Why Winbloze Will Win

As much as I hold a dear place in my heart for the old unix shell accounts, simple dos-prompts, and user friendly Macs, I've come to the realization (along with Gubment and most major private org's), that Microsloth has simply won the race. In a capitalistic society, whoever's got the biggest grip and widest distribution will inevitably win the game.<:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:>For that reason, when consulting for organizations, I don't generally recommend they use Mac'n'Crack or Loosix systems. Doing so will only necessitate an upgrade to MS at some point in the future. I've been devoting my resources to finding ways to get low-cost/free donations of MS products instead of spending hours trying to teach someone how to properly setup a linux box (or explaining to a person why they have problems using Mac files on their PC).<:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:>Ok, Ok, so I know all that seems to go against grassroots, anti-corporate idealism, but I'm beginning to suspect that blindly *fighting* against something is the wrong approach. Bruce Lee taught that you should redirect your opponents momentum rather than blocking or attacking. That idea just seems *right* and the more I hook people up with fast, cost-effect Windows-Intel systems, the more I smile. It really is an amazing feeling to know that people are using a company's own products to turn around and change the conditions that allow said company to behave as it does.<:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:>Anyhow, just my two cents;)<:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:>-mg

Hi MG,<:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:>As much as I adore my PowerMac G3 (his name is Billy), I've learned to embrace the ubiquitous Microsoft when in university libraries or at work. :) My previous place of employment was adorned with iMacs when I worked there, but my last visit found me shocked to find these replaced with PCs running Windows. The reason: their corporate and development divisions found it hard to do presentations with their clients and partners because of the incompatability, and so they've given in to using Microsoft and PCs. Less pleasing to the eye perhaps, but what's more important is that these PCs get the job done. (I also agree with you about working with/within the system, but not just in relation to computers and operating systems :)).

Hi mg,

I'm not sure if it's a matter of winning. At least not a corporate battle, linux has seen corporatism by IBM, Red Hat and others, not to mention Allaire, Oracle, and others jumping on the bandwagon. But without that corporate support, linux would be suffering. It's more a monopoly issue I think.

The nonprofit world suffers from a form this problem, which is...being sold proprietary Nonprofit accounting and database software packages and then being charged everytime they ask "how do I use this stupid thing". Until recently there weren't too many options.

Mostly people want to come to work and battle daily issues with the help of the software on their computer, if they have to fight their software too the whole while.. the days can become very long. And for many people Linux is a mystery, if for no other reason than Windows got outta the gate first. People love choices and I would like to believe that 20 or 30 years from now Windows, Linux, and Mac will be dueling it out and people will be saying "Microsoft used to own this market, really?"

Here is an article that talks about linux in the corporate world, and notes some software due out in Spring 2002:

November 5, 2001

IBM IS MAKING another dramatic bet on the competitive advantages of backing the Linux operating system: Big Blue is donating a pricey software platform for integrating application development tools from various vendors to a newly formed open-source development advocacy organization, the company said Monday.

IBM spent more than a year and invested $40 million in developing the Java-based, open-source software, code-named Eclipse, according to a company spokesman. Eclipse is intended to simplify the process of developing software tools for multiple operating systems. Eclipse-based software will run on both Linux and Microsoft Windows, potentially saving developers from having to port Windows applications to Linux. The software is designed to handle a variety of development tasks, including testing, performance tuning, and debugging. Eclipse will also improve the integration of third-party application development tools from multiple vendors, IBM said.

IBM has become a key evangelist of Linux, investing more than $1 billion annually in developing for the operating system, which has become a Windows rival in the corporate sector. By reducing the cost and complexity of deploying Linux applications, Eclipse could spur increased interest among business users in the open-source operating system.

Eclipse will be managed by a recently created open-source consortium, Eclipse.org. More than 150 software developers worldwide participate in the group, including IBM, Red Hat, Rational Software, and Merant. The organization is still taking shape; further details about the group, including the composition of its board of directors, will be available later this month, according to IBM.

