TOC Linux

[Paul Sutton]

Have a look at this site, it may be useful for your project,  but 
remember to list all sources of informatiion in a bibliography,   The 
article near the top on the right hand side, may be interesting,

# Why OSS/FS? Look at the Numbers! (Paper) [Popular]
# Why FLOSS? Look at the Numbers! (Presentation) [Popular]

http://www.dwheeler.com/

I guess one thing to consier is

1. If you replace Linux on the server, this is only a few computers,  
and as your a technican you are able to learn the software, 
2. If you replace windows on the desktop, you are dealing with users (I 
am in no way suggesting users are incapable, I know  people who use 
computers but would rather, not,  use them,  where as others are a bit 
more open to chanage, while other users, are technically minded and will 
fiddle, and learn and be happy with a good manual on the software and 
don't need much help) suddenly expecting people used to windows and MS 
office to start using Linux / Open offiice isa big jump for some, while 
not for others,  so I guess you should take this into consideration

Perhaps price out gradual changes, i.e change MS office to Openoffice at 
the next upgrade cycle,  or even before that give copies of Open office 
away to staff, and help them learn (books like sams tys openoffice.org 
are a good start.  and I guess reasonable price.

Retraining costs, to the new software, lots of people can train staff in 
MS office, therefore a company that can train on OO.org may take 
advantage of what they see as a smaller market and charge more.  Take 
into account in house or external training.

Retraining HR staff to look out for people with Linux desktop and Open 
office skills.   How many people are able to just switch,  I have no 
problem with this but Im 30 and have been using computers for long 
enough now to be able to just move to new platforms/

Bye toc I assume you meant TCO (Total Cost of Ownership),  you could 
look at costs of virus / spyware infection. etc.  And generally when are 
you going to make the changes,  how long will this take,  and if you 
have to close the office, will the company lose money,  and is this 
ofset by the overall savings of using Linux on the desktop. 

Another thing on the desktop is - full desktop install vs ltsp, 
benefits,  and overall cost of mainenance, i.e with ltsp is centralised, 
and centralised data storage, therefore if a users computer breaks down, 
just take it out of the network and plug in a working one,  all user 
data, settings are pulled from central server.

Are these suggestions any help.

Paul




Randy Jonasz wrote:

> Hey everybody,
>
> I'd like some help doing my homework. :)  My project group at Mohawk 
> college have to give a panel discussion on the benefits of Linux on 
> the corporate desktop versus proprietary solutions aka Microsoft.  I'm 
> doing some reading of my own on TOC, but I'd like to survey some 
> opinions on tlug.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Randy
>
> -- 
> Imagine no possessions
> I wonder if you can
> No need for greed or hunger
> A brotherhood of man
> Imagine all the people
> Sharing all the world
> --John Lennon 



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