Hey, Windows: Pack your bags. I think I've found an operating system that can run the machines that run my smaller business without all the hassles you put me through. Say hello to Linux
Dear Windows,
There is no easy way to tell you this. As you know, we've had difficulties over the years trying to make things work between us. The security hassles, the software updates, the crapware I've had to put up -- it's all been too much.
You're so wrapped up in your security patches and your Vista deployments that you probably haven't noticed how unhappy I've been. At one point it got so bad that I even considered ditching you, Windows, for a Mac. You didn't know that, did you?
But now I think I've found an operating system that can run the machines that run my business without all the security concerns and other hassles you've been putting me through. And I'm putting you on notice. Yes, it's someone you know. I knew you were going to ask me that.
Yes, It's Linux. Don't Look So Surprised
At first there was a lot I didn't know about Linux. There are so many Linux distributions -- hundreds of them -- could there be one desktop environment that would be right for my business? How would I find it? And should I migrate my servers to Linux? What about my apps? How would my apps work?
The more I read, the more I learned. Late last year I read that the usual hardline reasons small and midsize businesses shun Linux -- not enough applications, complexity of installation, they require too much technical know-how to run -" are beginning to soften. I learned that small and midsize businesses overseas are more inclined to go with Linux than US companies of the same size.
I started hearing that Ubuntu, a popular Linux distro, could ably handle my ordinary task-based day-to-day stuff. Then I started hearing that Ubuntu could be used to run a small business.
It's the Servers, Stupid
A study about open source deployments by small and midsize companies really opened my eyes to what I've been missing: "Of those using Linux, 67 percent commonly or ubiquitously use it as a server operating system, but only 23 percent do as a desktop operating system." Move over Microsoft Small Business Server, and make room for Red Hat, Collax, Nitix, Xandro, and Novell.
I put aside concerns about e-mail when I read about a book written for small to medium sized businesses that do not have dedicated IT staff, but want to set up a Linux office email server.
I Wish I Could Quit You, Windows
I figured I was set to ditch Windows. Until I started seeing signs to put on the brakes. "Forget Linux on the desktop," wrote one blogger, "now is not the time for anyone but a geek to waste effort on using Linux on a PC." The open-source operating system has been a dismal failure on the desktop, wrote another, going on to give seven reason why Linux won't succeed on the desktop. And Linux adoption is slowing on servers, too according to a recent survey of CIOs. " More than 90 percent of the responding CIOs in the survey who are not current Linux users said they would not deploy the open-source operating system in their servers in this calendar year."
Even Dell let me down. While the company introduced PCs preloaded with Ubuntu this summer, it did not extend the offer to small business customers.
What's going on here? My head is in a really dark place right now. If you think you can help me sort through this mess, please shoot me an e-mail.
Cora Nucci is executive editor of bMighty.com.
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