Eclipse is particularly suited to e-business applications development, IBM said, and IBM's own suite of Web services-focused WebSphere application development tools are built on the Eclipse foundation. Eclipse-based IBM products include the currently available WebSphere Home Page Builder for home users, WebSphere Studio Application Developer for Java developers (available later this month), WebSphere Studio Site Developer for Web developers (preview version available later this month), WebSphere Studio Enterprise Developer (available early 2002), and WebSphere Studio Application Developer for Linux (preview version available later this month; full version available early 2002). Full story

I'm torn on this issue. I think there should be a sort of survival of fittest with regard to software and, yet, if, as Sean said, for no other reason than Microsoft and Windows got out of the gate first, the playing field isn't level.<:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:>Personally, I think a multitude of viable options can't but be helpful to users. They can demand more of their choosen system in terms of accountability, features, support and cost if their are real alternatives. And I think Mac OS is a real alternative to Windows.<:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:>Linux is another story. I think it caters to a different user -- one who wants to tweak things and make them meet their specific needs.<:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:>I don't think the real power of Open Source is on the desktop -- and this will sort of obviate the MS vs. Linux vs. Mac arguements. I think the real power of Open Source is in the ability of nonprofits to come together and work with a group of developers to have their specific needs met. I think the ability to do something that can be easily passed on to other npos and further developed and further shared are the real benefits.<:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:>Many people advocate using open standards for documents -- html, for example -- so that no one is reliant on a single program.<:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:>webb.

thanks for the informative feedback folks. thought i might share this little story...<:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:>a friend of mine used to work for Job Track (a big college job board company). he ran Linux and was damn good at coding. anyhow, along comes Monster.com and before long Job Track is gobbled up. they announced a few months later that all of the development departments would now use Windows 2000. my friend tried to fight against this and raised some good issues, but eventually gave in and began working in 2000. he was laid off last week even though the company is doing fine.<:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:>i think it's that type of *fighting* for a good cause that concerns me. it just doesn't seem to work and we end up with a lot of forgotten martyrs.<:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:>thanks again for the feedback and articles,<:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:>-mg

I have to disagree mg. I think that kind of fighting is essential to inform good decision making.
<:LINEBREAK:>Your friend could have been absolutely correct about the points he was making but may not have been in a position to see or understand other factors that drove the final decision. You don't have to "win" to be a valuable part of the process.
<:LINEBREAK:>I'm not advocating fighting for open source or any other platform on principal, but I do advocate making the advantages of alternatives known to those who are making decisions and considering those alternatives if you are the one deciding.
<:LINEBREAK:>For those who aren't at a decision making level it can be frustrating when the reasons for a decision aren't clear or seem specious but letting people know how it affects the work that you perform is important if only to give those decision makers information for future decisions.
<:LINEBREAK:>Helen.

I disagree.

Within the US, MS has its biggest hold. Many other countries' governments, non-profits, and others have largely or completely converted to Linux and other free software/open source software OSs. Don't look at the US as being the only place where examples are relevant.

artemis,
<:LINEBREAK:>Do you have any details on widespread linux use in non-profits?
<:LINEBREAK:>It would be great to have examples of this that we could learn from.
<:LINEBREAK:>Helen

MG,<:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:>I understand completely what you are saying, but I have to disagree. Microsoft will not win. True... they will survive and will probably always make a lot of money, but they aren't invincible.<:LINEBREAK:>Linux started 10 years ago. Every year for the past 4 or 5 years, I keep reading articles to the effect of "Linux will go away" "Linux is losing the battle" "Microsoft aims to crush Linux", etc. The only thing I've seen happen to Linux is improvement after improvement. It keeps getting better.<:LINEBREAK:>One major problem I see, though, is Linux gurus don't simplify the process enough for Everyday-Joe. For instance, I used RedHat for a long time because it was the "You-can't-go-wrong-or-get-fired-for-using-this-program" software choice in the Linux world. But I also spent a LOT of time looking through HOWTO's about manually editing config files, etc.<:LINEBREAK:>A month ago, I decided to try installing Mandrake 8.1 Now, I'm not gonna say it's perfect (What OS is?), but configuration took me about 1 hr to install all 3 CDs, configure ADSL via PPPoE, Server, NFS, etc. And when I need to change something now, it takes a click or two instead of half an hour in VI (long live VI!).<:LINEBREAK:>So I keep it simple for people. THe thing about Linux is you configure it... and your done. One REALLY BIG advantage is thing-clients. I've helped several non-profits set up networks with around 5 486s and Pent 120s, and a server running with 400Mhz and 128MB Ram. It runs StarOffice, KOffice, Netscape, GIMP, GNUcash and tons of other software. Whenever they want an upgrade... just switch out the server hardware, add RAM, etc. THAT'S It. And for tech support, they can call their local Linux User Group, etc. Most, however, don't need to, and I've always offered to come do major upgrades (1-2 hrs of my time) for free every year or so.<:LINEBREAK:>Did I mention most of the hardware is free? yepper! Goto the Environmental Waste Recycling place and tell them you'd like to collect the old computers before they get ground up. Have a "Junk Computer Collection Day". And if it's a non-profit, people can write if off their taxes to boot.<:LINEBREAK:>Sorry to ramble a bit, but MS, in all their power, will not be able to stop Linux. Someone already mentioned other governments going to Linux. China, for one. (you may think that won't affect us, but it will). SUSE is popular in Europe. IBM's support using it on servers is making people comfortable with it. Thin-client solutions are cost effective for schools (And RedHat is making major inroads there, as well).<:LINEBREAK:>I'm just sorry that you seem to "give in" before it's even an issue. I toute to people that they can use current hardware and get another 2-3 years out of it. Then I ask would they rather upgrade 20 clients or 2 servers? Star Office offers powerpoint compatibility (that actually works now with 6.0 --- don't ask me about 5.2).<:LINEBREAK:>But linux will survive and grow. It has been for awhile now. And it will continue to.<:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:>Ok. I'm done.

