Ubuntu Friendly Hardware
If Canonical had its way, OEMs would make sure Ubuntu ran well on their hardware before shipping it. But most OEMs don’t, so Ubuntu developers have resorted to the next best thing: crowd-sourcing hardware validation to users via the Ubuntu Friendly program, which is almost ready for prime time. Ubuntu Friendly is an open hardware validation programme for desktops, netbooks and laptops that will be developed during the Oneiric cycle and that will allow to validate as “Ubuntu Friendly” those systems that are known to work well with a particular release of Ubuntu, based on test results sent by Ubuntu users.
The project, envisioned as a community-based complement to the certification program Canonical already maintains, stood to broaden the hardware profiles on which Ubuntu was known to run well and make the lives of users easier. (more…)
Don’t Fear Tux
The Linux computer operating system turned twenty in August this year. But, despite having reached that fine age (in computer terms), it remains on the fringe, with relatively low usage levels. Mostly, it has suffered from its reputation for being complicated, with many thinking it’s exclusively for geeks and nerds who know each line of code by heart.
But the reputation is undeserved. Linux hardly makes any special demands on users and is far easier then Windows or Mac OS, once you become accustom to the user interface.
Another reason that Linux it is not very popular, is due to the fact that OEM’s, are locked into Windows due to licensing with Microsoft, but that is slowly changing and set to become rather sub-standard now due to Android. (more…)
UEFI, Secure Boot, and Freedom of choice
Summary: The Linux Foundation and friends are working on using UEFI so that computers can be both more secure and give users freedom of operating system choice instead of using Microsoft’s secure boot plan to lock users into Windows 8.
Last month Steven Sinofsky from Microsoft announced new requirements for manufacturers wanting to ship Windows 8 systems, including a feature called “Secure Boot”. I wrote about this last month: http://jet-computing.com/microsoft-kicks-linux-from-windows-8/
Canonical, together with Red Hat, today publishes a white paper (shown below) highlighting the implications of these requirements for users and manufacturers. The paper also provides recommendations on how to implement “Secure Boot”, to ensure that users remain in control of their PCs.
However, the obverse of this would be that Microsoft wants all new personal computers to be a closed appliance, as Apple is with it’s hardware and software.
Secondly, it would be most beneficial for the government because, if keys are decided by OEMs then they would have them by default. If keys are chosen by users then, it becomes more difficult for government. UEFI is a great thing, if it is left to users to choose keys. This way we retain complete control of our own computer systems and does so long as it is done not so as to lock out competition.
The UEFI Forum, of which Canonical is a member, is defining the next generation interface between your system’s firmware and any operating system that runs on it. The new specs will make Ubuntu systems boot quicker, have a better battery life and are easier to configure.
The latest UEFI specification also defines a process called Secure Boot (version 2.3.1 – Chapter 27). Secure Boot is designed to address the potential for malware to insert itself between the firmware and the operating system on your computer. It accomplishes this by enforcing that only “approved” software is able to boot in your computer by way of a key that recognises pre-approved and signed software.
According to Microsoft’s presentation at //BUILD/2011, Secure Boot will be “Required for Windows 8 client”. While the UEFI specification does not recommend a specific implementation, Microsoft has a preferred solution (outlined on this blog post) which does not give the user full control over what software that is approved to run on their PC. This is the real issue for users.
Secure Boot should be available to all users
Canonical successfully partners with computer manufacturers to ship millions of Ubuntu pre-installed systems every year. While this distribution will continue to thrive, we are concerned for users wanting to install any Linux distribution on a PC sold with Secure Boot “ON”.
Any new Windows 8 PC will have Secure Boot switched “ON” when it leaves the shop and will be able to boot Microsoft approved software only. However, you will most likely find that your new PC has no option for you to add your own list of approved software. So to install Linux (or any other operating system), you will need to turn Secure Boot “OFF”.
However, we believe that you have the right to have your cake and eat it too! Its possible to have Secure Boot and the ability to choose your software platform.
This is why we recommend that systems manufacturers include a mechanism for configuring your own list of approved software. This will allow you to run Windows 8 and Linux at the same time in your PC with Secure Boot “ON”. This should also include you being able to try new software from a USB stick or DVD.
