IBM - Linux server ads... 1

[Niv3k]

Is it just me or does this seem like the first major step in the advancement of Linux as a "Business" OS? Or will this new ad campaign land IBM licking their wounds like OS/2?

I personally hope that this helps Linux in the business world, but then again, I liked OS/2 better than Windows and/or DOS...

Kevin

 

[PhiloVance]

As I write, Red Hat stock is about 3.00, Caldera is below 1.00, the high expectations of Transmeta have all but evaporated, but I don't know. Linux is already present in many businesses, perhaps not the big ones, but it is surely being used. It is also a desktop for many, a small percentage of desktop users, but still it's there, it's working. IBM is excited about Linux, just visit their website

http://www.ibm.com

It's like a tool, there are places where it makes sense, other places where it doesn't. The constant argument over whether it will eventually replace Windows is lame. By the time it does, both will be dramatically changed.

I don't really know the answer, but IBM has had great foresight before, and they've also had some really bad ideas.

Only time will tell. #-) PhiloVance
Other hobbies, interests: Travel, Model RR (HO Gauge), Genealogy.

 

[ErikZ]

Heh, the reason Linux will succeed where OS/2 has fail is because IBM doesn't have to do the marketing for it.

 

[gunthnp]

at the time OS/2 came out people thought of IBM as they think of micorsoft today and OS/2 was seen as IBM trying to keep a grip on every thing pc (remember MCA bus and PS2's and all) that why OS/2 failed.

Linux in a lot of ways is like windows at the time but it a lot better then what M$ had but M$ has a stonger hold on the market the IBM ever did. gunthnp
Have you ever woken up and realized you where not alive.

 

[SpiritOfLennon]

The difficulty Linux has to face in the market place is the huge cost and retraining exercises that companies would have to go through in order to replace Microsoft product with equivalent Linux ones. I contract to a company where the IT director is an avid Linux supporter and although he would like nothing better than to rip all the Microsoft products out of the equation and replace them with equivalent Linux boxs and apps, the cost of this replacement and retraining exercise is prohibitive, with benefits only being seen long term. Business also sees Microsoft as a good long term bet and as such are much happier to pay the piper and sleep at night comfortable in the knowledge that Microsoft will be here for good, although Linux has been around for years it is only recently that it has started to come of age, consequently many IT professionals are nervous about investing time and money in what could yet prove to be a "flash in the pan". In the home Linux, although a perfectly useable system has one major drawback in my opinion. Games, a friend of mine once summed up the problem. "Operating systems are like life, as long as you can have some fun, you put up with the crap". Until Linux becomes an operating system that not only produces large quantities of games, easily available on the high street, it will not take off for the average home pc user, and this obviously translates to lack of familiarity within the work place. Sad but quite possibly true. On a more optimistic note Linux as an OS seems to be making strides into the PDA and embedded markets, which I believe is where it will ultimately find the success it deserves so much.

 

[ErikZ]

I never understood why companies are so shy to train. They DON'T train people to use Windows to begin with! Why do they think they'll have to train people to use Linux? If they are looking for immediate gain, how about getting rid of the cost of the next windows or office upgrade? Heck, use HALF of that money and make everyone EXPERTS in the company on Linux!

And if you MUST use a certain windows app, use VMware.

 

[SpiritOfLennon]

Agreed most companies do not spend money on training users in Windows, however then do spend money on training the users in Apps. The company I contract to recently spent £146,000 on Office training. SOL
"If I'm talking c**p, I'm probably p****d"

 

[Niv3k]

My girlfriend just went to college. I gave her a computer. She used Linux (red hat) at my house, and liked it a lot. I gave her windows, even though she wanted red-hat. My reasoning was the same as SpiritOfLennon's IT manager. I wanted her to emerge from college with a knowledge of how to use the common product.

When ground-breaking games come out for linux, and ONLY linux, THEN people will be enticed to buy/acquire Linux at home. Until then, it will have to hold on to it's share of businesses that actually use it. And slowly gain momentum.