I'm pretty sure that Microsoft's dominance of software will eventually end, but that's because I'm confident that all things end eventually.<:LINEBREAK:>

For the moment I'm trying to figure out whether placing unix in the two small non-profits I work for will be responsible or not. Bearing in mind that I'm working with small religious based organizations, I'm strongly tempted to use unix because of the fact that it's often free and can run on low end (i.e. old) hardware.<:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:>

Unfortunately, I keep on worrying that if I get hit by a bus (unlikely, I hope) or get a better paying job offer (very probable), I'll be leaving a very tech challenged group in the possession of 2 FreeBSD boxes.<:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:>

If there's any reason that Microsoft will win the non-profit sector, it seems to me that it'll be because of the user-interface.<:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:>

If someone can manage to make BSD or Linux easy to use/configure as a fileserver/webserver, I'd feel a lot more comfortable leaving the organization with them.

jzoetewey said:<:LINEBREAK:>

<:LINEBREAK:>If there's any reason that Microsoft will win the non-profit sector, it seems to me that it'll be because of the user-interface.<:LINEBREAK:>

<:LINEBREAK:>I've been using Ximian Gnome and it is certainly as easy to look at and figure out as Windows. It includes a very easy utility for updating programs. In every way except one it competes with Windows. That one is the ease of installing programs.<:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:>It's pretty easy to put a new Word processor or email program or web browser on a Windows system. Not so on any Linux system that I've found. That -- the utilization of third party software -- is the biggest hurdle in my opinion. Lots of third party software is available to perform most office productivity function but getting it onto a Linux machine and getting it to work is often a challenge.<:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:>Which relates to your other concern, whether or not is would be responsible to put Unix at small non-profits. I think it's a trade. Could they reasonably find someone else to support the work? Probably. You'd have to be detailed in documentation and include some troubleshooting training.<:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:>I think the decision is really up to the org and depends on what they are willing to do.<:LINEBREAK:><:LINEBREAK:>marnie.

jzoetewey and webb,
<:LINEBREAK:>Have you tried the Debian distribution? Both of you seem very concerned about system maintenance. I agree that this can be very difficult. I've tried TurboLinux, Corel, Mandrake, and Debian. I was going to try RedHat, but after installing Debian, I don't see how anything could possibly be easier to maintain. I believe that it is well known in the Linux community that Debian's package management system is far superior to RedHat's.

webb -- With Debian, there really is no such thing as "third party software" because all open source "third party software" is added to Debian's list of packages and considered part of the Debian distribution. If I hear about a neat program like AbiWord (which is a Word clone that can open Word .doc files) then I search the Debian package list (you have to scroll down on this page to find the proper search box) to see if it is included. If it is, then alls I have to do is type "apt-get install abiword", or if I want Evolution then I type "apt-get install evolution", or if I want GnuCash, I type "apt-get install gnucash", etc. The programs are then downloaded and installed automatically. The system is so smart that if I already have AbiWord installed it will check to see if I have the latest version, and install the latest version if I don't.

jzoetewey -- At present time, installing the core Debian system is not as easy as beginner distros like Mandrake, but once it is installed it is the easiest to maintain. If you get hit by a bus, I don't think you have to worry about being punished in the afterlife for setting up a nonprofit with Debian instead of Microsoft. In the end though, as Webb pointed out, the nonprofit has to know what they are getting into and want to try something other than Microsoft.

Keep an eye out for busses, joe<:DELIMITER:>c