When it comes to choosing an Operating System, the only name that runs through our mind is the MS Windows. But hang on guys, IT is much more then only windows...!
The IT industry has been in many phases of late. The Dot Com bubble, the BPO buzz and the Open-Source or the Linux boom have all been raging the IT industry in the past years. Amongst these, perhaps the most fancied and the biggest phenomenon to occur in IT industry is the Open-Source Boom. The Open-Source freaks optimistically say that Linux will take over the industry in the near future. That is a debatable question in itself. Is Open-source here to stay? Or is it a bubble that will burst?
Microsoft Monopoly
Microsoft has monopolized the IT arena for quite some time now. The reason for such a monopoly is that Microsoft offered the users what most then OS did not offer, the Graphical User-Interface (GUI). The PC soon became a daily commodity. With growing popularity, many applications began to release, Office and Non-Office, compatible on windows. Getting help is only a click or a phone-call away. The support for Windows and Window-based applications is swarming. Loads of training institutes are offering courses on these applications, and getting skilled people in this technology is not a problem. The Windows OS and softwares are time tested. But, all these goodies come in for a price!
The Open-Source way out..!
Here is where the Open-Source or Linux has an edge. The Linux is available for free. Source-code is available for customizing according to the needs of the user. Linux can emulate any software, including the Windows NT server in a workgroup environment. Linux is stable, and works well with legacy systems. Amazingly, Linux would run very well on a 386 machine with an 8MB RAM. But the ‘free’ aspect comes with more problems. The Linux is not easy to install and configure. The support, services and the skilled personnel are hard to find. The Linux has somewhat made its mark in the server side. The desk-top and the home PC users are still not convinced. Linux is today seen the way we see electronic cars. Noble, but not nearly as satisfying as the good old petrol cars.
The deciding factor
So are you having a tough time in deciding which OS to go for? The user-friendly Windows or the freeware Linux? If you really can’t make up your mind, then worry not. There’s still a way out. Not many would know, but there is a third option here, called Lindows. As the name would suggest, it is a hybrid between Linux and Windows, and offers best of both the worlds.
Yet another way out!
Now renamed as Linspire, this Operating system was launched by Michael Robertson (of the MP3.com fame). Linspire is built on Linux, thanks to the Open-source boom. Linspire runs both the Linux and Windows applications. Though it comes with some price, it is way less then the Windows. An affordable $50 is what it costs.
Lets get 'Linspired'
Linspire has some amazing features like the shortest install time of only seven minuites! The booting time is also less compared to Linux and Windows. The kernel texts are hidden while booting. And it offers a very neat and user-friendly interface, an interface that will be welcomed by all the newbies. The Linspire users complained of no re-boots or hang-ups, unlike the Windows machines.
The if's and but's about Linspire
One of the biggest shortcomings of Linspire is that it cannot run some of the key versions of MS Office, i.e. Office 97, Office 2000 and Office XP. Perhaps this has been a major factor for Linspire not making it big in the OS market. If the Linspire team could work on these shortcomings, then it could give the mighty Microsoft, a run for their money. Let’s wait and watch.
Moral of the story - Look beyond windows
So, we see that IT industry today is not only about Windows. The Windows may continue to rule, but Linux is here to stay. And if Linspire comes close to success, then it can change the IT scenario in big ways, the very change that worries Microsoft.
The IT industry has been in many phases of late. The Dot Com bubble, the BPO buzz and the Open-Source or the Linux boom have all been raging the IT industry in the past years. Amongst these, perhaps the most fancied and the biggest phenomenon to occur in IT industry is the Open-Source Boom. The Open-Source freaks optimistically say that Linux will take over the industry in the near future. That is a debatable question in itself. Is Open-source here to stay? Or is it a bubble that will burst?
Microsoft Monopoly
Microsoft has monopolized the IT arena for quite some time now. The reason for such a monopoly is that Microsoft offered the users what most then OS did not offer, the Graphical User-Interface (GUI). The PC soon became a daily commodity. With growing popularity, many applications began to release, Office and Non-Office, compatible on windows. Getting help is only a click or a phone-call away. The support for Windows and Window-based applications is swarming. Loads of training institutes are offering courses on these applications, and getting skilled people in this technology is not a problem. The Windows OS and softwares are time tested. But, all these goodies come in for a price!
The Open-Source way out..!
Here is where the Open-Source or Linux has an edge. The Linux is available for free. Source-code is available for customizing according to the needs of the user. Linux can emulate any software, including the Windows NT server in a workgroup environment. Linux is stable, and works well with legacy systems. Amazingly, Linux would run very well on a 386 machine with an 8MB RAM. But the ‘free’ aspect comes with more problems. The Linux is not easy to install and configure. The support, services and the skilled personnel are hard to find. The Linux has somewhat made its mark in the server side. The desk-top and the home PC users are still not convinced. Linux is today seen the way we see electronic cars. Noble, but not nearly as satisfying as the good old petrol cars.
The deciding factor
So are you having a tough time in deciding which OS to go for? The user-friendly Windows or the freeware Linux? If you really can’t make up your mind, then worry not. There’s still a way out. Not many would know, but there is a third option here, called Lindows. As the name would suggest, it is a hybrid between Linux and Windows, and offers best of both the worlds.
Yet another way out!
Now renamed as Linspire, this Operating system was launched by Michael Robertson (of the MP3.com fame). Linspire is built on Linux, thanks to the Open-source boom. Linspire runs both the Linux and Windows applications. Though it comes with some price, it is way less then the Windows. An affordable $50 is what it costs.
Lets get 'Linspired'
Linspire has some amazing features like the shortest install time of only seven minuites! The booting time is also less compared to Linux and Windows. The kernel texts are hidden while booting. And it offers a very neat and user-friendly interface, an interface that will be welcomed by all the newbies. The Linspire users complained of no re-boots or hang-ups, unlike the Windows machines.
The if's and but's about Linspire
One of the biggest shortcomings of Linspire is that it cannot run some of the key versions of MS Office, i.e. Office 97, Office 2000 and Office XP. Perhaps this has been a major factor for Linspire not making it big in the OS market. If the Linspire team could work on these shortcomings, then it could give the mighty Microsoft, a run for their money. Let’s wait and watch.
Moral of the story - Look beyond windows
So, we see that IT industry today is not only about Windows. The Windows may continue to rule, but Linux is here to stay. And if Linspire comes close to success, then it can change the IT scenario in big ways, the very change that worries Microsoft.
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