Tweet

Ubuntu Linux is Prime Time for Your Business Desktop and Notebook Computing Environment

Written by: Carl Chesal

Article Overview: For the non-technical user who wants to spend less time on notebook or desktop administration, A serious look at Linux is in order. Having ventured into the Linux on the notebook world over four years ago, the conclusion it that Linux, especially Ubuntu, is prime time ready for the small business. Dell seems to think so too. What follows is some comparisons and the ease of living in an Ubuntu world.

Ubuntu Linux is Prime Time for Your Business Desktop and Notebook Computing Environment

As a business consultant, web designer and photographer my technical know-how around doing system administration on my Microsoft desktop is limited and sometimes I do require the assistant of my computer engineering son to get it right. In a Microsoft Environment, keeping updated with respect to potential security breaches and patches is a constant vigil. The rigor of keeping current with OS updates, Norton updates and Spyware updates is time consuming. Valuable business hours each week are spend and lost on this task of self-administration dictated by the Microsoft Operating Environment.

So with the purchase of an IBM T40 (a tough notebook), increasing system administration time was not an option. This alone forced an serious consideration of Linux as an alternative operating environment. That was five years ago. Now an established Linux user, I can clearly profess the capabilities and benefits of Linux for small and large businesses, especially, when it comes to notebook deployment.

What Linux variant is best for small business and notebook deployment in your company?

As a small and medium business development manager with Sun Microsystems, exposure to Linux and the debate around its viability was a daily event. Questioning and challenging the virtues of Open Source (FREE) Linux versus Licensed Linux versions like Red Hat and Novell SuSE continues to this day . After years of personal use of Open Source (Free) Linux, I can never go back to running the Microsoft Operating Environment on my notebook. And once you can get Linux versions of Quick books, Quick Tax and Picasa (now available on Linux), there is no reason to stay in that perpetual administrative nightmare world of Microsoft.

Having successfully deployed two Open Source Linux variants on my IBM T40 notebook over the last 5 years, a compelling comparison can be made between Fedora and Ubuntu. Fedora, the Open Source version of Red Hat,required the installation expertise of some Linux gurus from Belleville Ontario. It worked fine, but required some Linux ninja system administration every 6-9 months. Administration items applied during these visits included upgrades to Open Office (the open source version of Star Office), Linux OS fixes and new peripheral drivers. This, again, turned out to be a drain on my scarce time for doing real business.

Now the Linux called Ubuntu is installed on my notebook. Ubuntu by Canonical is a full Open Source Linux based on Debian Linux. Ubuntu is now available on Dell systems and Federal Governments are adding this Linux operating environment to their list of standard available OS's for all desktop and notebook computers.

Right out of the gate, Ubuntu was simple to install. You could even bring down a trial copy to experience exactly how it would behave on your notebook before downloading and committing the Ubuntu OS environment to your machine. But the best part is that Ubuntu continuously keeps on top of OS and all related application software updates. Ubuntu has an Update Manager that magically appears in desktop tool bar. And with a simple click (and password) you are kept current on the latest versions of Ubuntu patches, any Linux application software you have installed from Canonical and Open Office upgrades. With Linux rebooting your machine after an update is nearly non-existent.

Oh, as an added treat with Ubuntu, Ubuntu boots up on your machine in less than a minute. I still go get a coffee when my Microsoft desktop is booting up. An additional benefit of Ubuntu: there is no requirement for installing ant-virus and anti-spyware software. Ubuntu inherently repels these vial scourges of the internet.

With Ubuntu your system administration life will become simple and painless. You can spend more quality business hours selling and marketing

Want to cut hidden costs in your organization that manifest themselves as Microsoft self-administration by your end users?
Ubuntu is a must for you or your IT folks to consider. Seriously consider, test and deploy.

Related Articles
  An Open Source Disc-Burning Kiosk
  Analyst says we shouldn’t expect revamped Mac desktops anytime soon—but I beg to differ
  How to Modify the Path Variable in Linux/Unix
  Mac Desktop Sellers
  iMac to be retired this year? I don’t think so

Article Tags: business desktop, computing environment, desktop administration, linux, small business, ubuntu



Related Forum Posts
Re: Bye Bye Vista - [quote="David Castro":1kqd3snm][quote="RussellWebb":1kqd3snm]Is there anybody here using Ubuntu? I'd love to here about the experience... I hear Dell is offering it as an alternative OS. Seems a little bit on the technical side and I have concerns about the ease of use. Ubuntu is an alternative OS created in the same vein as Firefox.[/quote:1kqd3snm] Russell The simple fact that Ubuntu is unix based already make it a more stable and secure system, I would love to try it, I may once I have some free time. For how long have you been using it, and what is your primary use for it?[/quote:1kqd3snm] I've programmed for Linux-based operating systems before. Ubuntu might be fun for personal use so long as you aren't bothered by the lack of availability of Windows/Mac software.
Re: Bye Bye Vista - [quote="RussellWebb":wqai9oz3]Is there anybody here using Ubuntu? I'd love to here about the experience... I hear Dell is offering it as an alternative OS. Seems a little bit on the technical side and I have concerns about the ease of use. Ubuntu is an alternative OS created in the same vein as Firefox.[/quote:wqai9oz3] Russell The simple fact that Ubuntu is unix based already make it a more stable and secure system, I would love to try it, I may once I have some free time. For how long have you been using it, and what is your primary use for it?
Re: Bye Bye Vista - Is there anybody here using Ubuntu? I'd love to here about the experience... I hear Dell is offering it as an alternative OS. Seems a little bit on the technical side and I have concerns about the ease of use. Ubuntu is an alternative OS created in the same vein as Firefox.
My entry - 1. The Best Business Books Ever: The 100 Most Influential Business Books You'll Never Have Time to Read - this is a fascinating book about the history of Business theory, and I'd recommend it to anybody. 2. The Big Book of Small Business: You Don't Have to Run Your Business by the Seat of Your Pants, by Tom Gegax. Ditto. 3. PADI: The Business of Diving Book Okay, so this book won't be of use to anyone who doesn't want to start a scuba store, but I did, and this book was of course invaluable to me in reaching that goal.
Re: A picture (video) is worth a thousand words.... - Hey Phil, Just letting you know that Jing is also compatible with a lot of other OS, e.g. Mac and Linux as well. I just recently switched to Mac, so I thought I'd let you know as well. This is a tool I definitely can not live without, especially when I am sending my work to outsourcers daily. Thanks and enjoy!


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

2011 Global Brand Trends Letter

How to Write Your Articles for Better SEO

Unspoken Yet Important Rules for Book Proposals

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.