[opensuse] Possible Linux / Windows opportunity
This is my initial take on the situation, so please advice in detail (privately if you want) I realize I still have a lot of questions to answer .......... Ultimately, I would like enough information to develop a proposal. Plus any references (show cases, etc) for auto garage setups. Observations: - Constant bouncing between consoles (assuming customer appointment scheduling, POS, general web (looking up parts, etc) - Based on initial talking to tech, could use multiple desktops. - Constantly worrying about keeping anti-virus, anti-spyware, etc, updated. - Not sure what they do about backups. (assuming standard Win setup - drive C: only) (this is where /home would benefit) Setup: - Local auto garage has two buildings - main office and garage with customer counter. - Running Win XP (Pro?) via LAN DSL. - Apps are about half / half - windows and web (Firefox) - Some sort of POS with credit card processing and laser printing - Some sort of Accounting (probably inventory, receivable, payable) - Uses "All Data" auto information system (alldata.com) - As well as general web access. Initial conversion thoughts: - openSUSE Linux - VirtualBox - - - Win XP (Pro?) (use want they are running now) - - - File and print sharing Would I need or to consider: - openSUSE Server - SAMBA Thank you in advance, Duaine -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
- Some sort of POS with credit card processing and laser printing
There are several commercial grade POS systems for Linux... such as Quasar http://www.linuxcanada.com/index.shtml which is one of the best I've seen... but also not open source, and not free beyond the basic single user version. C. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
It sounds to me like the current customer already has a working solution. The problems that they are having are related to virus and malware from your description. I think that properly configuring their Windows machines would be easier for you, easier for the customer, and less costly than replacing the whole thing with a Linux stack. -- Dotan Cohen http://what-is-what.com http://gibberish.co.il -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
The whole idea was to get a new business opportunity as well as promoting the use of Linux. Dotan Cohen wrote:
It sounds to me like the current customer already has a working solution. The problems that they are having are related to virus and malware from your description. I think that properly configuring their Windows machines would be easier for you, easier for the customer, and less costly than replacing the whole thing with a Linux stack.
-- Duaine Hechler Piano, Player Piano, Pump Organ Tuning, Servicing & Rebuilding Reed Organ Society Member Florissant, MO 63034 (314) 838-5587 dahechler@att.net www.hechlerpianoandorgan.com -- Home & Business user of Linux - 10 years -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
The whole idea was to get a new business opportunity as well as promoting the use of Linux.
Business opportunity withstanding, Linux should be a means, not an end. Don't get me wrong, I support your efforts and I have installed Ubuntu for tens of people (over twenty still use it) but in each case it is because Linux offers the user something that Windows does not. I have found that replacing Windows with Linux for those who are happy with Windows only leads to frustration. That frustration is usually directed at Linux, yourself, or both. In any case, keep us posted. These usage and migration scenarios are important, in my opinion. -- Dotan Cohen http://what-is-what.com http://gibberish.co.il -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
In <880dece00904221247j4344a34p644fc4699745e5c7@mail.gmail.com>, Dotan Cohen wrote:
The whole idea was to get a new business opportunity as well as promoting the use of Linux.
Business opportunity withstanding, Linux should be a means, not an end.
Yes, but the end should be migration away from proprietary software to avoid vendor lock-in and dependence. Keeping Windows around is not a means toward that end. -- Boyd Stephen Smith Jr. ,= ,-_-. =. bss@iguanasuicide.net ((_/)o o(\_)) ICQ: 514984 YM/AIM: DaTwinkDaddy `-'(. .)`-' http://iguanasuicide.net/ \_/
On Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:59:28 -0500, Boyd Stephen Smith Jr. wrote:
Business opportunity withstanding, Linux should be a means, not an end.
Yes, but the end should be migration away from proprietary software to avoid vendor lock-in and dependence.
As much as I dislike Windows, I have to disagree. The end from a business standpoint is to operate the business in an efficient manner. Sometimes Windows provides that. Jim -- Jim Henderson Please keep on-topic replies on the list so everyone benefits -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
In
On Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:59:28 -0500, Boyd Stephen Smith Jr. wrote:
Business opportunity withstanding, Linux should be a means, not an end.
Yes, but the end should be migration away from proprietary software to avoid vendor lock-in and dependence.
As much as I dislike Windows, I have to disagree. The end from a business standpoint is to operate the business in an efficient manner.
Which requires freedoms...
Sometimes Windows provides that.