Even with the ability for users to configure Secure Boot, it will become harder for non-techie users to install, or even try, any other operating system besides the one that was loaded on the PC when you bought it. For this reason, we recommend that PCs include a User Interface to easily enable or disable Secure Boot and allow the user to chose to change their operating system.
Canonical has discussed these concerns with key industry partners and competitors, resulting in the “Secure Boot Impact on Linux” White Paper, authored by Jeremy Kerr (Technical Architect at Canonical), James Bottomley (Kernel Developer) and Matthew Garret (Senior Software Engineer at Red Hat).
I recommend you read this document to gain a better understanding on how Secure Boot will affect you.
Switching Operating Systems
The best desktop operating system to use depends on what its intended use will be and who will be using it. There is no specific operating system which can be called “the best” overall, and since most current operating systems share most common and advanced features there is much debate on the topic.
Every now and then the opportunity to re-evaluate exactly which OS is best for a given user comes along, this can or may come into play on a number of factors: broken/new computer time, easily confused with existing option, unable to avoid malware despite your best efforts. Sometimes this means going from OS X to something else, from Windows to something else or even Linux back to something else. This is simply not black and white situation. Remember, what is annoying and unusable to you, could fit like a glove for someone else. So please remember this before expressing extreme dislike for any platform in front of non-geeks.
A few of the most popular operating system, their pros and cons, and some of their best uses are described below.
OS X advantages
Macs are said to be easier and with the abundance of software and resources available from Apple these days, I’d say there is a lot of truth to this. For the most part I think that we can all agree that using a Mac is “different.” Whether or not this is a good thing, really depends on the individual. In some cases, it’s a natural fit as you can get an all-inclusive iMac, where everything they need comes in one box. Well, perhaps minus the printer. Even if the individual is just looking for something with a bit of a minimalist appeal, maybe the Mac is a good fit.
In the past, a big selling point was the fact that Macs really were unaffected by malware problems affecting Windows. Note, I DID NOT state that there isn’t malware available on the OS X platform because this is nonsense, there is indeed malware (and it’s growing) becoming available to affect users of this platform. But thus far, going so far as to getting security software hasn’t really proven itself to be needed. However, if the user is someone who downloads and installs everything emailed, Googled and so forth without a second thought…then I would say the bundle of switching to Mac with security software, might be a good idea. Yes, say it with me — Macs and Linux both, can be affected by malware. Understand this.
Yes, there are other advantages as well such as the work flow for designers, etc…but I’ll leave this to the commenters as they’d know more about it than I would.
Who’s it best for?
Folks needing to limit the malware threat a couple of notches. Also fantastic for those needing access to plenty of mainstream software from companies such as Adobe, Microsoft (Office) and others.
Windows advantages
Familiarity is a pain. I can count equal people I have had to switch BACK to Windows from both OS X and Linux, because of the fact that nothing worked as they expected. Then there was the fact that they had a couple of hundred worth of software that was near useless on the other two platforms as well. Generally speaking, Windows needs fall into one or two of the following categories.
- Enterprise software compatibility. This means the software at work, needs to work at home too. MS Office, other legacy stuff that just isn’t going to be cutting it with alternative software on other operating systems.
- It’s what they know. I cannot stress just how powerful this can be. Mac, Linux, don’t care. I have seen plenty of instances of “what the heck” on the faces of people trying to switch away from this platform simply because of its familiarity factor.
- PC Gaming. While not something I bother with anymore (I have other hobbies now), gaming is a huge driving force for the Windows platform. Mac and Linux don’t even remotely touch this. Not even close. Windows owns the market here, period.
Who’s it best for?
I’d say anyone with the needs described above. But I’d also bundle this need with the ability to keep software running like Microsoft Essentials, not installing software without a little commonsense and opening up stuff in email like “MyNekedPhoto.exe”. I mean come on, that last point is not even a conversation. If this cannot be avoided, you in my opinion lose the right to choose your OS. Sorry, there, I said it.
