Long Arm Of Linux

FRANK J. OHLHORST

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Can be reached at (516) 562-7455 or via e-mail at [email protected].

Let's think about the business opportunity here to shift to Linux and how that could happen. The math is simple: There are millions of PCs out there that are running Windows XP and are now approaching the end of their service life. Many businesses have fully depreciated those systems over the past three or more years and are in a position to buy anew this fiscal year. Vista was supposed to be part of the catalyst of that purchasing spree.

Vista was not expected to be a rehash of Windows XP, but a whole new look and feel for the desktop, with its own learning curve and idiosyncrasies. But with the latest delay, the question becomes, "Why wait for the pain of an upgrade?"

Solution providers now have even more ammo for the switch to Linux, and system builders can readily provide the hardware to make it happen. It's all a question of bundling. Take the latest dual-core technology, sprinkle in ample RAM and add a dose of Linux and you're close to a recipe to displace Vista. But that recipe still needs a little seasoning to be complete. In this case, add a Virtual PC application, such as Parallels' Workstation 2.1 or VMware's VMWorkstation products, and then run legacy Windows XP applications in a virtual session, while transitioning over to Linux. Those looking to really save a buck can use VMware's free VMware player to run those Windows XP sessions.

That transition can be eased further by offering products such as StarOffice to replace Microsoft Office or even select CodeWeaver's Crossover Office to run Microsoft Office on Linux. For sites needing Microsoft Terminal Server, solution providers can turn to NeTraverse's Win4Lin Terminal Server. Better yet, integrators can select Xandros' Linux distribution and get many of those capabilities included.

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Simply put, everything exists in the market to build an alternative to Microsoft's Vista. It is just a matter of the players in the channel taking action to bundle, educate and deploy the solutions, all for a price point much lower than a bundled Vista PC will bring to the market.

Are you seeing a new sheriff in town? Let me know at (516) 562-7455 or via e-mail at [email protected].