RE: Linux at work (real world)

[KMcLauchlan -at- chrysalis-its -dot- com]

 Hart, Geoff [mailto:Geoff-H -at- MTL -dot- FERIC -dot- CA] said:

> I can't speak about Linux from personal experience, but I can say that
> everything I've read suggests there's a tough learning curve 
> with Linux for
> those who don't already have Unix experience, and that you 
> should carefully
> investigate the support community before committing to one 
> version of Unix
> over another. Hacker friends who have played with Linux (both 
> Red Hat and
> Suse) have loved it, but on the down side, they spend hours 
> tweaking it
> trying to get it to work the way they want.
[snip]

Geoff, 

No offense, but most of what you brought up are non-issues.

First, we've already got (some) Linux servers, and NO 
BSD servers, nor much likelihood of getting any. Yes, 
we have some Solaris machines, but those are all in 
labs, or on developers desks (same with HP-UX, and 
even an AIX box). The IT crew say that the only 
reason pretty-well ALL of our servers are not Linux is 
that we are running a lot of MS-specific server-based 
stuff right now. Otherwise, they are more than happy 
with the stability of Linux and quite willing to roll 
it out onto our company desktops.

The issues are DESKTOP software for office use. 
Linux has already proven itself more stable than 
Windows, so that part's a non-issue on the desktop, 
too. It's only application features, performance, 
and usability that are up for consideration at this time.

As I explained, there's hardly even any lingering 
doubt that one-or-another Linux suite (either StarOffice 
or K-Office (maybe even ApplixWare)) would be fine for 
the majority of our ordinary office stuff.

Learning curve is not that big a deal. Not anymore.
OS setup is done beforehand, and rolled out by IT. 
You can tweak if you like, but if you break something, 
then IT comes back and re-installs the working 
configuration. That's for the underlying OS, and 
maybe for the defaults in the chosen window manger 
and desktop manager(s). Just like MS-Windows, you 
can then tweak all kinds of settings for personal 
preference, without breaking anything.

Unlike in Windows, those settings don't live in a 
fragile and arcane Registry. Instead, they live 
in a handful of text files, all of which can be 
replaced by defaults or simply edited by a 
knowledgeable IT wonk (or brave power user, but 
that's not an issue either... non-power-users 
are protected by standardized rollouts and packaged 
installations/updates).

The questions that I'm considering (before I try to 
exert further influence on the IT crew) are which 
suite looks more usable for ordinary users, and 
has the best vision for the future (both of the 
main contenders support XML, so even this might 
be a non-issue). Also, which suite seems to have 
an edge for techwriting (if indeed any one does)?
As I said, if the scores are otherwise close, then 
I'll shamelessly push for the one that seems best 
for me. People who have used Linux in a live 
techwriting environment might have some insights 
that I'd miss, since I've only tinkered superficially 
and have had zero opportunity to use Linux for 
production at work (all I do with it at the office 
is load/setup/run our product and document the process 
and the peculiarities in Linux -- they're minimal, really).

The major question, for the adoption of Linux is:
Can we put together a system that lets us:

a) interact with each other's schedules (a la Outlook 
   Calendar or Lotus);

b) plan projects in groups of more-than-one 
   (a la MS Project)?

We don't need look-alikes, but we do need group productivity 
applications that give us the general capabilities.

There are (it seems) hundreds of little free and shareware 
apps for creating simple calendars and appointment books, 
or even some rather elaborate and ornate ones. You can 
also syncronize with your Palm, in many cases. But are 
there any server-based systems that give the schedule-
tracking and meeting-booking capabilities of Outlook or 
of Lotus? Is there an equivalent of Project that can 
be accessed in controlled fashion by multiple users, 
all puzzling over their individual corners of the big GANTT?

Finally, the point of the exercise would be to no longer 
have to support or upgrade Windows, except for a couple 
of systems for developers to develop, and for testers to 
test. 

The rest of us (sales, marketing, finance, logistics, etc.), 
including the writer, would have Linux with KDE or 
GNU desktop, and with a favored (IT-supported) application 
suite, and with the yet-unnamed scheduling and planning-ware.  
In that context, I'm looking for the insider's word on which 
ones to suggest, so that I end up with the best arrangement 
for me, and the rest of the company ends up with something 
that does what they need.

I figured that with several thousand list-members, in a few 
thousand companies, there'd be a few who had ventured down 
the Linux DESKTOP road while holding hands with cow-orkers, 
and had lived to tell about it.

I know there are a few loners using Linux for work, but while 
their experience and comments are valuable, they don't have 
to integrate with staff in a Linux environment. That's the 
missing element. Still no takers?

/kevin

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