HOUSTON BUSINESS REVIEW

COST-EFFECTIVE IT: LINUX AND OPEN SOURCE 2005
By Richard Sonnier

Houston Business Show Commentator Richard Sonnier, of the Information Technology Services firm Nimble Services, provides weekly information on our show about information technology issues. Mr. Sonnier can be reached at 281.445.4800 x 250 or via email.

This week I will discuss Linux and Open Source for 2005.

Linux In 2005

I recently visited the North Harris Community College campus for a meeting, and, while I was there, I picked up their class schedule for current term. In computer technology, the college is offering courses using Linux and not Windows. I was a little surprised, but only a little. Linux, a free, modern variant of the 35-year-old UNIX operating system, has finally penetrated the mainstream. In 2005 Linux will continue to challenge Microsoft in network servers. IDC, a market research firm, predicts that by 2007 Windows will have 35% and Linux 15% of the network server market. This year may see Linux make a significant move in the desktop market where Windows dominates with over 90% of the market. Last year, Linux had 1.3% of the PC market while Apple's MacOS had 2.5% but Linux software continues to improve, especially OpenOffice.

Open Source In 2005

Microsoft's lock on the desktop has always been application software. Windows itself was never really the driver. Businesses buy applications to improve their business and then buy the operating systems and hardware needed to run those applications. Microsoft Office is the biggest reason for the domination of the Windows today and that may change in 2005. OpenOffice, from OpenOffice.org, is releasing its version 2.0 soon, and it is very, very good. OpenOiffice is compatible with Microsoft Office and free. Add the Firefox web browser and the Thunderbird email client from Mozilla to OpenOffice and open source will have free, top-notch competitors to Microsoft's most popular applications. All of these open source applications run on Windows so you can switch to one of them very easily, but they also run on Linux. Once you switch away from Microsoft's applications, why do you need the expensive, trouble prone Windows? You do not. As Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols, Senior Editor at eWEEK, says "the revolution has arrived."

Recommendations

Start testing the Mozilla and OpenOffice applications. You might be able to save a great deal of money in 2005.

Next week I will discuss web development tools like Macromedia's Dreamweaver.