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[Hilos de Discusión] [Fecha] [Tema] [Autor]------------------------------------------------------------ This story was printed from ZDNet AnchorDesk located at http://www.anchordesk.com If you would like to receive further high-tech news alerts, simply send a message to on en anchordesk com and you will automatically receive a free sample. ------------------------------------------------------------ Fired for Choosing Linux? URL: http://www.zdnet.com/chkpt/adem2fpf/www.anchordesk.com/story/story_177 4.html Berst Alert Jesse Berst, Editorial Director ZDNet AnchorDesk Monday, February 16, 1998 Nobody ever got fired for choosing IBM was the mantra of the 70s and 80s. IBM didn't always have the latest and greatest, but it was always the safe choice. Slowly, surely, Microsoft and its Windows NT operating system have been taking over this role. Lately, however, a growing cadre of users are proposing a seven-year-old "freeware" operating system as an alternative to NT. Linux (pronounced Lynn-ucks) is a Unix variant maintained by volunteer programmers around the world. But is it a safe choice? Let's take a look, starting with the good news about Linux's growing popularity. Linux is not just for geeks anymore. As many as five million computers now run the operating system, usually as a platform for a Web server. More and more of those Linux computers are showing up in corporate settings, as documented by Smart Reseller magazine. Click for full story. Easier than ever to obtain. You can download Linux, or you can buy convenient CD-ROM compilations, often called "distributions," which bundle the OS with utilities, Web servers and application software for a nominal fee (typically about $50). Two of the most popular distributions come from Red Hat (www.redhat.com) and Caldera (www.caldera.com). PC Week recently gave the Red Hat compilation a thumbs up. Click for full story. Trade shows and conferences such as the 4th Annual Linux Expo, May 28-30, at Duke University in Durham, N.C. Click for conference info. Linux books and magazines. The Linux Journal is a great source of how-to information, in print and online. You can also find dozens of Linux books from various publishers. Click for Linux books available online through Barnes and Noble. Linux support and help online. You can find numerous pages and newsgroups dedicated to Linux. I've linked two of the most popular in the sidebar. Okay, Linux may have a low, low cost. And many technical merits. And lots of help for do-it-yourselfers. But can it pass the all-important "cover your ass" test? I'm not so sure. There's no single company behind Linux. No single source of support. No sales rep you can call in and yell at if Linux fails unexpectedly, leaving you without an operative Web site. Nobody to blame, in other words. Except you, if you were the person who recommended this product. Tell us about your experiences and inclinations. Would you take this risk? Have you done so already? Did you experience any political fallout? Hit the TalkBack button below to send us your comments. Then jump over to my Berst Alerts forum to discuss Linux with other AnchorDesk readers. I'm all for competition in the OS marketplace. And I always root for the little guy. So I think it's great if you are willing to promote Linux to your boss. As long as you are aware of the risk you are taking. The risk of getting fired. READ MORE: Leaning Toward Linux - PC Magazine http://www.zdnet.com/chkpt/adem2fpf/www.zdnet.com/pcmag/issues/1613/pcmg00 68.htm Linux Online Home Page - Internet http://www.zdnet.com/chkpt/adem2fpf/www.linux.org LinuxOS Home Page - Internet http://www.zdnet.com/chkpt/adem2fpf/www.linuxos.org EVALUATE: OSUser: The Ultimate Operating System Resource - ZDNet Products Channel http://www.zdnet.com/chkpt/adem2fpf/www.zdnet.com/products/osuser.html NOSUser: The Ultimate Guide to Network Operating Systems - ZDNet Products Channel http://www.zdnet.com/chkpt/adem2fpf/www.zdnet.com/products/nosuser.html DISCUSS: Jesse's Berst Alerts http://www.zdnet.com/chkpt/adem2fpf/www.anchordesk.com/disgroups/disgroup s_54.html COMPANIES: Caldera Inc. http://www.zdnet.com/chkpt/adem2fpf/www.anchordesk.com/company/company_21 46.html Microsoft Corp. http://www.zdnet.com/chkpt/adem2fpf/www.anchordesk.com/company/company_17 49.html Red Hat Software http://www.zdnet.com/chkpt/adem2fpf/www.anchordesk.com/company/company_40 14.html PRODUCTS: Red Hat Linux http://www.zdnet.com/chkpt/adem2fpf/www.anchordesk.com/products/products_ 2393.html TOPICS: Systems Software and Platforms http://www.zdnet.com/chkpt/adem2fpf/www.anchordesk.com/topics/topics_13.html ------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright (c) 1997 ZDNet. All rights reserved. Additional reproduction in whole or in part or in any form or medium without express written permission of ZDNet is prohibited. ZDNet and the ZDNet logo are trademarks of Ziff-Davis Inc.