In today's recession-troubled times, companies, small businesses in particular, and schools are looking to drive down overhead costs. Usually this is achieved by releasing employees (in businesses) or cutting educational programs (music and art - never sports).
An overlooked aspect of overhead costs are the ones associated with Information and Communication Technology. Most IT installations in smaller companies deploy some sort of Windows or Mac OS X PCs and servers, and additionally needed company specific software. The costs associated with these proprietary Microsoft or Apple based technologies are unbearably high.
Windows and Mac OS X setups require continuous payments for licenses, updates, maintenance, and installations. In addition, Windows and Mac OS X require high performance PCs and server systems, with substantial memory upgrades added to run efficiently and stable. To curb these investments, companies tend to buy cheaper consumer type PCs instead of reliable business class PCs. The price to pay, for controlling costs, from adopting cheap technology can be unpredictably high and consequential: loss of data, system downtime, and the resulting productivity losses.
There is a way out of this problem by adopting Linux and freely available open source software. Linux is a freely available high performance and quality operating system. Linux is adopted by many corporate companies and government institutions worldwide. Its use and desktop appearance is quite similar to Windows, thus easy to learn and use. Linux provides higher security, is less virus attacked (if at all), and more efficient in its use of hardware resources. Best of all, it is open source software and one can modify or adapt it to any purpose that suits one's use and environment. Open source software applications, especially free open source software applications are available for Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X.
Here is an all-too-familiar example:
I have visited the IT department of the local Easton Area school district. Sadly enough, I saw the same mistakes made by many small businesses. I witnessed an abundance of abuse and waste of available resources. Hundred thousands of dollars in funds are misappropriated to finance proprietary computer and IT technology, while they could have used widely and freely available technology. The deployment of open source, Linux software technology in particular, could have saved this school district and small businesses alike hard earned tax and/or investment dollars, consequently achieving the same or better results. The argument that only Microsoft or Apple products can guarantee the competitiveness and professional results has already been disproved a long time ago. The cost effective and universal character of open source solutions, such as Linux on the server and the desktop, provides viable alternatives. In this case, the school IT director tossed out all installed Windows systems and replaced them with an even more expensive Apple Mac OS X environment (PCs, Servers and Notebooks). This IT director installed wireless systems throughout the school, despite having high speed fiber optics networking available in every class room. He stated that plans are in place to supply students with iPods and some other expensive Apple gadgetry – all paid by tax payers money. His only real argument for doing so was that he prefers it that way, without considering that Apple products do not play a significant role in the business world. When questioned, he admitted that he is a musician on the side, using Apple products. He wins and the students lose by them being taught computer skills on systems that have no significant relevance in the business world. Myself, and another interested tax payer accompanying me, confronted him about this apparent abuse of tax payers money. I made an offer to educate him and the school board, without any costs or obligations, about available cost effective options. As a result, he complemented us out of his office with the remark “if it is not Apple I won't listen”.
Unfortunately, this is how many small business IT departments operate. Proprietary solutions are bought or leased, and deployed at very high costs. Freely available open source software and Linux technologies are ignored, either due to lack of knowledge or ignorance.
Here are some facts about free and open source software and Linux:
- A typical Linux and free open source software equipped PC will cost up to 60 – 70% less to operate over a typical three year write off time.
- A typical PC hardware suited for Linux does not need to be as expensive as a typical Windows or Mac OS X PC. Linux requires much less resources. As a result, Linux PCs have an extended average lifetime.
- Linux with typically installed quality programs, used for graphics, office, music, and Internet, are freely available as downloads from the Internet.
- Linux versions, like Ubuntu, come with a host of no charge business software.
- Pre-configured Linux versions, like the Ubuntu derivate Edubuntu, come with a host of no charge educational software, including teacher and student administration programs.
- Linux installations can be upgraded and maintained without additional costs – ever.
- Linux is much more stable and usually safer than its proprietary alternatives.
- Linux is much less virus endangered than Windows or Apple OS X.
- Linux is easy to learn and behaves in many ways just like Windows or Mac OS X.
- Company specific software solutions are available where needed from commercial vendors.
- Vendor supplied or vendor independent support programs are available if the need for professional support arises.
- Hundreds of Linux end user and administrator forums on the Internet provide cost free support, configuration and installation how-to information, and help desk services.
- Linux, with its open source character, is ideally suited to teach students the working of a modern computing system, better then any of its proprietary competitors.
Conclusion:
If you are a small business or school district IT Manager, you owe it to your investors or tax payers to check out open source alternatives. Make your IT department more cost effective, secure and efficient. Your operation will become competitive - it may even save your job. If on the user side, you owe your company and pocket book to encourage adopting Linux and free open source software technologies. To learn about open source and Linux technologies, conduct an Internet search on the following topics: Linux, open source, Thin Client Computing, Linux Terminal Server, ThinLinc, openoffice.org, firefox, thunderbird, Ubuntu, Edubuntu, and SmartFLeX Technology.
Comments
Hm! Easton Area school district. If I was living in the Easton area and my taxes were funding that school, that school would be searching for a new IT director. Hint! Hans you may have cost someone their job!
And that is how it should be! Anyone in that position, wasting tax payer money should be held responsible and eventually be fired, along with the principals of this school district who allowed him to do what he did or does. By the way, I am one of the tax payers.
