[SATLUG] What All Systems has to say about Linux

[John Pappas]

On Jan 21, 2008 3:24 PM, Chris Lemire <good_bye300 at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Everyone seems to argue that the information is irrelevant. Can you
> provide some information that you think is relevant instead?
>

It really depends on how the user uses the Tool (Laptop/Desktop, Required
Proggies, etc).  There are several known strengths of each option (not
trying to troll, but any other OBJECTIVE views are appreciated):

Windows
   Commercial program support (Commercial productivity apps, etc) and
Games.  Hardware support (Most vendors release supported HW drivers).  User
familiarity.

Mac OSX
   Commercial Productivity apps, especially multimedia.  User-centric-ness
and Stability.

Linux Desktop
  Breadth of F/LOSS.  Lack of driver support for certain hardware, X11
issues related to hardware support.  Certain cases of obtuseness when
related to user interaction.

As a "vigorous" proponent of OSS and using Linux on the desktop, I feel that
I have a certain amount of input to this conversation.  Having failed in my
mission to have 100% Linux Desktops (Failing point is currently mobility,
not to mention "old-school" user buy-in), I can say that as a desktop, it is
REALLY close; as a Laptop, it is kinda close.  Servers, having COMPLETELY
different requirements, are much more feasible, and proven in many cases: My
business, Rackspace & Hosting Providers, Infrastructure services (DHCP, DNS,
LDAP, Etc), just to name a few.

My take, if the user only uses Thunderbird/Firefox/OpenOffice, on a static
"Desktop-like" system, then Linux is really close.  Otherwise, start with
using those big three on Windows or Mac, and then revisit platform
migration.

Al Castanoli <afcasta at satx.rr.com> wrote:
> On Thu, 2008-01-17 at 13:38 -0600, Wayne Walker wrote:
> [...]
> > I won't ever recommend RHEL for a desktop user.  RHEL can be used as a
> > desktop, but I would only recommend Ubuntu or Fedora.  I would never
> > recommend Ubuntu as a server, it can be used as one, but I'd recommend
> > Debian or RHEL/CentOS.
>
> I'm using Scientific Linux, a FermiLab/CERN sponsored RHEL/CentOS like
> distribution, on my desktop because it's the best tool for the job of
> managing 52 UNIX boxen spread across the country. I was given a
> current-technology PC to do this work, and it would have been impossible
> using Windows.  I still have the PC, but my main desktop workstation's
> an old Dell PowerEdge with Pentium III processors that I salvaged on its
> way out to be recycled. The mainstream desktop distros didn't work well
> with the PowerEdge's hardware RAID controllers and dual processors.
>
> Once again, broadsweeping generalizations about workstation vs. server
> uses don't fit all needs.
>

True.  Everything comes down to requirements and "Right tool for the job"

Al Castanoli, currently using PCLinuxOS on my desktop at home.
>

John Pappas, Predominantly Suse servers/Workstations, Corp user Windows
Laptops, Pro user Suse Laptops.