Comments on: Get The Facts http://www.hlynes.com Tue, 02 Feb 2010 10:37:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Japanese Phrases http://www.hlynes.com/get-the-facts/comment-page-1/#comment-58029 Japanese Phrases Tue, 02 Feb 2010 10:37:32 +0000 http://www.hlynes.com/get-the-facts/#comment-58029 These are the words of a company who is seeing the serious threat that Linux and open source software poses too the company. Unfortunately, scare tactics like these work on the general public. These are the words of a company who is seeing the serious threat that Linux and open source software poses too the company. Unfortunately, scare tactics like these work on the general public.

]]> By: Marcus Harman http://www.hlynes.com/get-the-facts/comment-page-1/#comment-53249 Marcus Harman Sat, 18 Jul 2009 20:55:58 +0000 http://www.hlynes.com/get-the-facts/#comment-53249 I have had a small business running for about ten years now. I run a website that sells, of all things, printable paper scale model aircraft. It is a nano business really and is more about my love of the subject than the money it generates. From its inception I used proprietary software for some task somewhere or other in my work-flow. Initial research was done on Microsoft OSes on a couple of machines from win 95 onwards. Website design was done in Frontpage. the eventual products were crafted with other closed source applications. I did regular backups. I upgraded from win 95, to 98 and then to XP. At each stage the process was less than smooth. I was like the guy who lost data because the upgraded OS could not read my backup sets with it's "improved" feature set. This is despite shelling out for DLT tapedrives to protect hundreds, if not thousands of hours of the creative process. I had the ridiculous situation of having to run legacy machines to create dozens of uncompressed data CDs and laboriously restoring files manually until I learned how to network the machines. Add to this annoyance that after every upgrade of Word from Version 2.0 I have had issues reading data created in earlier formats. Same in Excel. Same in Publisher. I concluded that the system of perpetual upgrade of software and hardware and the cost to my business was the absolute definition of irrationality. In 2007 ~I commenced a changeover to "Free and Open" software. Now my main OS for business is Ubuntu Linux 9.04 as a desktop, server and Network aware storage. I am still in the process of converting my workflow to an entirely Free and OPen environment. I have achieved 80% of this. Document preparation, shopping cart, website design and accounts are now all FOSS. The final 20% will be achieved through learning some more of the FOSS available or getting my CAD software to work under Wine. I have one dual boot machine. XP is only used for CAD. I expect that this will change. The corporate market is something I barely qualify to stand in, but I own a business, I own PC's and I am thoroughly disillusioned with Microsoft's marketing and cynical manipulation of me. Not even what I've seen of the Windows 7 Release candidate will tempt me back. My business is small beer to Microsoft, Adobe and the like, but there are millions of users like me, who together are probably bigger than the corporate market. Proprietary software is dead - it just doesn't know it yet. I have had a small business running for about ten years now.
I run a website that sells, of all things, printable paper scale model aircraft. It is a nano business really and is more about my love of the subject than the money it generates.
From its inception I used proprietary software for some task somewhere or other in my work-flow. Initial research was done on Microsoft OSes on a couple of machines from win 95 onwards. Website design was done in Frontpage. the eventual products were crafted with other closed source applications. I did regular backups.

I upgraded from win 95, to 98 and then to XP. At each stage the process was less than smooth. I was like the guy who lost data because the upgraded OS could not read my backup sets with it’s “improved” feature set. This is despite shelling out for DLT tapedrives to protect hundreds, if not thousands of hours of the creative process. I had the ridiculous situation of having to run legacy machines to create dozens of uncompressed data CDs and laboriously restoring files manually until I learned how to network the machines. Add to this annoyance that after every upgrade of Word from Version 2.0 I have had issues reading data created in earlier formats. Same in Excel. Same in Publisher.

I concluded that the system of perpetual upgrade of software and hardware and the cost to my business was the absolute definition of irrationality.

In 2007 ~I commenced a changeover to “Free and Open” software. Now my main OS for business is Ubuntu Linux 9.04 as a desktop, server and Network aware storage.
I am still in the process of converting my workflow to an entirely Free and OPen environment. I have achieved 80% of this. Document preparation, shopping cart, website design and accounts are now all FOSS. The final 20% will be achieved through learning some more of the FOSS available or getting my CAD software to work under Wine.

