For several years now Linux is an established server operating system. But steadily more efforts have been made recently in order to also establish Linux as client system in office applications. The question is, how and to which extent this cost saving open source product can keep up with the features and advantages of Microsoft Windows and Office.
In the past, the following aspects in particular complicated the use of Linux and other open source products:
- Most of the programs just had command line entry, which complicated the handling for most standard users and therefore partly caused high consultation costs.
- Service technicians weren't easily available and substantially more expensive than other comparable technicians for established operation systems.
- Compatibility problems caused difficulties in the communication with standard documents (MS Word mostly).
- The number of available programs for office use was quite limited.
However, current changes deprive those aspects of every reasoning. The operation and installation of Linux itself and of all kinds of programs has been enhanced considerably and adapted to the Windows-standard of installation managers and installation wizards. Easy and auxiliary tips facilitate the procedure and assure the desired success. Gnome, KDE and other visual surfaces can be used and arranged like a classical Windows surface.
As a result of the low license costs, Linux has won recognition really fast in university areas. Students, particularly those from EDP-studies, are experienced in the interaction with Linux systems. The cost of service have sunk to, and partly under the level of a Windows working environment.
Without any major problem, products like Openoffice are nowadays able to create MS-Office-compatible documents. The integration of single units – like spreadsheet (analysis), word (text) processing, presentation tools, etc. – is partially even better than within the original product. Easy scalability and included group-ware solutions make Openoffice an equal challenger of MS Office.
The number of programs for office use vary from Officesuite over graphic programs, to the administration/management of time and resources. Gimp, for example, is one of the most distinguished graphic tools. Furthermore, a lot of Mac OS X applications are being prepared for Linux as those two systems are quite related with each other. The migration from Windows to Linux is not affected by low functionality in office applications anymore.
With the abolition of those earlier restrictions the focus now stays with the considerable advantages of the Linux system: Stability, security and flexibility of Linux are not comparable with Microsoft Systems. With the right choice of programs and good planning of the IT-infrastructure nothing impedes Linux on the Desktop. Furthermore significant reduction of cost, improved independence and quality are offered.
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