of inserting the drive and having the usb subsystem automatically detect the insertion and ask whether you want to view the contents in a new window. Most of the time, viewing the contents in a new window mounts the device for you. Once you are done with the device, you just have to follow through with the “safely remove” action your desktop demands. But without this “safely remove” action, most likely your data will not be written to the device. So if you have users who employ removable media often, you will want to make sure you deploy a distribution that has a more seamless removable media system (such as Mandriva). Otherwise, skip the migration.

#6: Is your hardware supported?

Generally speaking, this isn’t such an issue any longer. But for larger corporations that try to cut costs by going with cheaper hardware, it can still be a big concern. Most often, the suspect hardware will be an onboard video card, which normally would be a cheap fix. But when your company is looking at migrations of 100+ machines, replacing video cards can be a costly endeavor. There are other issues here to consider. Deploying laptops will be the biggest hurdle. Will your wireless card work? Will video work? Sound? And hibernation/suspend could easily be the deal breaker. Fortunately, the Linux operating system benefits from the LiveCD phenomenon, so you can download an ISO image, boot from the LiveCD, and find out first hand whether your hardware is supported. If it isn’t, you have your answer.

#7: Are you using Active Directory?

If your organization is large enough to require Active Directory, understand one thing: The process of migrating from AD to OpenLDAP is an unwieldy task, and some of the AD functionality is not compatible with OpenLDAP. Does this mean AD is superior to OpenLDAP? Not necessarily. If you have an enterprise-level AD deployment and you’re looking to migrate to the same size OpenLDAP deployment, you can manage it with pwdump2 and ActiveState Perl. But don’t expect the migration to be a simple execution of a single command or the click of a button. This is one migration criterion that should be the center of an IT meeting or two before a decision is made.

#8: Do you outsource your help desk support?

Many larger companies pay to outsource help desk support — an ugly, but true, fact of corporate culture. If this is the case for your company, you had best do a little research before you plunge into the Linux waters. If your company plans on migrating to Linux via Ubuntu (Canonical), Red Hat, or SuSE (Novell) Linux, you’re in luck and can purchase support. If you go with a different distribution, say, Debian, you won’t find nearly the same level of help. There are other sources of support (such as mailing lists), but you’re not going to get the level you are accustomed to.

#9: Are you attached to licensing fees for software?

If you pay for contract licenses for security software, you’re going to be out of that money because you probably won’t need to deploy those services. Norton? Nope. Symantec? Nope. There are a number of security services you simply won’t need when the migration is complete. And if you’re still paying for a contract, it would be best to manage the migration so that it coincides with the contract expiration.

#10: Do some of your employees fit the Linux user experience more than others?

This is where you can control a partial migration and do it intelligently and effectively. There are most certainly employees in your company who fit the bill for the migration. Say, for example, some of your employees do only Web browser work. They will be perfect candidates for migration because on the user level, a Web browser is Web browser is a Web browser. For them, the migration will, for the most part, be totally transparent. You could also consider users who do mostly office suite work, such as word processing or spreadsheet tasks. To them, the difference between Open Office and Microsoft Office is mostly aesthetic. On the flip side, there will be users who would not be good targets for migration, such as those using proprietary software.

Proceed with caution

Clearly, a migration of this magnitude deserves careful consideration and study. Evaluating these criteria before migrating to Linux could possibly save you from a disaster. And in this economy, an IT disaster could spell corporate failure.

Does Linux have what it takes to meet the needs of the corporate desktop? Jack Wallen thinks so. Here’s his list of office apps that can handle everything from word processing to project management to data backups.

Let’s face it: Without a good set of office applications, your workday will be a waste of time. Productivity requires the right tools, and contrary to what some people think, Linux has everything you need to get you through the day without a hitch. We’re going to look at applications that will satisfy everyone in the organization — from HR to marketing to the front office.

#1: OpenOffice

This one goes without saying, offering word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, database management, drawing, and Web page editing. Add to that the ability to read and write Microsoft Office files and export to PDF and Flash (among other formats), and you have a complete office suite that should meet every need your office has. The OpenOffice user interface has little to no learning curve, so users will hardly know the difference between Microsoft Office and OpenOffice. OpenOffice is also cross-platform capable, with installation binaries for Linux, Solaris, Windows, and OS X (both Intel and PPC).