Linux advantages
Is Linux really harder? Well, for a Windows user trying to switch a friend or relative…my goodness, yes. If I blasted back to early 2003 and tried to switch people over to Linux with the understanding I had back then, it would have been a mess. But like being the “support guy” for any family or group of friends, it can work and most DEFINITELY has its place. The key is to be the support guy who knows how to use it in the first place. You know, much like Windows or OS X.
Best usage cases are for those with compatible hardware, unwilling or unable to go OS X, while being in position to move away from Windows. The reason to switch to Linux is different for the folks you’d be helping than it would be for you. For those other folks, it’s about avoiding malware (although some still exists, be it limited), making software available in a freely available container without fear of them breaking something, or perhaps it’s to be installed on an old XP box not really best suited for Windows 7.
I’d say 95% of you are in no position to suggest this option though. Remember, you need to understand what you’re doing! I mean, would you start offering health advice like a doctor without your MD? I tend to doubt it and the same applies for tech advice. Become proficient in it or stick to the platforms you understand. It’s really simple. But for those 5% who have been using Linux for at least a year full time, understand that there is a reason why Flash and DVD Codecs are not provided out of the box and that if the sticker on the box says “Made for Windows”, there might be a reason behind that sticker, you could be in a position to suggest and support this option.
Who’s it best for?
Assuming you meet the criteria above, I have found Linux is a brain-dead fit for small businesses needing a kiosk computer, completely locked down so folks can use software/surf/work on office docs, without installing tons of malware. Another good situation is like I suggested above, with the user who has a compatible machine, but is not wanting/needing to go OS X. As with any OS, a good idea is to sit them down and show them the basics. From there, let them surprise you. And by the way, I’ve done this in retirement communities. Limited computer experience and they took to it in less than 20 minutes. Apparently supported by outside help, it’s viable enough for people/places on a budget.
Dispelling myths across the board
Windows is a virus magnet – False. Malware creators are simply looking for maximum impact with as many users as possible. The market dictates Windows. OS X has recently begun showing signs of malware infestation and as Linux adoption grows, the same applies here. The fact is that if the end user either opts to run as a limited user or simply uses some sense when running their computer, malware can largely be avoided.
Macs are for “creative types” only, no good software titles available – False. Truth be told, since the move to the Intel CPU, Apple computers have countless software titles available. And due to the success of their mobile devices, the concept of the software store is coming to Mac to further illustrate this point. The buttons on the keyboard may be different and installation and uninstallation of software is different, but quantity of great software is definitely not lacking at all.
Linux has terrible hardware support – Mostly false. To give the best example possible, let me say that brand is everything with peripherals. Here is a partial list of what I have that works out of the box with zero configuration from me. Two brand new Logitech HD webcams, one HP all-in-one printer, a Wii guitar, USB headphones with noise canceling, USB speakers for secondary audio, USB DVD burner, three new external hard drives, one video Firewire capture card (in PC), five USB 802.11g dongles, two reasonably new digital cameras, one no-name Bluetooth dongle. I am likely forgetting some stuff, but you get the idea.
Now the Linux networking stack is very strong. Sadly though, dongle manufacturers are caught up with something called “revision numbers.” This means one model may have one chipset, while another has something completely different. No biggie for Windows users…they have the driver CD. Mac, has it’s own Broadcom wireless built in to most of their machines. And due to the diverse nature of the Linux universe, a solid working list of wifi devices is a joke. Dated, flat wrong or otherwise broken best describes it. This said, distributions like Ubuntu have limited this problem by providing two options: TONS of support for natively supported chipsets and a Windows driver tool that detects the device, installing the Windows driver using a special tool with about three mouse clicks.
Which software is best?
These days, Windows and Mac tend to provide the best looking stuff. Selection is becoming transparent across the board, but Linux lacks proprietary titles. For most things, I think OS X has a great model of how software should look. But many open source apps I use on OS X or Windows run like snot, while running very well on Linux.
“If you can’t make it good, at least make it look good.”
–Bill Gates, Microsoft
The takeaway for each of you is this. When finding a new OS for someone, it’s not what YOU prefer. Stop that right there, open your eyes and accept that despite your feelings about the alternatives out there, thousands are making use of these options each day. Might as well give others a chance to experience these alternatives themselves.
