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Linux - An Interesting Read

This week’s tech tip takes a look at the possibility of using Linux as your desktop operating system. This may come as a surprise to many of our customers who think of us as strictly a Windows and PC company, but the fact is that our Micro-Scope software and Universal Diagnostic Toolkit have always been completely independent of the operating system, and are just as accurate and effective on Linux boxes as they are with any other PC operating system.

Linux has always had one big advantage. It’s free, or almost free. On the other hand, there have been several disadvantages, but these have been steadily eroded over the last few years. In the beginning, it was notoriously hard to configure, and the die-hard Linux geeks (the ones who wore clothing with Penguin logos) took pride in the fact that they belonged to a very select group that the rest of us mortals could never hope to join. Kind of like professional magicians, but without the tux and the beautiful attendants.

Red Hat, SuSe and other Linux distributors have done much to demystify the program and make it more approachable, with their interfaces and technical support. As a result Linux has made serious inroads in the server market, but it still wasn’t a good fit on the desktop. Lindows made a valiant attempt to bridge that gap with it’s user-friendly interface, but while Lindows (pardon me, Linspire) might be a good solution for someone who needs a cheap home PC, nobody I know takes it seriously for the business environment.

Perhaps the biggest hurdle has been the lack of software. If you run Windows, you have access to just about every kind of productivity software known to man, the best known of course being the Microsoft Office suite. Just about everyone is familiar with Office, and familiar with one version or another of Windows, and with software, familiarity breeds comfort more often than contempt.

There are now a number of Office clones available, but they are not exactly Office. And no matter which version of Linux we tried, it just wasn’t enough like Windows to give us that feeling of comfort. That may be about to change.

There is a new Linux distribution from Xandros Inc. that has done a bang-up job of making the interface look and feel like Windows, and it has enough power and functionality to earn a place on the corporate desktop. We’re talking about the Xandros Desktop OS Version 2.5, Business Edition. This operating system can mesh with the Microsoft servers, including NT, Win2K, and Server 2003, as well as IBM terminal emulators. It comes with the Mozilla browser, which many people consider to be superior to IE, and also includes a copy of Star Office.

The real kicker though is a utility called CrossOver Office, which lets you run the real Microsoft Office as well as a variety of other Windows applications. Yes, we thought that would get your attention. This is not a Windows emulator that eats up a bunch of your system overhead. The program actually includes a part of the Windows API (Application Program Interface) that lets you run Office and other Windows software directly under Windows with no noticeable decrease in speed. There are still some things it can’t do, like Windows-based games (sorry guys), but we’re talking about using it in the office, right?

Now, we are not necessarily telling you to switch. After all, we are a Microsoft Certified Partner, and we have no relationship with Xandros. However, we are interested in keeping our customers informed and up-to-date, and able to make a knowledgeable choice between the old and familiar as opposed to the new and different (and cheaper). So there you have it.

Disclaimer - The Micro 2000 Tech Tip is a free service providing information only. While we use reasonable care to see that this information is correct, we do not guarantee it for accuracy, completeness or fitness for a particular purpose. Micro 2000, Inc. shall not be liable for damages of any kind in connection with the use or misuse of this information.