...that proprietary software never provides. I don't care if it is MS Windows or AIX, MS SQL or Oracle, IE or Opera, MS WinCE or PalmOS -- if it isn't free software, it's crap. :) For each vendor that you depend upon, you add yet another third party that can vastly affect the efficiency of your business. Being able to switch vendors quickly is a quality of an efficient business. Still, even if free software is your end, the migration process can take years and you'll have proprietary software in the mix until the very end. I was [OT] anyway, so this will be my last post in the thread. -- Boyd Stephen Smith Jr. ,= ,-_-. =. bss@iguanasuicide.net ((_/)o o(\_)) ICQ: 514984 YM/AIM: DaTwinkDaddy `-'(. .)`-' http://iguanasuicide.net/ \_/
At 03:40 PM 4/22/2009 -0500, Boyd Stephen Smith Jr. wrote:
I don't care if it is MS Windows or AIX, MS SQL or Oracle, IE or Opera, MS WinCE or PalmOS -- if it isn't free software, it's crap. :)
Actually, Richard Stallman has been saying that for many decades; unfortunately, he does not operate in a world with cost accounting and family members. For those of us that do, we have to justify our actions and recommendations, and, quite frankly, *sometimes* Free Software doesn't make the cut, so we have to make it work the best we can. Lee -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
On Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:45:45 -0600, L. V. Lammert wrote:
Actually, Richard Stallman has been saying that for many decades; unfortunately, he does not operate in a world with cost accounting and family members.
For those of us that do, we have to justify our actions and recommendations, and, quite frankly, *sometimes* Free Software doesn't make the cut, so we have to make it work the best we can.
Well said, better said than I would've said. Free Software isn't the only hammer in the IT toolbox. I'll take, for example, Microsoft Mappoint over any of the OSS alternatives out there today. Until such time as an application in the OSS world surpasses what Mappoint provides, it will continue to be the best application for what it does. And it *really* pains me to say that Microsoft has the best solution for any need. I've been mostly MS-free for 10+ years now, have XP and 2K in VMs for those rare occasions I need it, and my main system at home came with Vista Home Pro which I think I've booted about 3 times because the VM wouldn't do what I needed. I'm no MS fanboy, quite the opposite. But I also have worked in IT for a long time and recognise there is a place for proprietary software, just as there's a place for OSS software. And frequently those places overlap - but they don't always. Jim -- Jim Henderson Please keep on-topic replies on the list so everyone benefits -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
On Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:29:32 +0000, Jim Henderson wrote:
Free Software isn't the only hammer in the IT toolbox.
Another point that seems reasonable to me is when there is an OSS option but it is inferior to commercially-available proprietary software, trying to use the OSS solution for business-critical environment where it isn't necessarily designed to work can lead to frustration that paints all of OSS in a bad light. One of the areas that is sorely lacking in many (not all) OSS projects is proper documentation. This is a topic that gets beaten to death repeatedly. A couple years ago, I looked for an open source GIS project and while there were a few that looked like they might meet my needs, the installation/setup/configuration was overly complex and the documentation was severely lacking. So much so that the project got killed because there was no budget to purchase a commercial app. I was able to demo what I wanted using Mappoint, ironically. It took about 10 minutes to accomplish what I wanted once I had the data that needed to be plotted. But as a final solution it wouldn't have worked, because I needed to use dynamic data sources and not just a CSV file imported periodically. Jim -- Jim Henderson Please keep on-topic replies on the list so everyone benefits -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
Boyd Stephen Smith Jr. wrote:
In <880dece00904221247j4344a34p644fc4699745e5c7@mail.gmail.com>, Dotan Cohen wrote:
The whole idea was to get a new business opportunity as well as promoting the use of Linux. Business opportunity withstanding, Linux should be a means, not an end.
Yes, but the end should be migration away from proprietary software to avoid vendor lock-in and dependence.
Keeping Windows around is not a means toward that end.
Correct! Supporting an immoral company is supporting an immoral company. Fred -- Gun-toting Americans are clearly more self-sufficient than the sissy Europeans. This is great news for everyone except Barney Frank, who's always secretly wondered what it would be like to be taken by a Somali pirate. --Ann Coulter -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
Yes, but the end should be migration away from proprietary software to avoid vendor lock-in and dependence.
I did not see that mentioned as one of the customer's concerns. -- Dotan Cohen http://what-is-what.com http://gibberish.co.il -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
Dotan Cohen wrote:
I have found that replacing Windows with Linux for those who are happy with Windows only leads to frustration. That frustration is usually directed at Linux, yourself, or both.
This is exactly correct. If the user is HAPPY with windows leave them alone, give them advice on how to protect themselves, FireFox, Virus scanners, etc., but don't impose your preferences on them. (Unless its your job to do so in the work-place). Windows, with effort and vigilance, can be made reasonably safe. Without the required level of skill or effort, all windows installations degrade eventually to the point where users DO become UNHAPPY. After having lost everything on their machine a few times most users, even those without skills are willing to look at something else. But you make no friends foisting linux on them prior to the frustration setting in. Family members stuck on windows are the worst for any Linux user. You can't leave them to their own fate, or charge them money to rescue their machines time after time. (Not and maintain any joy in the house.) So you end up fixing their windows machine, or trying to train them (they expect to learn from osmosis). It takes years to convince them, especially when you end up keeping their windows running smoothly. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
Duaine & Laura Hechler wrote:
This is my initial take on the situation, so please advice in detail (privately if you want)
I realize I still have a lot of questions to answer ..........
