Comments on: French parliament picks Ubuntu for Linux switch

Starting this summer, 1,154 parliamentary desks will feature Linux-based PCs.

[fcekuahd]

I applaud their move, but...

$105,000 budgeted for the migration? That seems pretty optimistic. What's included in the scope of this migration?

- Deploy the new OS and application software?
- Training?
- Document conversion?
- Archived email migration?
- Other?

[timber2005]

Agreed

Agreed. If they use OpenOffice though document conversion isn't a problem because AFAIK it does open both the 97-2003 Office Format (.doc, ,xls, .ppt) and soon (if not already) the 2007 XML format (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx)

$105k seems very shy still.

[Razzl]

A distro too far?

I'm a newcomer to Linux, using Ubuntu booting with WinXP on my laptop, and while I'm glad for somebody to take the plunge against the Windows franchise my impression is that Ubuntu is a stand-alone home-user distro whose softwares are too simple to be suitable for a large enterprise. There will also be no question of using most important proprietary softwares on the market, or even the best free ones. If they were a technology company they could invest in improving the packages and enhance the value of Ubuntu for all users, but I doubt the French deputies are very handy at writing programs (or choosing them, for that matter)...

[ben::zen]

Ubuntu is versatile

Really, with a government, you need time-management, and office technologies. They get both of those, and ubuntu can be expanded in any ways needed. Most proprietary software has a linux-compatible replacement, mostly open-source, as well.

[MichaGato]

Is linux ready for the the desktop?

I am in the same exact spot as Razzl (laptop dual booting XP Pro and Ubuntu Dapper) and I am really enjoying my plunge into deeper Linux waters...

However, having yet to get used to all the odd new ways of doing things, the lack of consistency between applications (take Drag'n'Drop, for instance) and some hairy problems that took me days of reading FAQs and HowTos and a 20 year old DOS proficiency to solve, I am left wondering if even a friendly distro like Ubuntu is ready for the prime time.

Just remember that in Linux, even mild customizing requires using the CLI -- how will computer illiterate users be able cope with that?

Don't get me wrong, I really think this this is a move in the right direction and I do applaud the french. I just have a lot of questions...

[tracy_anne]

Ubuntu is a stand-alone home-user distro

I think Ubuntu is hugely over rated. They would have been better off going with Mandriva with the KDE desktop.

[sreynard]

Newcomer impression?

". . . my impression is that Ubuntu is a stand-alone home-user distro whose softwares are too simple to be suitable for a large enterprise."

Your impression is wrong.

That's why they hired Linagora and Unilog to configure their systems for them.

[Johncolescarr]

I tend to disagree with Razzi, as a user of Ubuntu (8.04), the last word I would use to describe the OS would be simple. For corporate and personal use, Linux offers much better functionality and, importantly, integration than XP or Vista. For desktop and server, Linux offers a more usable, secure and stable platform
The reason Ubuntu is sometimes seen as simple is because of the user interface. If Microsoft spent as much effort on functions for the advanced user as they do on making their OS look appealing then there would be a huge advance in productivity. However, I have seen some customised linux distributions that look far better than Vista

[t8]

Good move

Windows is loosing relevance by the day.
The biggest threat to Windows isn't Linux however, it is Web services.

My business doesn't need Microsoft software. I prefer to use Google docs & spreadsheets and most what I do is online anyway including web publishing.

From time to time I back up the files, emails, etc to one of my computers, just incase there is a disaster of some kind and Google looses my data.

Working online is a much more efficient way than storing all the original files your own PC or server. I can access my stuff from any computer, even my cellphone, and the OS is of no concern.
I can use Linux, MAC, Windoze, or whatever because all I really need is a browser. So upgrading to Vista is a complete waste of time and I couldn't care less that the Windows can tile in 3D.

Now I know that this would not be suitable for all, but I believe one day it will.

Online services/software is only going to get better and when you think about the wireless age and not having to administer complex systems, it's really all about freedom and accessing your data anywhere and anytime. Even Adobe is thinking about hosting and online version of Photoshop, albeit a stripped down version.

One day our kids will laugh when you tell them how much money office software cost and how it came in boxes and you installed it to a 45 record (I mean hard drive). Their world will be online 24 hours a day and no wires or hard drives to boot. In fact most people will be using their cellphones and docking stations with big screens and keyboards.

Before you start giving me the security aspect, I would like to remind you that Google and whoever else I use to store my stuff does a better job than I can at protecting my files.

Then you might argue about the privacy aspect. But I have nothing to hide so I am not worried about storing all my stuff online. In fact keeping my files on computer with an Internet connection is worse than storing the data and using profeesional services as far as privacy goes.

So Linux makes complete sense to me. It has a good browser and other software in case you need it.

Converting documents is irrelevant too. Google docs can be exported in any MS or ODS formats among others.

The true platform is the Web. However we decide to access that platform is up to us, but Windows is but one way and a rather expensive way at that.

I applaud the French parliament's decision to switch to Linux. Why pay all that money for Windows when you don't need to.

The paradim is changing and some will be quicker to make the change than others. That is the way it has always been.

[Razzl]

the fox is in his henhouse

friend, your problem will not be Google losing your data--your problem will be getting them to do it. You've handed over all of your privacy and security to a corporate behemoth. Google holds onto all data it handles from its search engine, whether the searchers want it to or not.

Very few people are going to trust Google or anybody else to hold onto all their business or personal data securely and privately. Web services may grow bigger than they are today, but they won't displace the home computer the way you think they will.

[giuliocesare]

Wrong, better off with Microsoft Office, literally

Google is not obligated to backup data, and if a disaster does occur, it will almost certainly not refund your money if it does lose data.

[Microsoft_Facts]

The U.S. is losing its tech lead

One of many stories on how other countries are leading the way moving to modern platforms, while the US just can't break its pathetic addiction to legacy Microsoft products and incompatible and unreliable technologies.

[m.o.t.u.]

Mr Gates, there seems to be a small leak.....

in the monopoly reservoir, but not big enough to worry about, yet.

[Johncolescarr]

For the corporate user, the most important features of an OS are security, stability, functionality, integration with existing systems and ease and security of administration. Ubuntu runs much faster on the same hardware spec compared to windows XP or Vista.

The only downside to linux is that most hardware and specialist software is designed and supported for windows. This is only because of the current market share. This is changing. I predict that the computing industry will look very different in 20 years time.