[ubuntu-in] Migrating an organization to FLOSS

[Ramnarayan.K]

Hi

On Wed, Jan 21, 2009 at 9:48 AM, Gautam John <gkjohn at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> and
> we're considering migrating everyone to Ubuntu. Some 50 desktops and
> 50 laptops.
>
> Would anyone have advice? A manual? Guidelines?

here is an interesting post by a long time windows uses

*Living free with Linux: 2 weeks without Windows*

*Can a dedicated Windows user make it for two weeks using only Linux?
Preston Gralla tried it and lived to tell this tale.*

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&taxonomyName=Operating+Systems&articleId=9126042&taxonomyId=89&pageNumber=1

***
a few of my comments:

1. i read the entire post and don't agree with quite a lot of what the
author says - but this is a good read to understand the mindset of a
windows user and what can be their potential problems

2. She reviews 8.04 - which is ok but 8.10 rocks - its rock solid and
performs like a champion (cliched huh but you know what its true)

3. The author has skipped quite a few more features that are built
(like print to pdf from within almost any user software) or the
security aspect has beed glossed over - look at whats happening all
around - 9 mil computers affected by a worm - users maybe careless but
so many users can't be all to blame , face it windows is insecure

4. Regarding installing programmes - no one told her about synaptic
which makes any windows installer look stupid - it not only finds you
programmes (many alternatives of each) it also instals it from the
most secure place and makes sure it works)

5. The author chooses to blame linux for not beaing able to see vista
, it could well be the other way around - "saala vista mere linux he
nahi dekh pata useless hai"

6. Which windows os can give you god only knows how many languages to
boot into and use (i guess the limitation is your hard disk size)

7. Of course she discusses only tools that come on board with Ubuntu
(by default) by default in any windows OS your get almost zilch and
then you choose to install software you want so there are many many
alternatives for what ever the default software is there

some of my favorites are
Mozilla Thunderbird for outlook type email services
gthumb for image viewing
pdfedit for pdf editing
pdfimport extension again for pdf editing

etc etc

am not sure what the author means by redlining documents for editing -
there is a "track changes" feature but not the annotations with the
track changes which is what i think the author is saying -

8. read the comments - they will also give one an idea of what to
expect when the changeover takes place

9. Ubuntu (and Linux) is not windows - its different its like
comparing samosa's with idlies -

finally - solutions for almost everything are available on various
ubuntu forums and most of the time they are free ;-) sometimes it may
cost you a beer or a coffee


ram