I have one dual boot machine. XP is only used for CAD. I expect that this will change.

The corporate market is something I barely qualify to stand in, but I own a business, I own PC’s and I am thoroughly disillusioned with Microsoft’s marketing and cynical manipulation of me. Not even what I’ve seen of the Windows 7 Release candidate will tempt me back. My business is small beer to Microsoft, Adobe and the like, but there are millions of users like me, who together are probably bigger than the corporate market. Proprietary software is dead – it just doesn’t know it yet.

]]> By: Jeefers http://www.hlynes.com/get-the-facts/comment-page-1/#comment-49343 Jeefers Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:17:05 +0000 http://www.hlynes.com/get-the-facts/#comment-49343 Correct me if I am wrong here, but when a desktop goes down with Linux its usually hardware related, so an expert in Linux isn't required. With Windows an expert isn't required either because its either hardware, or gets met with the infamous "we don't know, so we will just reformat and reinstall Windows" solution. So either way, experts aren't really needed at the desktop level. So what we are really talking about are the network and systems people, right? Its been my experience that a system can be run with less people when its Linux based, provided you hire people that know how to use it. The true cost is always going to be lower with a Linux system, even if you don't consider the up-front purchase costs. If the business is HUGE, the cost savings are phenomenal, as the number of Linux personnel does not need to increase as fast as they would with an MS shop. I work in an MS shop, and its freaking stupid that every time we get to a place where Linux would fix all our problems, we just hire 3 or 4 more MS goobs. Now we have a massive staff and they all resist anything without an MS logo on it. They all have certs but can't program to save their lives....we better hire some more lol. Windows has its place...games. Like games? Get Windows. Do Business? That isn't a game so get Linux. Jeef Correct me if I am wrong here, but when a desktop goes down with Linux its usually hardware related, so an expert in Linux isn’t required. With Windows an expert isn’t required either because its either hardware, or gets met with the infamous “we don’t know, so we will just reformat and reinstall Windows” solution. So either way, experts aren’t really needed at the desktop level.
So what we are really talking about are the network and systems people, right? Its been my experience that a system can be run with less people when its Linux based, provided you hire people that know how to use it. The true cost is always going to be lower with a Linux system, even if you don’t consider the up-front purchase costs.
If the business is HUGE, the cost savings are phenomenal, as the number of Linux personnel does not need to increase as fast as they would with an MS shop. I work in an MS shop, and its freaking stupid that every time we get to a place where Linux would fix all our problems, we just hire 3 or 4 more MS goobs. Now we have a massive staff and they all resist anything without an MS logo on it. They all have certs but can’t program to save their lives….we better hire some more lol.

Windows has its place…games. Like games? Get Windows.
Do Business? That isn’t a game so get Linux.

Jeef

]]> By: Aaron http://www.hlynes.com/get-the-facts/comment-page-1/#comment-42410 Aaron Sun, 19 Oct 2008 01:56:43 +0000 http://www.hlynes.com/get-the-facts/#comment-42410 Good point Rob - in a large organization, or one with proprietary software such as the broadcasting industry, switching isn't 'just that simple', and retraining or hiring a good linux admin isn't always easy. That being said, I run Ubuntu and DSL at home along with XP (no reason to go to Vista, no desire to), and myself and the other tech at work are slowly and methodically switching systems to linux. I don't consider myself a competent linux admin in any way shape or form yet...but give me time and a few more systems switched, and perhaps a bit more formal study along the way and I'll get there. I'm not going to knock MS for seminars like this though - they run a business, and as much as I have a distaste for some of their practices or marketing ploys, this is the way they will need to fight back against linux and open source. If I was them, I suppose I would have a similar strategy, you can't just roll over and die :) All that being said, one thing does bother me - much ado is made quite often about the 'support' that you are backed by when you spend all that money on MS licenses, but has anyone else found how truly painful and often futile it is to call MS support of any type? Google is my friend, not the MS hotline. Ahh well, perhaps others have had better luck with their support, I can only speak to my experiences. Good point Rob – in a large organization, or one with proprietary software such as the broadcasting industry, switching isn’t ‘just that simple’, and retraining or hiring a good linux admin isn’t always easy. That being said, I run Ubuntu and DSL at home along with XP (no reason to go to Vista, no desire to), and myself and the other tech at work are slowly and methodically switching systems to linux. I don’t consider myself a competent linux admin in any way shape or form yet…but give me time and a few more systems switched, and perhaps a bit more formal study along the way and I’ll get there.
I’m not going to knock MS for seminars like this though – they run a business, and as much as I have a distaste for some of their practices or marketing ploys, this is the way they will need to fight back against linux and open source. If I was them, I suppose I would have a similar strategy, you can’t just roll over and die :)
All that being said, one thing does bother me – much ado is made quite often about the ’support’ that you are backed by when you spend all that money on MS licenses, but has anyone else found how truly painful and often futile it is to call MS support of any type? Google is my friend, not the MS hotline. Ahh well, perhaps others have had better luck with their support, I can only speak to my experiences.

