You’ve probably been hearing about Linux, the David to Microsoft’s Goliath.
Created in 1991 by a Finnish student named Linus Torvalds, who was dissatisfied with the alternatives, Linux is a version of Unix that has people talking.
Although Linux has a way to go before it can be really useful to a typical small business it’s not particularly user-friendly and there’s not much standard software for it yet Linux is catching on quickly.
Linux is a competitor to and a potential replacement for Windows, especially NT/2000.
Depending on the count, the freestyle operating system is already in use by several million people. The numbers are impressive because there has been little marketing of Linux, mostly just word of mouth and a lot of good press.
One of Linux’s advantages and it’s a powerful one is that it is subject to continual revision and improvement by programmers around the world who have free access to its open-source code. Write something really good and maybe it will be included in the next official version of the Linux “kernel,” the core of the system.
If this sounds freewheeling and a little anarchic, it is, and critics argue that Linux’s decentralization will never enable it to pose a serious threat to Microsoft.
But developers consider it a kind of honor to have their work included in the Linux kernel, and so far, at least, the result has been a powerful and stable operating system that runs on Intel, Alpha, Sparc, and PowerPC hardware.
Another advantage is that the people who use Linux tend to adore it, or at least they dislike Microsoft. Depending on the size of your business, an enthusiast or two can make Linux work for you, and in fact, maybe they already have without your knowing it.
Linux works particularly well as a server, and the fact that it’s free makes it easy to start playing around with. If it’s not already in use at your organization, it could be.
To be more widely useful, however, Linux needs a broader appeal, and this is still in the early stages of coming together.
One of the obstacles to more widespread use of Linux is its complexity. As a variant of Unix, Linux has not been particularly easy for novices or intermediates to use or install. Friendlier installers and graphical user interfaces like GNOME, which looks like a kind of Windows/Mac hybrid, are making Linux easier to use, but it’s still not something to try out yourself unless you really want to and you have some time on your hands.
Right now there also aren’t a lot of general office applications available for Linux. Microsoft says there’s no market for a Linux version of Microsoft Office, although this hasn’t stopped Corel from introducing a Linux version of WordPerfect.
At this point, WordPerfect is one of the best-known, brand-name applications that you can currently buy to run on Linux. Free applications like Netscape Navigator can be downloaded as well, and if Linux continues to grow, it’s a sure thing there will be more applications available.
Unlike software for Windows, the opportunities for Linux developers are pretty wide open. For a listing of what’s currently available, see http://store.redhat.com/appindex.
Linux started and continues to grow as a kind of freelance effort, but it’s not without more formal corporate support anymore. A growing number of computer manufacturers are offering Linux preinstalled. Unlike the “Microsoft tax” of around $85 for a Windows license which makes it one of the most expensive components in some computer models Linux costs nothing, which allows for lower prices.
You can also get Linux yourself through companies that package it on a CD-ROM and throw in a manual and tech-support options. One popular Linux incarnation is available for about $80 from Red Hat (http://www.redhat.com), and another for $50 from Caldera (http://www.calderasystems.com).
For more Linux information, see http://www.linuxworld.com.
In the midst of the hurly-burly of your daily work, switching operating systems is not something to do lightly. Without a pressing need, a serious dissatisfaction with what you’re already running, or the passionate commitment of your technical staff that Linux would be ideal for your business, there’s no need to make the switch now.
But the development of Linux has been one of the most interesting technology stories of the ’90s, and it may be just beginning.
Linux may not have enough to offer your business today, but it bears watching.
Christopher Ott is a freelance technology writer and can be reached at [email protected].
