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CostEffective IT: Linux and Open Source 2005
Cost-Effective
IT: Linux and Open Source 2005,
by
Richard Sonnier
Houston
Business Show "Advisor" Richard Sonnier, of the Information
Technology Services firm Nimble Services, Inc., provides weekly
information on our show about business technology issues. He can be
reached at 281-445-4800 x250 or rsonnier@nimbleservices.com.
This week I will discuss Linux and Open Source for 2005.
Linux in 2005
I recently visited the North Harris Community College campus for a
meeting, and, while I was there, I picked up their class schedule for
current term. In computer technology, the college is offerring courses
using Linux and not Windows. I was a little surprised but only a
little. Linux, a free, modern variant of the 35-year-old UNIX operating
system, has finally penetrated the mainstream. In 2005 Linux will
continue to challenge Microsoft in network servers. IDC, a market
research firm, predicts that by 2007 Windows will have 35% and Linux
15% of the network server market. This year may see Linux make a
significant move in the desktop market where Windows dominates with
over 90% of the market. Last year, Linux had 1.3% of the PC market
while Apple's MacOS had 2.5% but Linux software continues to improve
especially OpenOffice.
Open Source in 2005
Microsoft's lock on the desktop has always been application software.
Windows itself was never really the driver. Businesses buy applications
to improve their business and then buy the operating systems and
hardware needed to run those applications. Microsoft Office is the
biggest reason for the domination of the Windows today and that may
change in 2005. OpenOffice from openoffice.org
is releasing its version 2.0 soon, and it is very, very good.
OpenOiffice is compatible with Microsoft Office and free. Add the
Firefox web browser and the Thunderbird email client from Mozilla.org to OpenOffice and open
source will have free, top-notch competitors to Microsoft's most
popular applications. All of these open source applications run on
Windows so you can switch to one of them very easily, but they also run
on Linux. Once you switch away from Microsoft's applications, why do
you need the expensive, trouble prone Windows? You do not. As Steven J.
Vaughan-Nichols, Senior Editor at eWEEK.com, says "the
revolution has arrived."
Recommendations
Start testing the Mozilla and OpenOffice applications. You might be
able to save a great deal of money in 2005.
Next week I will
discuss web development tools like Macromedia's Dreamweaver.
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