The following link has some interesting stuff on servers, but I would like to see a similar breakdown of end users (client) workstations:

http://www.netcraft.com/survey/

 

[Niv3k]

Never mind: I found it:

http://home.cnet.com/software/0-429669-7-1890183.html?tag=st.sw.429669.linksgp

 

[PhiloVance]

Well, the focus on games is ok, but a pc can do more than that. There's office stuff, Genealogy work, Model RR track design, picture collection, financial stuff (Quicken) and responding on the forums (like this ;-) ), etc. I really think the guy who can bridge the gap between Linux and Windows, i.e., have apps that will run on either equally well or have a fix so a Windows app can run on Linux and vice versa, then you'll see progress.

Linux is great as many tell us, but the many that tell us are PC freaks, geeks and others. Even all the geeks don't see eye to eye. Biggest problem some say is that there's no set desktop, others say that the installs are slow and you need to know what you're doing or you can really screw yourself up; still others say Linux comes in so many flavors (providers) that anyone would be confused.


Who knows maybe we'll have something called Lindows or Winux!
PhiloVance
Other hobbies, interests: Travel, Model RR (HO Gauge), Genealogy.

 

[Niv3k]

SOL - Please provide a link about the linux PDA market... That sounds interesting, especially since I do some PDA development on the side.

Kevin

 

[Guest_imported]

Choice is BAD. There should be only 1 operating system allowed and no one should be allowed to change anything. All computers everywhere should look identical (maybe a master desktop appearance server somewhere.)

Every time somebody goes to sombody else's computer and has to waste time finding stuff, the economy is slowed down. The economy MUST continue to go faster....

 

[Niv3k]

It appears someone is allowing people to post while on crack-cocaine again. I hate to tell you this, but CHOICE is what drives the economy in the first place. When I go to the store, I want a choice between Product A and Product B.

Why? Because, while Product A works great for me, it doesn't work for someone else.

I use head and shoulders shampoo. It works, it's affordable, my hair is clear. It doesn't work with my girlfriends body chemistry. She uses another shampoo.

If we followed what you just said, the best personal computer would be an Atari 2600, or a Commodore Vic-20. And nobody would be using computers. And we wouldn't have jobs.

Thank you, though, for the single most ignorant post I have seen on this forum.

I have a headache.

I'm getting Advil, because Tylenol disrupts my stomach. but that's my choice.

 

[PhiloVance]

Chill out, Niv3k

I think CollapsedForhead was talking tongue in cheek.

Here's something for your headache

PhiloVance
Other hobbies, interests: Travel, Model RR (HO Gauge), Genealogy.

 

[SpiritOfLennon]

OKay here you go, Linux PDA info

http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT3058975992.html

http://mobilix.org/pda_linux.html

http://vhl-tools.sourceforge.net/

http://www.ece.ubc.ca/~davem/pda.html

SOL
"If I'm talking c**p, I'm probably p****d"

 

[COBOL]

I think Linux should be used at Server Level, and let people carry on with their MS-Software. Specific Applications should be developed under Linux.

 

[Niv3k]

Thanks for the links, SOL, and apologies if I overreacted, I'm just getting sick of people being stupid right now, in all aspects of life (not just computers), although that's a nice pill.

COBOL: "Specific applications should be developed under Linux"... Do you mean business specific propriatary software?

Kevin

 

[SpiritOfLennon]

Hey no problem it's a stressful life after all. SOL
"If I'm talking c**p, I'm probably p****d"

 

[ErikZ]

Heh, I love stupid people. If everyone was smart, I'd probably be unemployeed.

 

[Kspade]

while stupid ppl may be great, there are WAY to many of them, and most seem to think they know "computers", whereas, all they know is how to sit infront of their M$ desktop and surf the internet(sorta), just try putting linux in fron of them, they'd all screem in agony! "What, I have to type? OMG!!!!" I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every moment of it.