]]> By: Rob http://www.hlynes.com/get-the-facts/comment-page-1/#comment-40745 Rob Thu, 04 Sep 2008 02:57:24 +0000 http://www.hlynes.com/get-the-facts/#comment-40745 I think what they may mean by "free linux isn't free" is that a technically competent Linux admin often comes with a higher price tag than his or her equivalent Windows admin. Add to this the cost (even if just minor lost productivity) of retraining your entire user base and migrating your data and/or proprietary apps and you are in actuality looking at a significant chunk of money for a company-wide switch. However, a new company should have absolutely no reason not to start with a *nix based system and I think the long term gains from getting out from under the crippling licensing fees would be worth the switch even(maybe especially) in a firmly entrenched Windows environment. Just thought I'd post and have people consider that it is a big scary step, and the switch will not lead instantly to rainbows and world peace - or even to increased net profits. I think what they may mean by “free linux isn’t free” is that a technically competent Linux admin often comes with a higher price tag than his or her equivalent Windows admin. Add to this the cost (even if just minor lost productivity) of retraining your entire user base and migrating your data and/or proprietary apps and you are in actuality looking at a significant chunk of money for a company-wide switch. However, a new company should have absolutely no reason not to start with a *nix based system and I think the long term gains from getting out from under the crippling licensing fees would be worth the switch even(maybe especially) in a firmly entrenched Windows environment. Just thought I’d post and have people consider that it is a big scary step, and the switch will not lead instantly to rainbows and world peace – or even to increased net profits.

]]> By: Spider http://www.hlynes.com/get-the-facts/comment-page-1/#comment-36636 Spider Sun, 22 Jun 2008 04:42:42 +0000 http://www.hlynes.com/get-the-facts/#comment-36636 @Jason: You use SQL server as an example to say MS comes out with better products. Ever tried running a large (aka several hundred Gb) database on that PoS? O sure, all the nice menus make it easy to make you think you can fix it when issues arrise (and they will, make no mistake), but actually fixing the prob is a nightmare. Now, compare this with 2 competing products. One one side, oracle. Not free, but runs on linux and is a shitload more rock solid. Mysql: Free, about as rock solid as Oracle. To add to this, both of these can actually be optimised to your need. I would know, I am a DBA. With SQL server, if you need to optimise, you are basicaly dead in the water. No proper trace tool, no way of knowing where the performance bottle neck is, nothing. If you are going to defend MS, at least know what you are talking about @Jason:

You use SQL server as an example to say MS comes out with better products. Ever tried running a large (aka several hundred Gb) database on that PoS? O sure, all the nice menus make it easy to make you think you can fix it when issues arrise (and they will, make no mistake), but actually fixing the prob is a nightmare.

Now, compare this with 2 competing products.

One one side, oracle. Not free, but runs on linux and is a shitload more rock solid.

Mysql: Free, about as rock solid as Oracle.

To add to this, both of these can actually be optimised to your need. I would know, I am a DBA. With SQL server, if you need to optimise, you are basicaly dead in the water. No proper trace tool, no way of knowing where the performance bottle neck is, nothing.

