Linux at home? Maybe...at work..welll

[Tom Adelstein]

On Fri, 2005-05-27 at 13:36 -0400, Frank McCormick wrote:
> Can't help but get into the debate...
> 
> I work for a MAJOR public service broadcaster in Canada....and AFAIK
> Linux is used in ONLY one place..on SOME of the servers on the internet
> service.
> 
> At work ALL the machines run Windows 2000 Professional. Why? Simple. We
> use heavy duty audio /video and text editing / gathering software which
> is apparently miles above anything available for Linux. The audio
> editing we do is done on Dalet, originally French software which
> strangely enough won't run on XP, but will run on anything up to 2000.
> It is a network based program ( we routinely have 150 hours of time
> available ) which is likely is use simultaneously by 100 to 200 people.
> I have never come across anything as powerfull for Linux (correct me if
> I am wrong..I am not in IT)
> 
> The text editing/gathering software is used by radio/and television and
> again is server based and in use across the country by thousands of
> people. Again I have never heard of anything comparable for Linux.
> 
> The bottom line: Linux likely will never infiltrate into our operation
> simply because the software is not available and likely will never be
> avilable. And I would hazard a guess there are many other operations in
> similar position.
> 
> 
> This is not praise of Windows - it's a lament for Linux. 
> 

Please do not take offense to this, because I don't mean any malice or
harm. I've just been so involved with Linux in enterprises for so long
that I perk up when I see various assertions or situations. So, forgive
me in advance if you feel offended in any way. 

The largest distributor of digital broadcast media is dgsystems. They're
a giant Linux company and have some early machines running 1.0 kernels
maybe even .08 kernels. They do spot TV and radio distribution, media
asset management, production and syndication. Big Linux shop for many
years. 

Belo uses Linux and many others in your industry also use Linux - in
every phase of broadcast, editing, teleprompters, reporting, syndication
etc.

I'm not saying you are wrong, and please don't take it that way eh.

But, so many organizations have Linux running in so many places they
don't even know it. I could mention some I have audited, but then I have
NDAs and some might even be classified. 

I lament your situation but not Linux. It's often difficult to get an
organization to move a critical application from one platform to
another. It took almost twenty years to get PC networks to dominate the
IT industry and they were ready in ten years.