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Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols

Cyber Cynic

Would you buy a Microsoft-less desktop?

49 comments

TAGS:desktop linux, IBM, Linux, Lotus, Novell, Red Hat, SUSE, Ubuntu
IT TOPICS:Desktop Applications, Enterprise Software & Services, Hardware, Linux, Open Source, Operating Systems, Software

IBM, in partnership with Red Hat, Novell, and Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, is hoping that the answer is yes.

For me, that's a no-brainer. Windows has long been more trouble than its worth. Since Microsoft seems to be seriously considering dumping Windows, it seems they agree with me. So, IBM and Linux friends are suggesting that you stop messing with Windows and go with a business desktop based on one of the three major Linux distributions and an IBM/Lotus software stack instead.

The plan is to put the Lotus Notes client, Sametime IM client and the OpenOffice-based Symphony office suite on top of your choice of Red Hat desktop Linux, Ubuntu Linux or Novell's SLED (SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop). At the same time, on the server side, all three distributions will be offering pre-installs of the Domino Notes Server 8.5 and other IBM server software on their Linux server offerings.

You, however, wouldn't have to worry about installing all this software. Well, you could if you wanted to, but the real plan is to get OEMs (original equipment manufacturers), VARs (value added resellers), and system integrators to install the package on PCs. All you'd need to do is buy the PC, which would come not just with an operating system, but with a full integrated business desktop as well.

At one time, I would have applauded this idea, but I also would have really doubted that it would go anywhere. There were just too many people who wouldn't even consider buying a Windows-less PC. That was then. This is now.

Today, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Asus and a host of other PC vendors are already selling desktops and laptops with pre-installed Linux. And, as Kevin Cavanaugh, IBM Lotus Software's VP, pointed out, "The slow adoption of Vista among businesses and budget-conscious CIOs, coupled with the proven success of a new type of Microsoft-free PC in every region, provides an extraordinary window of opportunity for Linux."

I couldn't agree more. I also really like how this package will push the window open even more. With the IBM/Lotus software package, business users also get a complete, solid as a rock, desktop suite. E-mail, calendering, contacts, IM, word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation, it's all in there. You could put this desktop in front of 95% of all business workers and it would give them 100% of everything they needed.

At the same time, because it's Linux-based, this do-it-all business desktop would also be cheaper to administer since almost all of the security risks from viruses and malware disappear along with Windows. Any fair comparison between one of these Linux desktops and its Windows equivalent will show that the Linux system will be cheaper to buy in the first place and to maintain.

I think this plan has real possibilities. What do you think? Would you buy a Microsoft-less desktop for your office?

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Would you buy a Microsoft-less desktop?

Submitted by cheap computers on October 9, 2009 - 3:13 A.M.

I guess today, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Asus and a host of other PC vendors are already selling desktops and laptops with pre-installed Linux. So its not a new thing!

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Ubuntu on refurbished PC

Submitted by Dan on November 10, 2008 - 6:34 P.M.

I recently opened a business selling refurbished and used computers. Loading Ubuntu 8.04 LTS on these systems was a no-brainer. My customers love the fact that software is free and provide the same functionality. Many also have commented that they like the fact that these systems are being kept out of the landfills. I also have had several customers bring their new Windows boxes in to make them into dual boots.
If it wasn't for Ubuntu I could not have done this.

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Already have

Submitted by Anonymous on November 3, 2008 - 3:35 A.M.

