by nv1962 | Noviembre 21st, 2002
I have to admit that I was very apprehensive about starting to use Linux more seriously - that is, beyond setting up a floppy-based router/firewall running on a diskless and obsolete PC to share internet access among our family. In light of my earlier experience with Unix, I wasn’t exactly thrilled by the idea of using Linux, following the typical bias: hard to learn, deploy, configure, manage, update… Also, available software packages were a concern. Well, I’m finding out that I’m not the only one discovering Linux as a productive, powerful, stable, flexible and user-centric platform.
Earlier this year, DesktopLinux.com published an excellent article submitted by a real-life user, describing how his smaller-sized company made a progressive switch, from (mostly) Windows and (some) Apple machines towards Linux. Actually, towards Open Software.
But my jaw almmost hit the floor when I read about the Spanish (!) Ministry of Public Affairs, who are embarked on a project to migrate all 8,000 (!!) NT desktops and servers to… Debian GNU/Linux. There’s a very brief overview in English here, and a very detailed description in Spanish of the whole migration process here.
I think the moment is very near that larger entities and companies seriously consider to make that switch, too. Certainly after the Microsoft settlement, and the infamous introduction of “renewable licenses” by that same company.
We’ll see, but the possibility to really choose freely which hardware to buy, and to install software without becoming the subject of license-bondage is now closer than ever…
If things progress as they do at present, there’ll be a major revolution within five years: not only due to changes in dominant brands and standards, but mostly due to the different, far more value-added business model that companies operating in that field must follow, in order to merit their income.
But it all hinges on acceptance (obviously) of the Linux / open software model, as well as the capacity to develop a sufficiently ample base of developers and engineers, ready to support a probably explosive demand.
We’ll see…
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