Desktop version Linux:ubuntu vs windows

For the past 10 years, many Linux supporters have predicted almost every year that it would be "the year of the Linux Desktop Edition." This has been a lofty goal for Microsoft-led companies, but the times have changed. In the Smartphone and cloud computing market, Linux has grown to become a tenacious competitor, hitting Microsoft one by surprise. More importantly, Google,ibm,red Hat,facebook, and Netflix and other companies are investing heavily in Linux's research and development innovations.

Now, as the technology budget shrinks and Microsoft's licensing fees rise, it is time for the IT community to seriously consider deploying desktop Linux instead of Windows. This is the best time for Windows 8.1 just to be released and Ubuntu 13.10 to be released simultaneously. There is only 5 months left to support Windows XP. It companies need to switch to a new environment. Ubuntu leverages the needs of the business to support the needs of their desktop operating systems. I've studied several factors contributing to Linux conversion to the Desktop edition, including training and support, and some potential complexity issues.

I know Ubuntu has lost the favor it once enjoyed in the open source community. Canonical,ubuntu's founder made several unpopular decisions, including changing the screen Manager (the basic component of the Linux graphical interface) and replacing Wayland with an internally developed Mir. However, Ubuntu is still completely open source and offers any Linux distribution or even a Windows version of software that is most convenient to install. Canonical also offers paid support, which may be required for an enterprise-class environment.

There has been an argument that if you switch to a new desktop, the end-user needs retraining. Microsoft's controversial decision to overhaul the familiar interface against Windows 8.1 has the effect of requiring more training than turning to Linux. The Ubuntu Unity desktop has evolved into a user-friendly interface, more easily understood by end-users than Windows 8.1.

For example, compare the way a user shuts down a system in each operating system. All the latest Ubuntu versions, shut down the system just click on the top right corner of the screen to open-close the icon. Windows 8.1 needs to right-click the Start button and a Drop-down menu to find the option to turn off the power. This is a huge step forward compared to Windows 8. Windows 8 also had to struggle to find the relevant entrance. It's not as straightforward as just an icon on the screen.

Thanks to the many popular Windows versions of open source applications, the training of end-users who use these applications is not a complex task. Users are already familiar with Windows Firefox, LibreOffice, Pidgin, and VLC media players. For commercial applications, such as Skype and Adobe Acrobat, the functionality is essentially the same as on Windows. Cloud based applications, such as Google Drive and Microsoft Office 365, are available on Ubuntu.

Traditional Windows applications can be used by familiar Citrix or open source RDP clients. Companies can also use open-source virtual products, such as VirtualBox, to run some stubborn, stale windows apps.

With the latest hardware support, many technicians remember that hardware support was extremely limited in the days when Linux was just getting started. Now the situation has changed.

Today's hardware support for Linux is usually better than the support for the latest version of Windows. Many hardware vendors have abandoned driver support for a new version of Windows. Hardware drivers under Linux can be maintained by anyone in the open source community, so many of the old hardware support is fully supported in the latest version of Ubuntu. Based on this, coupled with the lower system requirements of Ubuntu, the company can extend the life of the hardware that has gone into the Recycle Bin.

While Linux's desktop alternatives have its advantages, companies should also take into account some potential difficulties. While many technicians are using Linux to learn new technologies, there are still a few technicians working on windows for a long time and have become accustomed to embracing new changes that may not be so much for them.

Invoking the trend of pay growth is a solution to potential problems. Jobs that require Linux skills are nearly one-fold higher than other professional technicians, which comes from dice.

Switching to Linux can be difficult for companies that strictly comply with compliance. For example, HIPAA requires encryption to meet the requirements of fips-140-2. Most Open-source encryption projects do not have sponsors to help them pass the NIST certification to meet this requirement. Open source code may actually be more secure than proprietary software because many people have reviewed it, but surprisingly, it doesn't matter in a world of compliance.

Before deciding on a full migration, organizations need to understand their rule requirements and develop a plan to train IT staff. But overall, Ubuntu Linux is ripe for a viable alternative to an enterprise-class private operating system. Taking into account the cost of copyright, the company's investment in the Linux desktop replacement project is worthwhile. The next year may be the "Linux Desktop edition of the year."

Joseph Granneman, author of this article, has over 20 years of technical experience and focuses on medical information technology. He Illinois State The CIO of the Rockford Orthopaedic Society, an active independent writer, moderator and professor in the field of healthcare information technology and information security. Granneman has been active in many organizational groups, including the development of an early framework for health information exchange, a framework that is part of the Illinois health information security and privacy Security Working Group. He is also a volunteer of the Health Information Technology Certification Board (CCHIT) Security Working Group, which is responsible for developing ARRA certified electronic medical records information security standards.

via:http://www.networkcomputing.com/data-networking-management/linux-desktop-in-the-enterprise-ubuntu-v/240163564

See more highlights of this column: http://www.bianceng.cnhttp://www.bianceng.cn/OS/Linux/