I have experienced the same issues in both government and private sector
businesses. And the reality of it is: Microsoft's stranglehold on the
office automation sector. If there were a Linux app that was 100%
compatible with MS-Office things would be much different. It would be
a whole lot easier to convince upper management in and out of IT and
executives in general that Linux was worth supporting if there weren't
the document formatting issues.
Now, I know that there are some apps that do MS-Office formats one way,
or even both ways (opening and saving) but generally, there isn't
an application that can even come close to the completeness of
MS-Office.
And yes, there are low-level formats such as Rich-Text and Plain-Text.
But,
tell and upper management-type or executive that you can't accept his
Word document attachment and it is all over.
>From and IT support standpoint, there are still relatively few
Linux-friendly
desktop support people available. Most Linux folks - generally speaking
-
are not your traditional help desk type. So that means that instead of
paying a "green" IT staffer "Burger King" money, they'd have to pay more
just to support Linux on the desktop. I know in the IT shops that I've
worked in, nobody other than developers and administrator knew enough
about
Linux to support it, let alone run it themselves.
But, look at Burlington and the DOD. They have successfully thrown
Linux
out on the desktop. So, it isn't really a matter of Linux's capability
(other
than MS-Office formats.) It has more to do with support.
My 2 Cents.
Kit
On 24 Jul 2001 21:41:53 -0700, Brad Bonkoski wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I am the fairly new to the list as well, although been in Phoenix for a
> little over a year now. First of all, I use Mandrake because it rules,
> although I was a slacker all through college as my old school,
> hard-core, low level professor loved it, and hated all the bells and
> whistles often found in the more "pop" distros. As for Linux jobs, I
> find it strange. In my short time here, again a little over a year, I
> am with my second company. Both jobs were Linux development jobs,
> kernel hacking, and some application stuff. But from an IT standpoint,
> both companies used Windows as their main platform of choice. They
> choose to deploy Linux based solutions because of the openness and ease
> of development, but then turn right around and use M$ within their own
> walls. Strikes me as odd, but I guess it goes to show the lack of
> Linux's competitiveness with all the "executive" types. Is it this way
> everywhere?
> Regards,
> -Brad
>
> Nathan England wrote:
>
> > Hello all,
> >
> > I just joined the group today. I live in Ahwatukee, and was looking
> > for a user group. So I'm proud to be apart of the Phoenix group.
> > So I'd like to introduce myself a little before I start posting. If
> > you don't mind. :-)
> >
> > I am Nathan England
> > I work for a mid-sized manufacturing company in Chandler who makes
> > tools for Intel, AMD... if they actually bought them.. ha ha
> > I work for the IS department, system support level III. (Can't find
> > any good linux jobs *anywhere*)
> > I'm 21, I've used slackware all my life... well, the last 7 years of
> > it anyway..
> > I unfortunately know just about all there is for NT 4, 98, 95, blah
> > blah. 2000 is gaining at work, so I'm learning that quite quick..
> > After a *loooong* day of fixing all of Microsoft's problems, I like to
> > come home to my wonderful wife and 1 year old (she'll be 1 on the
> > 26th!!) daughter, and relax to my nice slack boxes.
> > Ahhh, the calm. he he
> >
> > I grew up in a small town near Flagstaff. Maybe 500 people in the
> > town year round, so the only friend I had at times was my little IBM
> > XT.. all 13 MHz of it. Until that wonderful 386 came out.
> > Well, I've caught up with the times.. finally.
> >
> > Anyway, that's me.. more questions, I'd love to answer them. Now my
> > questions..
> >
> > I've been reading some of the older posts today, and I have to ask, am
> > I the only slacker here? This seems to be a predominately Debian
> > group, correct? Or am I only reading the debian posts!?
> >
> > I can't wait for the next meeting.
> > 03:00 at Denny's, right? ha ha.
> >
> > I sure am glad I found a group here! I thought I was going to be by
> > myself. After a year of being here, I haven't met anyone who runs
> > linux. (only a few who know what it is!)
> >
> > Nathan England
> > nathan@the-arcanum.ath.cx
> > or directly to this
> > plug@the-arcanum.ath.cx
>
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