If you are going to defend MS, at least know what you are talking about

]]> By: mewt http://www.hlynes.com/get-the-facts/comment-page-1/#comment-36348 mewt Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:56:15 +0000 http://www.hlynes.com/get-the-facts/#comment-36348 Jason, You do know the novell makes a linux distro right? Jason, You do know the novell makes a linux distro right?

]]> By: Jason http://www.hlynes.com/get-the-facts/comment-page-1/#comment-32704 Jason Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:10:08 +0000 http://www.hlynes.com/get-the-facts/#comment-32704 Linux makes a great product but is not as mature as Novell or Microsoft. I'm not saying that Linux can't be run 'Free' but just because short-term cost is low, doesn't mean that the long term cost wont' be more. Also the dev tools from MS are very robust, and integrate well with Active Directory, Ldap, etc. I think it's wrong to say that Microsoft has all the answers or even the best product, but it's even more wrong to say the Linux is the solution. I'd say that even when MS comes out with a way better product aka SQL Server, the MS haters will say pretty much anything not to admit that fact. Linux makes a great product but is not as mature as Novell or Microsoft. I’m not saying that Linux can’t be run ‘Free’ but just because short-term cost is low, doesn’t mean that the long term cost wont’ be more. Also the dev tools from MS are very robust, and integrate well with Active Directory, Ldap, etc. I think it’s wrong to say that Microsoft has all the answers or even the best product, but it’s even more wrong to say the Linux is the solution.

I’d say that even when MS comes out with a way better product aka SQL Server, the MS haters will say pretty much anything not to admit that fact.

]]> By: reginald day http://www.hlynes.com/get-the-facts/comment-page-1/#comment-28824 reginald day Wed, 16 Jan 2008 03:06:26 +0000 http://www.hlynes.com/get-the-facts/#comment-28824 i have just changed to ubuntu after using microsoft since it came out. Vista was the killer, i use an amd dual core with 2 gig of ram and have had to do 17 re-installs since last july. i rang microsoft and they wanted to charge me money to look at my computer to tell me why vista was such a piece of rubbish. I refused and did not know where to go and a friend handed me ubuntu. It runs perfect, no problems at all, i can use the media player, send emails and write my articles. Sure i am at a loss with much of this linux operating system, but i figure that will come with use and time after all i had to learn windows at first. Microsoft has become so expensive i could not recommend them to anyone, they have effectively priced them selves out of the market. it does not make sense to come into the market with a 2nd rate operating system and then charge the money they want. its a joke when the operating system costs more the the computer to run it. i have just changed to ubuntu after using microsoft since it came out. Vista was the killer, i use an amd dual core with 2 gig of ram and have had to do 17 re-installs since last july. i rang microsoft and they wanted to charge me money to look at my computer to tell me why vista was such a piece of rubbish.
I refused and did not know where to go and a friend handed me ubuntu.
It runs perfect, no problems at all, i can use the media player, send emails and write my articles.
Sure i am at a loss with much of this linux operating system, but i figure that will come with use and time after all i had to learn windows at first.
Microsoft has become so expensive i could not recommend them to anyone, they have effectively priced them selves out of the market. it does not make sense to come into the market with a 2nd rate operating system and then charge the money they want. its a joke when the operating system costs more the the computer to run it.

]]> By: Phil Cox http://www.hlynes.com/get-the-facts/comment-page-1/#comment-24421 Phil Cox Sat, 22 Sep 2007 20:47:11 +0000 http://www.hlynes.com/get-the-facts/#comment-24421 The real issue here is that MS know they own the desktop but are unable to provide any compelling reason or evidence why servers running in the backed should also have the Darks Side's OS installed as well. And insult to injury there is currently no desktop CPU with enough power to make Vista zip and snap. Instead Vista looks like a real marketing and technical disaster and add insult to injury Linux does the exact opposite. It really can provide a lean and mean desktop alternative without al the unnecssary cludge. The real issue here is that MS know they own the desktop but are unable to provide any compelling reason or evidence why servers running in the backed should also have the Darks Side’s OS installed as well. And insult to injury there is currently no desktop CPU with enough power to make Vista zip and snap. Instead Vista looks like a real marketing and technical disaster and add insult to injury Linux does the exact opposite. It really can provide a lean and mean desktop alternative without al the unnecssary cludge.

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