I believe that advising someone to use a specific OS should be based on their needs. The frustration with trying to get people to look at alternatives is their flat resfusal. I have friends that simply refuse to try a linux live cd (even after explaining to them that it makes no changes to hdd or current setup). My response to them, “then stop complaining about Windows”.
GOAL: 200 million Linux users in four years
Delivering the keynote at the Ubuntu Developer Summit at Budapest, Hungary, Canonical Founder, Mark Shuttleworth, has announced that the goal of Canonical is 200 million Ubuntu users in four years.
Canonical has not officially not provide any data on how many Ubuntu users are there currently – in fact it, is quite difficult to track it. However, according to Prakash Advani, Partner Manager – Central Asia at Canonical, there are an estimated 12 million Ubuntu users.
Our goal is 200 million users of Ubuntu in 4 years.
Going from 12 million to 200 million in a span of four years means that Ubuntu cannot be content with just being the most popular Linux distribution. Canonical have to get Ubuntu out there and noticed by the majority of the people who uses Mac and Windows and make them switch side.
The idea of freedom and open-source is clearly not enough to make users switch over to Linux from Windows and Mac. Polished and useful software that takes care of user experience is what will draw users. That will mean development with users in mind – something that Canonical has been doing with Ubuntu. This is what Shuttleworth said;
We’re not playing a game for developers hearts and minds – we’re playing a game for the worlds hearts and minds. And to achieve that we’re going to have to play by a new set of rules.
In fact, unlike other Linux distributions, Canonical did a lot of design testing and user experience testing during the development of Ubuntu 11.04. If Ubuntu is to achieve the goal of 200 million users, such testing will become more and more important.
I think we’ve set a new bar for disciplined design in free software. For actually going through a vigorous design process, testing work against users actual experience of that, testing our assumptions, iterating based on that testing, and ultimately shooting for the stars.
I think that 200 million Ubuntu users in four years is certainly achievable – although it will require a lot of hard work.
Charting your Linux boot
Hardware keeps getting faster and faster, and most of us are running machines that would have been unthinkably speedy a decade ago, yet somehow it never seems to feel that way. As the hardware gets faster, the software seems to get bigger and slower and we always seem to end up with something that dances around the line of usability. Linux has been no exception to this, with each new advance in hardware bringing a matching increase in the complexity of the software. If your system takes too long to boot, the best way to fix it is to know what’s bringing you down. For that, there’s Bootchart. This little utility will show you exactly what’s launching when and how long it each step takes. Wikipedia has a decent write-up on it as well http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bootchart
Installation
Most major Linux distributions have Bootchart already available in their standard repositories. Ubuntu users, for example, could install through the Ubuntu Software Center or from the command line with:
sudo apt-get install bootchart
If your distro does not have a package available, you can get one from the Bootchart download page.
If you installed from source, you may need to manually add Bootchart to your system startup routine. If that’s the case, please see the documentation here.
Running Bootchart
If installed correctly, Bootchart does not need to be directly run by the user. Instead, it is loaded by the OS at boot time. Naturally, this means that you’ll have to reboot for Bootchart to do its thing. Reboot into whatever runlevel you wish Bootchart to monitor. If you don’t know what a runlevel is, just boot normally.
Once the system is back up and running, you can take a look at your chart (/var/bootchart) to find the problem areas.
It’s worth noting that a bar which runs the full width of the chart does not necessarily mean it’s slow. Often these are programs that are initiated during startup and continue to run once startup is complete, like udev or Xorg.
To get an idea how much time each item spends actually drawing heavy resources, take a look at the bar closely and you’ll see different shades of color representing the different states of the program at that time.
The blue sections represent time spent utilizing the CPU, the pink shows disk activity, and grey is time spent idle. If you’re looking for ways to prune your startup, look for items with a lot of blue or pink, as they’re eating up the most resources.
Removing Startup Items
This is where things can get tricky, as different Linux distributions sometimes handle startup in different ways. The “standard” method is known as SysV Init, and we’ve previously discussed startup modifications on Debian’s SysV style startup. This method will work on most Linux distributions.
