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Author Topic: Anything but Microsoft retail store opens in Toronto
radiorahim
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Babbler # 2777

posted 18 December 2004 11:13 PM      Profile for radiorahim     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
They're installing Linspire, which isn't the greatest Linux around but...here's the article:

Information Week - Anything But Microsoft Retail Store Pushes Linux, Open Source


From: a Micro$oft-free computer | Registered: Jun 2002  |  IP: Logged
Cougyr
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3336

posted 19 December 2004 02:24 PM      Profile for Cougyr     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
"We are avoiding the 'Microsoft tax,'" said Silverman, adding that Microsoft software can add from $200 to $400 to the cost of a PC or laptop.

When I bought my present computer, I got a friend to build it without an OS. Boy, can you save money that way. I went to several dealers and asked to buy a computer without an OS and they all refused. I suspect that the dealers got them pre-loaded from the wholesalers.

One would think that if one bought an OS, it could be installed on all of one's computers. That's the way Linux works. I bought a distro (Libranet) and can install it on all of my machines. It's mine. But Microsoft doesn't agree; it sells the per/seat liscense. For those who have a small business with say eight machines and a server, add up the difference. With M$, there is a fee for the server OS plus Windows for each of the desktops, plus various word processing programs and other software and antiviral and firewall software. A setup like this could easily top $4,000.00. A $100.00 Linux distro could do all of it, and more. (One can actually download and install Linux for free, but some skill is required and most business people don't have the time or the interest to do so.)


From: over the mountain | Registered: Nov 2002  |  IP: Logged
radiorahim
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Babbler # 2777

posted 19 December 2004 04:01 PM      Profile for radiorahim     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Some of the more "commercial" versions of Linux are doing the "per seat" thing as well although generally at a cost that's much less than M$.

But the nice thing is that with so many Linux distros available you can choose between somewhat easier "commercial" versions that may have somewhat stricter licensing conditions and somewhat "geekier" totally free versions.

If you are a little more "tech savvy" and aren't afraid to spend a bit of time and learn, you can save piles of money on operating systems (and applications) which is a tremendous bonus for individuals, small businesses, community organizations and in developing countries.

You can also keep your old hardware up and running for longer periods of time. You're not "forced" to upgrade your hardware just to run the latest M$ operating system.

Although I haven't seen the specs yet, my understanding is that when M$ releases their "Longhorn" operating system sometime in 2006 it will require hardware that most folks don't even have yet to get any kind of decent performance out of it.

So folks will be back on the "treadmill" of hardware upgrades.

I think this will create quite an opening for Linux on the desktop.

What's holding Linux back on the desktop (in the home) I think is a) lack of games and b) the amount of software piracy.

Much as M$ complains about software piracy it actually helps them maintain their monopoly. Folks will tell you "Hey why would I want to put Open Office on my computer. My Microsoft Office was free (nudge nudge wink wink)."


From: a Micro$oft-free computer | Registered: Jun 2002  |  IP: Logged
Cougyr
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3336

posted 19 December 2004 04:35 PM      Profile for Cougyr     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
quote:
Originally posted by radiorahim:
What's holding Linux back on the desktop (in the home) I think is a) lack of games and b) the amount of software piracy.

And just plain reticence. One could easily use Linux, and Linux applications, to run an office. Everything to do so is already available, but people are afraid to make the leap. This is why the average Linux user has no idea he/she is doing so; the techy guy has loaded it on a server that runs everything and left Windows on the desktops. It's not unheard of for the "decision maker" to not know that his ultra reliable system has Red Hat running in that locked closet down the hallway.


From: over the mountain | Registered: Nov 2002  |  IP: Logged

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