Are you guys serious? Linux?? Let me tell you folks something. Easton IT Director is the best thing to happen to this district in a LONG time. He has saved the district so much money and is doing all the right things for kids. I work in the computer industry as well. No one in their right mind would throw all their marbles in the Linux basket. Do you guys really think that students will see the LINUX OS when they graduate? Get REAL! You guys are way off base.
What year is it? "Apple products do not play a significant role in the business world." Seriously? Crawl out of your hole and do some real research. And may I ask what were your reasons for visiting this school district? Perhaps you were trying to make a little money yourself and are now feeling bitter that they are more forward thinking than you.
I was a tax payer in the Easton Area School district and I agree with the author. Their IT director was wasting my tax money and I know many people who agree with me.
As to Apple, I use it and I love it for my private use, but in business it really does not play any significant role beyond some niche markets.
Linux on the other hand is part of IT in many if not most companies. Students will have direct or indirect exposure to it after school in these companies. You guys are probably using it already and you don't even know about it. Linux is being used in many appliances, including cell phones, GPS devices etc.
By the way, Apple OS X is using the same open source software tools and applications as Linux. There is not much difference between Linux and OS X, except that Apple charges a lot money for OS X, while Linux is free. Even Microsoft is selling Linux nowadays (Novell Enterprise Server - based on Suse Linux).
I am an IT administrator and I know something about the subject.
Hm! Easton Area school district. If I was living in the Easton area and my taxes were funding that school, that school would be searching for a new IT director. Hint! Hans you may have cost someone their job!
Good points made in the article. I am a small business owner and one of my associates told me to check out Linux- I had heard of it previously as it powered my web server.
I installed it (effortlessly) on an old machine that I considered to be useless. Now the old machine sits alongside the other newer ones in my office. About a year ago we switched ALL our systems to Ubuntu (ourselves). No OS license fees, no anti-virus fees (and no concern about getting a virus), no firewall fees, no office application fees. Money savings = lots, Time saving (boots much faster and crashes a lot less) = lots, IT support savings = lots.
If anything it is likely to benefit having Linux boxes in schools not just for money saving but it will also expose kids to other types of operating system -thus making them more tech competent and therefore more employable to many companies. For me if any new job applicant has Unix/Linux exposure on their CV its a big tick.
It is deplorable that GNU/Linux is not given more attention by schools and government. Unfortunately, most taxpayers and administrators are not familiar with it or even aware of the potential benefit to taxpayers that it can afford.
As a taxpayer, I can forgive school systems and governments for using proprietary operating systems and software, when appropriate! Using the best tool for the job is in taxpayers' best interest. What I find difficult to forgive is the ignorance or intransigence that prevents them from giving open source software any consideration at all.
Free and Open Source software should be given equal standing and consideration when selecting software for a given task and all else being equal free should trump expensive proprietary alternatives!
Using free software does not hinder a student's education, it can give them the benefit of additional experience and broaden their horizons.
I don't know how I happened upon this link but I'm glad I did. The school district does use open source software. Camino, Opera, Flock, Adium, Cyberduck, Skim, Gimp are just some of them. We even have the option to use NeoOffice and OpenOffice. The author's information is incorrect. Yes we love our macs, but our tech staff has Windows available where we need it and open source software. Our school district has the most progressive and wonderful tech staff. There is a mix of macs and windows servers too, as well as Linux servers that run the phone system and wireless system. I agree with Rick. When a school district is held accountable to have computers up and running each day, you need a company that can be held accountable; Not a user's group/forum. A little Googling has revealed that below 1% use Linux as the main operating system. Go to the informationweek site and read the Aug. 10, 2009 article called: Is Linux Irrelevant? This is an accurate article on Linux choice.
I am professional researcher and much of the scientific software I use is only available in Linux. I have OS X, Windows 7 and Ubuntu running on the same computer (OK- its a high end Mac)and prefer Ubuntu. Open Office is my preferred office application package- for me money is not an issue.
There is a long established and way too cozy relationship between the commercial software vendors and public education going back decades now. Software companies are in business for their own ends which are not necessarily the same as the real needs of schools.
But as an educator, I am in the business of teaching students, and if I can do it as well or better for less cost and without the considerable extra hassle of using commercial software (original price, upgrades, subscriptions, licence keys, more complex installs, crippleware for schools, complex record keeping to keep in compliance) etc. I will (and do). I owe that to my students and the people in the community who foot the bill.
I am in the business of teaching young people. The computer at best is a tool. Linux and OSS is a much easier path for me than the commercial route, and I've been there. And my students have everything they need to be successful.
@Carol-Not much difference between Linux & OSX? Really? While it is certified Unix, there is that little issue of drivers, UI,integrated & optimized utilities (openVPN,Apache) I think you've oversimplified things a bit. Yeah Apple's machines are pretty and expensive but they're also very secure, polished and include excellent software. I own and operate Windows,Linux,and OSX in the roles I feel that they best serve me as a web developer. I think they all have their strengths and weaknesses.
The OP has done a great job at pointing out the pros of Linux and I agree with all of them, but there is more to it. Open source software can go wrong and when it does, you're either waiting on forums, or you're calling a Linux expert to do maintenance. There goes your cost savings being cut in half. The whole "but macs aren't used in the business world" argument is moot. If you truly want to choose tech based on real world, you'd have Windows in class,Macs at art/music & nix in the server room.
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