Ultimately, I would like enough information to develop a proposal.
Plus any references (show cases, etc) for auto garage setups.
Observations: - Constant bouncing between consoles (assuming customer appointment scheduling, POS, general web (looking up parts, etc) - Based on initial talking to tech, could use multiple desktops. - Constantly worrying about keeping anti-virus, anti-spyware, etc, updated. - Not sure what they do about backups. (assuming standard Win setup - drive C: only) (this is where /home would benefit)
Setup: - Local auto garage has two buildings - main office and garage with customer counter. - Running Win XP (Pro?) via LAN DSL. - Apps are about half / half - windows and web (Firefox) - Some sort of POS with credit card processing and laser printing - Some sort of Accounting (probably inventory, receivable, payable) - Uses "All Data" auto information system (alldata.com) - As well as general web access.
Initial conversion thoughts: - openSUSE Linux - VirtualBox - - - Win XP (Pro?) (use want they are running now) - - - File and print sharing
Would I need or to consider: - openSUSE Server - SAMBA
Thank you in advance, Duaine
Try out kde4-lemonpos from the kde4 comunity repository, it runs under kde3 and 4. Regards Dave P -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
On Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 8:14 PM, Duaine & Laura Hechler
This is my initial take on the situation, so please advice in detail (privately if you want)
I realize I still have a lot of questions to answer ..........
Ultimately, I would like enough information to develop a proposal.
Plus any references (show cases, etc) for auto garage setups.
Observations: - Constant bouncing between consoles (assuming customer appointment scheduling, POS, general web (looking up parts, etc) - Based on initial talking to tech, could use multiple desktops. - Constantly worrying about keeping anti-virus, anti-spyware, etc, updated. - Not sure what they do about backups. (assuming standard Win setup - drive C: only) (this is where /home would benefit)
Setup: - Local auto garage has two buildings - main office and garage with customer counter. - Running Win XP (Pro?) via LAN DSL. - Apps are about half / half - windows and web (Firefox) - Some sort of POS with credit card processing and laser printing - Some sort of Accounting (probably inventory, receivable, payable) - Uses "All Data" auto information system (alldata.com) - As well as general web access.
Initial conversion thoughts: - openSUSE Linux - VirtualBox - - - Win XP (Pro?) (use want they are running now) - - - File and print sharing
Would I need or to consider: - openSUSE Server - SAMBA
Thank you in advance, Duaine
Duaine, If this is a car dealership, you can just about forget it. The big car manufacturers dictate what OS is supported.in the dealerships for all computers running manufacturer provided software. And for the rest of the dealers needs there are 3 or 4 large suites tuned specifically for dealership needs, so it would be a major undertaking to compete. If it is just a standalone repair shop, you may have better luck. FYI: My company has some custom software deployed to about 750 dealerships. All XP based. :( Greg -- Greg Freemyer Head of EDD Tape Extraction and Processing team Litigation Triage Solutions Specialist http://www.linkedin.com/in/gregfreemyer First 99 Days Litigation White Paper - http://www.norcrossgroup.com/forms/whitepapers/99%20Days%20whitepaper.pdf The Norcross Group The Intersection of Evidence & Technology http://www.norcrossgroup.com -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
Greg Freemyer wrote:
FYI: My company has some custom software deployed to about 750 dealerships. All XP based. :(
Greg
Does it run under Wine or CrossoverOffice? :-) The last two dealerships I did tech work for had 'nix systems by IBM, using modern blade servers, (usually just one blade). (Dodge dealers in my case)> -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
On Wed, Apr 22, 2009 at 6:09 PM, John Andersen
Greg Freemyer wrote:
FYI: My company has some custom software deployed to about 750 dealerships. All XP based. :(
Greg
Does it run under Wine or CrossoverOffice? :-)
The last two dealerships I did tech work for had 'nix systems by IBM, using modern blade servers, (usually just one blade). (Dodge dealers in my case)>
Don't know, but it would not matter. Only XP is approved by the car manufacturer for software they deploy, and we're paid by the manufacturer, not the dealership so we do what they tell us. Greg -- Greg Freemyer Head of EDD Tape Extraction and Processing team Litigation Triage Solutions Specialist http://www.linkedin.com/in/gregfreemyer First 99 Days Litigation White Paper - http://www.norcrossgroup.com/forms/whitepapers/99%20Days%20whitepaper.pdf The Norcross Group The Intersection of Evidence & Technology http://www.norcrossgroup.com -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
participants (10)
-
Boyd Stephen Smith Jr. -
Clayton -
Dave Plater -
Dotan Cohen -
Duaine & Laura Hechler -
Fred A. Miller -
Greg Freemyer -
Jim Henderson -
John Andersen -
L. V. Lammert