Linux rollout (continued)

Firefox, Linux, Operating Systems, Windows

Let me just encapsulate a few observations and then get back to work.

Having re-installed Linux, I faced a steep learning curve for about 15 minutes. Ubuntu Linux is not like the distributions of Linux I am accustomed to. I still haven’t figured out how to create a specific ‘root’ account. But I haven’t needed to, either.

I want to emphasize something to prospective Linux users: the first time you boot a desktop distribution of Linux, you’ll be ready to roll. If your printer is EXTREMELY new, you might have to download a *.ppd file to get it rockin’, but that’s about the sum total of your headaches. Installing that file is less aggravating than popping in the CD that shipped with the printer and going ‘clicky-clicky’ in Windows.

The mere fact that the manufacturer of the device included that printer setup and driver CD should be enough to tell you that Windows wasn’t ready to run it either. Don’t go around dissing Linux for not having drivers that are also not available in Windows. One way or the other, you have to drink the kool-aid.

In fact, it occurs to me that the reason manufacturers include that CD for Windows is because the odds of an end user actually being able to get the printer working under Windows without that help are slim.

I like the frequent update feature. There is a little red arrow in the upper right hand corner of my screen that tells me when there is an update available for software I already have installed. Neat.

Using the installer that came with the operating system, the whole operation takes perhaps 15 seconds of my time and the rest happens in the background. Earlier today, a significant portion of the operating system itself was updated. Now there is an icon in the menu tray asking me to reboot.

Linux only needs to reboot when installing internal hardware or the operating system itself. You’ll recall that it was a failure of the file system after downloading MSIE 7 to XP and the subsequent reboot required to complete the install of a browser, fer crying out loud that trashed my computer recently. With Linux, this just isn’t on the list of possible outcomes. Not from a browser upgrade, anyways.

With Linux, a broken browser is, well, a broken browser. Uninstall it and go get one that works.

I like that.

I’ve been playing around with some of the installed software, noting which I won’t be using and installing others I remember fondly. I am very impressed with the advanced state of most Linux application coding. Previously, only a real fan-boy (like myself) would have bothered with Linux at home. Now, well now things are different.

Open Office has clearly evolved from its days as StarOffice. I used Open Office on XP, too and found it very capable there. Now I am using it on Linux … with no (zero) learning curve. Are you an employer? Are you paying attention? Train an employee on OO just once and they STAY trained even if you later move to Linux. What does THAT do for your bottom line? NO retraining cost after the initial switch to OO. NO software cost. Ever. If you feel the need to step up to commercial levels of support or additional levels of functionality, SUN will be glad to oblige you.

Okay, time to get back to work.

BTW, I’m posting this from Firefox running Ubuntu. Firefox cannot crash my system and Ubuntu passes along security updates as they occur (rather than giving hackers a month to trash your system in).

Free.

Bill Canaday @ July 17, 2008