In short, you’ll probably find the list of startup programs in a location such as /etc/rc2.d. Details of the removal process can be found at the link above, however there is one point that should be emphasized. The files you see in your rcX.d directory all follow a consistent naming scheme. Those starting with S are launched when that runlevel is reached, those starting with K are killed.
This means that to prevent an item from launching, you do not need to edit or remove the file, just rename it so that the S is now a K. This will ensure that the application is not run, and you can leave the files completely intact in case you decide to change your mind later.
Conclusion
With a tool like Bootchart, you can trim your system down to only the things you need, reducing delay and resource usage in the process. With Bootchart and the Window Maker desktop, this allows a 1.2 GHz Debian system to boot in under 20 seconds, while actively using only 2% of system RAM. You can’t fix it if you don’t know it’s broken, and Bootchart makes that easy.
Hardware Catalog for Ubuntu Linux
“But will it work with Linux?”
That’s a question that many end-users has asked over the years about PC components and peripherals. Lately, the answer is usually yes. Thanks to vendors like Dell and the efforts of the Linux Driver Project, very few devices and components won’t work at all with Linux. At the same time, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) have faced the same problem at a lower level. Now, Canonical and Ubuntu Linux’s parent company, has announced that it’s opening up its complete database of certified components for Ubuntu and Linux.
After doing many installs of the Linux operating system and it’s wonderful flavor of distributions, rarely do I find it it impossible to install on any new or older server, laptop/netbook or desktop computer. I have had VERY good results with Dell, HP, Nvidia and Xerox.
This is good news. It means Original Design Manufacturers (ODMs) working on Ubuntu or Linux notebooks and PCs can much more quickly design systems that they can be sure will work with Linux and Ubuntu in particular.
The catalog presents ODMs and OEMs with a selection of over 1,300 certified components from 161 manufacturers. The database laid out both by vendor, and by type of component. With the former you can quickly see, for example, what ATI, NIVIDIA, and Broadcom have to offer, and with the latter you can find out who’s offering Linux-certified Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE), USB and touch interfaces. You can also search the catalog for specific equipment.
In a statement, Victor Palau, Platform Services Manager at Canonical said, “There has not been a comprehensive, up-to-date freely available catalog like this for a long time. By making this open and easily searchable we want to speed the component selection for Ubuntu machines, and allow us and our partner manufacturers to focus on the value-added user experience.”
According to Ubuntu, with this database, “corporate buyers can specify the design of their Ubuntu desktops or servers from manufacturers much more efficiently. Individuals can be sure that the key components of the machine they are considering will work with their preferred Ubuntu or Linux distribution. The PC and server industry will also have a simple single source to publicize the work that they do in certifying Linux components and making that knowledge freely available.”
In addition, Canonical has also released a listing of Ubuntu certified complete PCs, laptops and servers.
While this new catalog is handy, it leaves me wanting more. It would be great if say the Linux Foundation could put together a comprehensive list from not just Canonical but all the major Linux distributors, such as Red Hat and Novell, and the hardware members of the Linux Foundation like Intel, NEC, and Qualcomm. What Canonical has done is useful. A comprehensive vendor-neutral catalog would be even better.
Revive an old computer with Puppy Linux
There’s no doubt Canonical’s popular Ubuntu Linux distribution gets the majority of attention in the Linux world these days, but there are myriad others equally worthy of consideration.
I looked at Linux Mint long ago, as well as a few key Ubuntu derivatives, but today I’d like to focus on Puppy Linux, a new version of which was just recently released.
Puppy Linux began life as a really cool small-sized Linux distribution designed primarily for lower specification hardware while still providing most of the amenities that make Linux fun and usable. It included lots of original utilities and tools for completing tasks and configurations without a lot of resource overhead. Best of all, it was blazing fast. Well, the little puppy has grown up some and branched out, but is still that same light-weight wonder in spirit.
The latest release, 5.2, codenamed Lucid Puppy, is a result of branching out of the project in new directions. In late 2008 Puppy developers designed a new build system, Woof, that can take binaries of other popular distributions and incorporate them into new Puppy builds. One of the most commonly used, and probably most popular, is Ubuntu. Underneath, the foundation is still the independent Puppy we know and love, but many components come from Ubuntu such as shared libraries and some applications. As a result, Puppy Linux 5.2 is compatible with many other Ubuntu packages. Whether this has increased Puppy’s popularity could be debated, but according to Distrowatch.com‘s Page Hit Ranking, Puppy has been moving up the chart each year with the biggest jumps seen since Woof has been used to make Ubuntu compatible versions.
