Being the preferred linux desktop distribution among the linux community, Ubuntu appears to be ready for enterprise level desktop deployment scenarios. Processing efficiency and reliability already give linux server distributions like apache a certain competitive advantage allowing linux to compete with Microsoft in terms of server operating system market share. I still need to find some credible up to date statistics on this, but that should only be a matter of searching the SPC library’s online subscription databases.
My boss, Shri, just came back from Korea from an IEEE conference with a new Samsung netbook and asked me to configure it for him. It had Windows 7 Starter on it and configuring it was just as fun as watching water boil. It wasn’t too bad once I got most of the bloatware off. But I know that the weak, but apparently cute little netbook would run much more effectively if it had some linux distributionon it. Maybe that’s why according to Computer world “Linux's share of netbooks surging, not sagging …”
With Ubuntu being open source and all, let’s not be blind to Cononical Ltd own agenda, which is to compete with commercial distribtuions like SuSe and Red Hat. It goes to show that the bread and butter of companies like Sun Microsystems and Red Hat is made by support contracts as opposed to licensing fees. Despite the advances in compatibility and usability, linux systems still haven’t been very appealing as an effective enterprise desktop solution to many experienced CIO’s. Indeed it does depend on the nature of the company if a linux solution would yield a higher return on investment (ROI) than a Microsoft/Citrix/Vmware solution. These are large companies with vast knowledge bases facilitating IT operations of client organizations. Not to say that the linux community doesn’t have its own vast knowledge base. However, the learning curve for IT staff is higher for linux systems. But with the advances brought forth by Ubuntu, the learning curve is now only marginally higher than for Microsoft. Being the education industry, perhaps we can help the pendulum swing from proprietary to open source IT infrastructure solutions. Cononical Ltd is hoping for the same and is hard at work, coming out with educational initiatives like Ubuntu Certified Professional similar to the Red Hat Certified Engineer. This might be a good time to write and publish about how exactly to use to open source solutions to maximize ROI… for small and mid level businesses first… enterprise later!? Who’s with me?
Count me in. Maybe ask Shri if he'll volunteer to run Ubuntu 10.04 on his Netbook for a few weeks to get his feedback? If he is mainly using the Netbook to access the internet with FX, Chrome, or Opera, and also check email I'm betting he won't have any complaints and would be impressed with how light and fast the OS is on a Netbook.
ReplyDeleteImportant to note, I have used the Netbook intended interface and am not a fan. I go with the usual Gnome Desktop interface for the Netbook install. The Netbook specific interface is a bit to...Fisher-Price for my taste. I like the uncluttered simplicity of the typical Desktop.