While I run Linux on the servers and IT workstations, I’m always looking for opportunities to deploy the OS and FOSS in general in a “user” context. I’ve made three attempts that all failed:
- The Web Browser: after an employee got some annoying Windows virus, and I was unable to reinstall due to some licensing problem, I finally stopped running in place and installed Ubuntu. This was the perfect opportunity as this employee primarily works through a web browser (Firefox, no less!). Turns out that the website that works with Firefox on Windows doesn’t work on Linux – not with Firefox… or Opera… or any other browser I tried. Yeah, the problem is probably due to some stupid crap that the website is doing, but this was one case where I was sure that Linux would work out. He still uses the machine from time to time, but it’s supplemented with his Windows laptop.
- The Scanner: an older scanner/copier/printer needed a computer attached to it. Perfect for Linux!, I thought, until I discovered that SANE couldn’t deal with it. No problem, I had a newer color scanner that should do the job… SANE didn’t support that either. And so off went Ubunutu and on went WinXP.
- The Office Suite: did a WinXP install for someone, knowing that they’d probably need some Windows-only apps. Having had some success showing OpenOffice.org to my girlfriend, I figured I’d install that instead of MS Office. After explaining to him that OOO is compatible with MS Office, the guy gave it a try. A week or so later, he said he was just more comfortable with MS Office and wanted to ditch OpenOffice.
It’s all pretty discouraging. In situations that seem ideal for Linux, in the end I’m forced to use Windows. Though to end on a positive note, I will say that I’ve had nearly global success employing Firefox and Thunderbird.
You should deploy mac os x. Sure, you pay the apple tax but at least you wouldn’t have any virus problems or blue screen of death issues. If they continue to make a stink about it. Boot camp winxp or run winxp on parallels.