Using Linux in a Small Business Environment (cont.)

The advantages of Linux include unparalleled security, high operating stability, low cost, extremely fast performance, wide multi-platform support, robust networking, and much, much more. It has long been known as a major contender for most mission-critical Web Servers. In October 2005, NetCraft.com's Web Server Survey¹ shows that of the 76 million web sites it surveyed, over 69% ran on Apache Servers in Linux. Now, with a new generation of Linux graphical interfaces available, it is poised to challenge the last pillar of Microsoft's dominion: the desktop.

The core of most small buiness software is the office suite. Look anywhere, and you will find most businesses running smoothly along with standard suites, such as Microsoft Office ($399.00), Sun's StarOffice8 ($70.00), or Corel WordPerfect Office ($349.00). But if you have a light to moderate business setting, there is a powerful new office platform, OpenOffice V2.0 ($0.00), which is available as a free download and it works perfectly in the Linux environment. This package includes all the normal office suite applications; a drawing package, a presentation package, a spreadsheet, a Microsoft Word-compatible word processing application, and a database application. If you are used to working with MS Word, the learning curve here is next to nothing.

Just the FAQs

Q: Some people tell me that I can save money by using Linux, but Microsoft says it costs more for Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). Who is right?

A: The Robert Francis Group² published the results of an extensive survey in August 2005, addressing this very issue. Result? They found that for the companies surveyed, the TCO for Linux averaged 40% lower than Windows, and 54% lower than Solaris in standardized tests. This included both hardware investment, and software maintenance.

Q: Ok, the Linux operating system is free. But what about applications?
A: Many, many applications for Linux are free, but there are also quite a few commercial applications for it as well. Depending on your business needs, there are many options available, and many of the commercial Linux packages are much lower in price than their Microsoft equivalents.

Q: Where do I find these 'free' applications? There are none at my computer store.
A: On the Internet! There are an amazing number of Web sites catering to Linux users, and the applications span everything from games to Industrial-Strength applications.

Q: What hardware runs with Linux?
A: Hardware support for Linux has traditionally lagged behind Windows, but that is becoming a thing of the past. Not only does Linux support most leading-technology computing systems and devices, for the very few that it doesn't currently support, there are development efforts underway. Of the eight different systems I have personally converted to Linux, there were no systems which lost features or devices supported in Windows.

Q: What about security?
A: Security is where Linux surpasses Windows hands-down. Linux was developed from the ground up to be a multi-user OS, with strong privacy rules and protections in mind. Windows was designed as a single-user platform, and has had a difficult time switching to the multi-user paradigm. Viruses, worms, and spyware can't easily survive in a Linux environment, though they thrive in Windows.