#2: Evolution

This is the Linux version of Outlook. Another one-stop shop, only this time it’s all about the PIM. E-mail, calendar, contacts, tasks, advanced searching, desktop integration, shared vCards, junk filters, encryption, LDAP support, iCal support, and much more. And if your company uses an Exchange server, you’re in luck because the Evolution Connector will be able to keep you connected. Evolution tends to be the default e-mail client for the GNOME desktop, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy Evolution on KDE (or any other window manager.)

#3: Scribus

This is desktop publishing at its open source finest. Scribus can do almost anything Adobe Acrobat can do — minus draining your wallet. Scribus does layering, opacity, ICC color management, CMYK color separations, and versatile PDF creation. With this tool, your newsletters, press packets, fliers, books, manuals, etc., are done in-house and on the cheap. I have used Scribus on numerous projects ranging from simple fliers to complex books.

#4: Gnucash

Gnucash is one of the best accounting packages available for Linux. It uses double-entry bookkeeping and is a suitable replacement for individual accounting as well as a small business accounting. Gnucash is one of the only accounting packages that is available across most all platforms (Linux, Solaris, UNIX, OS X, and Windows).

#5: OpenProj

This is the open source replacement for Microsoft Project. OpenProj has an equivalent user interface and functionality similar to Project and is interoperable with Project. OpenProj is released under the CPAL (Common Public Attribution License) license and is available for Linux, OS X, 32-bit Windows, BSD, and UNIX-like operating systems. OpenProj does require Java.

#6: Meeting Room Booking System

Meeting Room Booking System is a Web-based booking system for meeting rooms but can be altered to suit your needs. Although I wanted to include only applications that could be installed locally, I felt it necessary to include this application simply because it’s so useful. For corporate environments that have multiple rooms to book, this small-footprint application is perfect. It can also be modified for use as an appointment book, too. MRBS can do repeated bookings, reports, DAY/WEEK/MONTH views, multiple authorization levels, and multiple language support. The installation is simple but requires both a Web server (Apache) and a database server (either MySQL or Postgres).

#7: GnoTime

Formerly GTT, GnoTime is a desktop application that tracks time spent on projects and offers time-based invoice generation. Numerous reports can be generated (Journal, Activity, Daily, Status, To Do, Invoices, Query, Primer, New Reports, Edit Reports), and the interface is simple to use. GnoTime also includes a diary entry editor for each project. With GnoTime you can embed simple SQL queries into report templates. In addition, GnoTime benefits from autosave. So in the rare event your Linux desktop crashes, your data is safe from loss. GnoTime runs on Linux, UNIX, and OS X.

#8: GIMP

I realize that graphics software isn’t always included in lists of necessary office software — but if your office does any of its PR or marketing in-house, graphics tools are a necessity. And when using Linux, GIMP is the de facto standard for graphics creation and/or manipulation. GIMP is to Linux what Photoshop is to OS X and Windows. But GIMP goes Photoshop one better because it’s cross-platform ready. You can install GIMP on Linux, OS X, or Windows. It features a customizable interface, photo enhancement, digital retouching, hardware support, a huge range of file format support, plug-in support, its own scripting language, filters, and a host of other outstanding features.

#9: Pidgin

Many corporate businesses have started regarding instant messaging as a legitimate form of interoffice (or inter-cubicle) communication. And Pidgin is one of the finest of the instant messaging clients. Pidgin works with nearly all of the instant messaging services and can have multiple accounts configured. It’s released under the GNU License, it’s free, and it works on Linux, UNIX, Windows, and OS X. Pidgin supports file transfer, typing notification, spell-check, buddy pouncing, away messages, etc.

#10: K3b

What office doesn’t back up data? None, if they employ safe business practices. And the CD offers one of the safest means of data backup. K3b makes backing up to CD simple. Not only can you do multiple backup types (audio, data cd, data dvd, copy cd, iso cd, iso dvd), you can save the backup information to a file. If you do the same backup regularly, all you need to do is open up the particular backup file and click burn. (No more having to drag and drop or hunt for particular files/folders to back up.) K3b can also blank CDR-Ws, retrieve TOCs, and write cue/bin files. K3b is available only for Linux and has been optimized for KDE.

