* Reader views about targeting Linux desktop to specific groups, Novell Linux strategies
Readers had a lot to say about last week’s newsletter on Linux desktop pilots.
Jeffrey Jaffe, CTO at Novell – which makes the SuSE Linux distribution – said in the newsletter that every enterprise should have at least a small-scale Linux desktop pilot in place. The reason: before the expected 2007 release of Microsoft Windows Vista, users should know what the alternatives are.
“I agree with Jaffe that Linux would be useful to a specific targeted group of users within an enterprise,” one reader wrote. “It will take a talented and knowledgeable administrator to determine which users would be able to use Linux to enhance the company’s bottom line.”
The tough decision for companies that decide to go with Linux after a pilot will be whether or not to go all-out, the reader says.
“I hate to sound like Bill Gates or anyone from Microsoft, but targeting a specific group of users for conversion to Linux would creates a two-platform maintenance equation, and most system administrators do not have the time to spend maintaining one (Windows) platform.”
Specific to Novell’s SuSE product, another reader is concerned that the upcoming SuSE Enterprise Linux Desktop (SLED) 10 won’t be able to be managed via Novell’s ZENworks Linux Manager 7 platform, a tool for managing Linux desktops and servers in an enterprise.
“I agree with [Novell CTO] Jeff Jaffe, but there is one big problem with this one. Novell does not have ZLM7 ready to manage SLED10. This will be the main inhibitor in the competition with Vista. How do we get Novell to understand that ZLM7 is the most important part in the future success of SLED10?”
Another reader had some different advice for Novell on how to sway more enterprises to start Linux desktop pilots.
“Novell should be giving away anything they can, during this rare opportunity to shift the tide.”
Not a bad idea.