Small and fast
Puppy Linux’s primary distinguishing feature is that it’s tiny, taking up roughly 100MB of space. Also remarkable about it is that it loads into RAM, making it extraordinarily fast. Boot time is 30 to 40 seconds on most systems.
Similar in some ways to Damn Small Linux (DSL), Puppy is ideally suited both for older hardware and for usage situations where minimal resources are available. Whereas most LiveCD versions of Linux must go back and forth to the CD, Puppy’s RAM-loadable size means that applications are lightning fast to start and to respond to user input.
The full-featured but free Linux distribution can boot off LiveCD or DVDs, floppy disks, internal hard drive, zip disk, LS/120/240 Superdisk, flash drives or any USB memory device. In fact, it can even use a multisession formatted CD-RW/DVD-RW to save everything back to the CD/DVD with no hard drive required at all.
Booting from DVD or CD, Puppy can save all work back to the same medium. Booting from USB drive or other flash media, Puppy will minimise writes to extend its life.
In short, if you have a PC with a broken hard disk or that will no longer work with newer technology, Puppy Linux on a CD or USB is a way to keep that PC productive. Not insignificantly, it’s also a perfect example of a Linux distribution that can be used to rescue a Windows PC infected with malware.
Compatible with Ubuntu 10.04
Like both Ubuntu and Linux Mint, Puppy is extremely easy to use, it automatically detects most hardware, for example. Included with it is also a wide range of applications for productivity and other purposes.
Lucid Puppy 5.2 adds to the popular Lucid Puppy 5.1.1 distribution with a raft of upgrades and improvements to all of the main programs as well as many of the other programs in the menu and system. Based on Ubuntu 10.04 LTS “Lucid Lynx” binary packages, the latest Puppy is also compatible with Ubuntu 10.04 repositories.
Included in the latest release are QuickSet for point-and-click desktop configuration, QuickPet for updates, diagnostics and package installs and several alternative window managers available through the package manager, including Xfce and Fluxbox. The software features version 2.6.33.2 of the Linux kernel. Language packs are available for 11 different languages.
No commitment
A fuller list of the version’s features is available on the Puppy Linux site, where it’s also available for download as a 127MB .iso image file. Meanwhile, you can find a testing video of the release below on YouTube.
Perhaps the best part of all, of course, is that as with most Linux distributions there’s no commitment involved in trying it out. Particularly if you have old hardware lying around, it will be worth your while to take Puppy Linux for a tour.
Specifications
- Compatible with Ubuntu packages
- QuickSet for point-and-click desktop configuration
- Quickpet for updates, diagnostics, and package installs
- Alternative window manager
- Language packs for 11 different languages
So if you have an old computer setting at home not being used, or know of someone tossing one out that is still usable, then try out Puppy Linux on it. You will be amazed on how fast it works. There is no good reason to toss out a 5-year old computer, just because it is slow from using Windows.
Computer Innovation
As we roll into the 21st century, everyone is scrambling for iPADs and Tablet PC’s with touch screen interfaces. They create a new vertical market of personal and business computing, that compliment netbook and laptop computers. But what about desktop computers? The design and size have not changed greatly in the past fifteen years. This should change in the coming years as Keyboard PC’s become more evident to consumers.
The prices are very reasonable for a starting at $50 and topping out at $600. I think $600 is a bit much, but thats my opinion and I am a frugal computer user these days. Two models mention the following specifications:
- Intel Atom N270, the EeeKeyboard gets 1GB of RAM and 16GB SSD. It has a 5-inch LED-backlit multitouch LCD display, integrated keyboard, VGA out and HDMI out. Bluetooth and WiFi 802.11b/g are supported.
- Intel’s Atom 1.6GHz processor and NVIDIA Ion graphics, the Cross PC has 2GB of memory and a 250GB hard drive. The U510 comes with a 5-inch touchscreen display and a stylus. It supports WIFI 802.11n connectivity.