This short list includes software that can easily handle much of your day-to-day office needs and do it on the Linux operating system. The software listed here is simple to use, reliable, (mostly) scalable, and business ready. Of course, this is a generalized list. Far more specialized office-type software is available on the Linux platform. One of the best places to look for such software is in your Install Software tool, such as Synaptic or Yumex. (The tool you have will depend upon the distribution you use.) Fire that tool up and look through the various categories (a good place to start is the “Office” category) to find what you need.

Linux is an outstanding platform for the office. It is flexible, cost-effective, reliable, secure, and enjoys a small learning curve. So if you’re doubting Linux can take over your office software needs, doubt no more!

What is Ubuntu?

Ubuntu is a community developed operating system that is perfect for laptops, desktops and servers. Whether you use it at home, at school or at work Ubuntu contains all the applications you’ll ever need, from word processing and email applications, to web server software and programming tools.

Ubuntu is and always will be free of charge. You do not pay any licensing fees. You can download, use and share Ubuntu with your friends, family, school or business for absolutely nothing.

We issue a new desktop and server release every six months. That means you’ll always have the the latest and greatest applications that the open source world has to offer.

Ubuntu is designed with security in mind. You get free security updates for at least 18 months on the desktop and server. With the Long Term Support (LTS) version you get three years support on the desktop, and five years on the server. There is no extra fee for the LTS version, we make our very best work available to everyone on the same free terms. Upgrades to new versions of Ubuntu are and always will be free of charge.

Everything you need on one CD, which provides a complete working environment. Additional software is available online.

The graphical installer enables you to get up and running quickly and easily. A standard installation should take less than 25 minutes.

Once installed your system is immediately ready-to-use. On the desktop you have a full set of productivity, internet, drawing and graphics applications, and games.

On the server you get just what you need to get up and running and nothing you don’t.

Ubuntu Desktop Edition

With Ubuntu Desktop Edition you can surf the web, read email, create documents and spreadsheets, edit images and much more. Ubuntu has a fast and easy graphical installer right on the Desktop CD. On a typical computer the installation should take you less than 25 minutes.

Desktop simplicity

When you start your system for the first time you’ll see a desktop that is clean and tidy, no desktop icons, and a default theme that is easy on the eye.

Ubuntu ‘Just Works’

We’ve done all the hard work for you. Once Ubuntu is installed, all the basics are in place so that your system will be immediately usable.

A complete office productivity suite

OpenOffice contains a user interface and feature set that is similar to other office suites, and includes all the key desktop applications you need, such as:

Word processor – for anything from writing a quick letter to producing an entire book.

Spreadsheet – a tool to calculate, analyse, and present your data in numerical reports or charts.

Presentation – an easy, and powerful tool for creating effective multimedia presentations.

Edit and share files in other formats

Easily open, edit and share files with your friends that have Microsoft Office, Word Perfect, KOffice or StarOffice.

Quick and easy updates

The task bar contains an update area where we’ll notify you when there are updates available for your system, from simple security fixes to a complete version upgrade. The update facility enables you to keep your system up-to-date with just a few clicks of your mouse.

A vast library of free software

Need more software? Simply choose from thousands of software packages in the Ubuntu catalogue, all available to download and install at the click of a button. And it’s all completely free!

Help and support

You’ll be able to find help using the desktop browser or online. If you have a question about using Ubuntu, you can bet someone else has already asked it. Our community has developed a range of documentation that may contain the answer to your question, or give you ideas about where to look.

This is also where you’ll get access to free support from the Ubuntu community in the chat and mailing lists in many languages.

Alternatively, you can purchase professional support from the Canonical Global Support Services Team, or local providers.

Ubuntu aims to be usable by as many people as possible, which is why we include the very best localisation and accessibility infrastructure that the free software community has to offer.

You can download Ubuntu, or request a free CD from Canonical.

System Requirements

Ubuntu is available for PC, 64-Bit and Mac architectures. At least 256 MB of RAM is required to run the desktop install CD. Install requires at least 4 GB of disk space.

To find out more about the Ubuntu Operating System click here