I moved to Ubuntu because:

1. It's free and easy to use.
2. I receive a new, free OS update (and new application versions where applicable) every 6 months (versus several years with Windows...which do not include new, free application updates).
3. The update manager continually updates EVERYTHING I have installed on my machine (not just Microsoft apps).
4. It boots and runs faster than any Windows machines I have ever owned.
5. I do not have to buy and upgrade additional spyware and virus programs like I did with Windows.
6. I don't have to continually defrag the harddrive.
7. The system requirements (memory, disk, CPU) are lighter and thus less expensive than say Windows Vista, so the same machine can last me much longer (and I can even resurrect old hardware that doesn't run Windows well anymore).
8. Most additional programs I use are free and available in a central location (the package manager).
9. The Ubuntu support community is awesome, if I do have a problem.
10. Different desktop environments are available (GNOME, KDE, XFCE, etc.), if I want/need something different.
11. It is starting to be offered pre-installed on new Dell and HP (customized version of Ubuntu) machines, so I don't even have to install it anymore.

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Already have -Pt2

Submitted by elderlybloke on January 15, 2010 - 12:54 A.M.

Hello Anonymous ,

I agree with everything you wrote, things just keep getting better and better.

Spyware and Viruses , I remember them , but not fondly.

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What about SharePoint

Submitted by Thumper on November 1, 2008 - 9:50 A.M.

First off, ledt me state that there are many things that I think Microsoft should be doing differently, but no one here seems to be aware of the acceleration in the business use of SharePoint services. It is growing fast and looks to me like it is probably the best reason to move to Office 2007. Perhaps Wine can handle it, but there would have to be a strong MS presence to make SharePoint viable. While none of the SharePoint apps are top of the line, they are all functional. There are undoubtably linux apps that can replace each module, but the integration between those modules and Office would be very difficult if not impossible to duplicate.
Again, I am not a huge MS fan and would love to see Linux flourish in a business environment, but I would be very interested to hear from the more informed readers about this issue. SharePoint use in business is growing like a weed.

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Linux only for me

Submitted by Jim on September 11, 2008 - 4:05 P.M.

After years of building my own dual boots I finally decided I didn't have the time and bought a Dell with Ubuntu. I love it and there is no Microsoft in the house. My wife and kids use my old machine (I built it in 2000) with openSuse 10.3 and it runs faster than my work laptop with Windows XP. (we are hoping to skip Vista)

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MS Free 4 Me 2!

Submitted by 67comet on September 1, 2008 - 5:59 P.M.

Actually any computer I purchase (prebuilt) never gets started with MS on it. I almost always first boot with a Linux cd in the bay.

I've never went through the process of getting my MS tax money back, but some day maybe. I'm still totally stoked you can order a few notebooks from more and more companies with Linux or NO OS installed.

Wonder if Mac will ever offer one of their machines with out the $150 Mac Tax? I love my MacBook Pro and even use Mac OS X quite a bit, but nothing feels better than booting into Linux (Usually Ubuntu) and doing my work.

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Other than at work where I

Submitted by Mikey on August 16, 2008 - 10:43 A.M.

Other than at work where I have no choice, I am blessedly microsoft free. I started toying with various Linux distributions three years ago and settled on Ubuntu two years ago without ever looking back.

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On the money

Submitted by Jack Dausman on August 15, 2008 - 4:31 P.M.

IBM/Lotus has been continually adapting their platform to support an integrated and heterogeneous environment. Their 8.5 client (still in beta) is very impressive on Linux, Mac and Windows.

What makes the OCCS so compelling is that it is not an either/or product. It's a development architecture that includes e-mail and instant messaging. It's secure (no virus's) and works with different LDAP sources, programming languages, and is time tested.

Mac for the suits in Cloud City, Windows for those one-off applications, and OCCS for the rest of us.

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The traditional reasons for

Submitted by Riley on August 15, 2008 - 3:06 P.M.

The traditional reasons for running Windows were: (1) no viable alternatives, (2) no viable alternatives to Microsoft's Office suite of programs.

Both of those reasons are giving way, both to alternative software (Linux, OpenOffice, less so Lotus), as well as the liberation of data / content from proprietary binary file formats. The latter remains true despite Microsoft's heavy-handed attempts to confound open standars with its OOXML "standard"...

Would I run a Microsoft-less computer? Yes -- in fact I already do -- Unbuntu Linux...

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