Here are some images for review:
Not everyone needs a 1GB video card, or a i7 quad-core CPU with copious amount of memory to browse the web, read email, skim through Facebook, or run iTunes. Now that I think about, one doesn’t even need Windows for that, but I digress.
Computer prices for consumers have readily come down and will continue to fall. In time, your computer (digital appliance) will be as ubiquitous as the microwave or toaster.
Later in the week, I will write about surface computing devices running Ubuntu and integrated surface computing for the desktop, tabletop, wall or countertop of your home.
Migration from Windows and six ways to ensure it sticks
Summary: Moving a business from Windows to desktop Linux can be scary for some users. Here are some tricks for smoothing the transition.
With all the many compelling reasons for a company to switch to Linux on the desktop, it’s no wonder that businesses large and small are increasingly relying on the free and open source operating system. After all, it’s free, flexible, reliable, and highly secure–to name just a few of the most attractive features.
No matter how good your reasons for switching from Windows to Linux, however, the fact remains that most of us don’t like change. That–more than anything else–is why migrations of any kind can be painful.
One of the most common mistakes new desktop Linux users make is to give up too easily, often citing the frequently heard myth that “It’s too hard.” The truth, however, is that it’s just different. It may be difficult to remember at this point, but Windows took some getting used to, too.
How can you make the desktop Linux migration process as easy as possible in your business? Here are a few suggestions.
1. Get Buy-In at the Top
This probably goes without saying, but executive buy-in is essential to business migrations of just about any kind. Users need to know that the change has been mandated from the top or they won’t feel motivated to go along with it
2. Choose the Right Distribution
Before the migration even begins, it’s critical that you choose the right Linux distribution from among the many hundreds that are out there. As I’ve outlined before, this is primarily a question of the skills of your users, the focus of your business, your hardware and software needs, and the kind of support you hope to get.
Assuming your users haven’t been on desktop Linux before, I’d be inclined to steer you toward either Ubuntu or Linux Mint, unless you have compelling reasons to do otherwise. To help convert real Windows aficionados, there’s also Zorin OS, which is designed to mimic Microsoft’s graphical user interface. You should definitely avoid some of the more expert-oriented distros such as Arch Linux or Slackware.
If you want a little extra online help in making your decision, check out the zegenie Studios Linux Distribution Chooser or polishlinux.org’s distro chooser, both of which can be useful.
3. Choose a Familiar Desktop
One of the nicest things about Linux is that it’s so flexible and customizable, and that’s particularly useful when it comes to introducing new users to the operating system. In addition to choosing your distribution carefully, I’d also encourage you at least to check out a few different desktop environments.
I outlined a few of these not long ago within the context of Ubuntu–which has traditionally come with GNOME by default–and there are many more. Pick one that seems relatively similar to what your users are familiar with.
4. Begin with Key Apps
Because so many of the apps your employees will likely need are cross-platform, one good hurdle to jump ahead of time is getting them used to any new key applications. If they’re used to Internet Explorer, for example, you can start them on Firefox or Chrome while they’re still on Windows.
If they’ve been using Microsoft Office, you can get them used to OpenOffice.org or LibreOffice ahead of time, too. That way, when it comes time to make the switch in operating systems, they’ll have some familiar territory–it won’t all be new.
5. Remove the Pressure
Before you’re aiming to make the switch, set up a Linux box in your office using the distribution, desktop and apps you’ve chosen. Make sure there are some games on there too, and offer it as an option for break time. There’s nothing like no-pressure time with a new technology to make people open-minded and quick to learn.
6. Make a Cheat Sheet
Because the lion’s share of any difficulty in switching to Linux is simply getting used to something different, it can be a real help for users if you give them a quick, post-training “cheat sheet” to remind them how to get at the tools they need once the switch is made.
It could be worded like, “Instead of… (Internet Explorer, for example) Use… (Firefox, say).” It could also outline the first few clicks to get users where they need to go. They’ll probably be fine once they’re in the applications they need–more often than not, it will simply be the process of getting there that they need help remembering.
Here is an up to date wiki with information: http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/Linux_software_equivalent_to_Windows_software
