Re: Linux users who like Windows
I think (hope!?) that corporations are going to get wise, and start making Linux their primary operating system.
You make a good point. I was restricting the discussion strictly to the software itself, but licensing issues are another strong reason for looking at Linux.
One of the more interesting trends in the last six months is the adaption of Linux by governments concerned about licensing.Parts of the German,French, and Indian governments have switched to Linux, and a number of others are investigating the matter, including Norway, Peru, Venezeula, and Malaysia
Governments have two reasons for the interest.
First, there is a growing concern about government work being dependent on a monopoly, both in general and specifically because it means less access for those who don't have or can't afford the software from the monopolist.
Second, a large number of poorer nations find the cost of licensing prohibitively expensive, and would prefer not to rely on pirated software.
On the whole, these developments haven't reached North America, although there is a small California initiative underway. But, elsewhere, Microsoft is doing all it can to combat them.
When that happens, applications like Quicken and FrameMaker and RoboHelp will quickly port to Linux, we'll all move over the Star Office,
Well, not RoboHelp. I doubt that anyone is going to port a tool for Windows Help files to another operating system.
and then Microsoft might reconsider their policies.
I'm looking forward to seeing the next release of MS Office. With the new competition from StarOffice and OpenOffice, I think it's possible that some long broken features, such as autonumbering and master documents may finally get an overhaul.
--
Bruce Byfield bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com 604.421.7177
http://members.axion.net/~bbyfield
"Looking back at the long years
All that happened this way and that
I think I liked most the rice and the salt."
- Kim Stanley Robinson, "The Years of Rice and Salt"
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Experience RoboHelp X3! This new RoboHelp release combines single sourcing,
print-quality documentation, conditional text and much more, into the most
monumental release of RoboHelp ever! http://www.ehelp.com/techwr-l
Enhance, optimize and automate your FrameMaker-to-PDF workflow with TimeSavers:
Define all PDF features in your source FrameMaker files ONCE, distill MANY.
Bookmark Controller, Link Controller, UnBloat & more : http://www.microtype.com
---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as:
archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.
Follow-Ups:
- Re: Linux users who like Windows, Dick Margulis
References:
Re: Linux users who like Windows: From: Steven Oppenheimer
Previous by Author:
Re: Linux users who like Wiindows (was: Drafts and the larger leadership picture)
Next by Author:
Re: Having a killer resume
Previous by Thread:
Re: Linux users who like Windows
Next by Thread:
Re: Linux users who like Windows
Search our Technical Writing Archives & Magazine
Visit TechWhirl's Other Sites
Sponsored Ads