Posts by khess

What's more stable than a rock, faster than a spinning disk, more powerful than a Windows system twice its size, and able to leap platforms like no other operating system? Surprise! It's Linux.

It's also recession proof.

Can that be true? Yes, and here are the 5 reasons why:

1. Not Corporate Bound - Linux is developed worldwide by volunteers. It isn't owned by a single company. No one person or entity really owns Linux, the operating system.

2. Free - Several companies create their own distributions and market them commercially but the underlying system is still, and will always be, free.

3. Multi-Platform - Linux is now the only multi-platform operating system. It runs on mobile devices, x86 systems, mainframes, NSK (Non Stop Kernel), Macs, Sparc, and maybe others. You won't need to purchase new hardware on which to run it since it will, most likely, install on whatever you have.

4. Frugal - Linux is a frugal operating system in that you can install it onto very small devices (routers, bootable CD ROMs, wristwatches) and it doesn't require the latest hardware nor does it require a new generation of hardware on which to run. You can run it comfortably on your current hardware--no need for an upgrade each time a new version is released.

5. Vendor Neutrality - You aren't locked-in to a particular vendor, distribution, or support scheme. There isn't just one Linux so in effect, you could run one …

@Zukuzu

Well, it isn't a total comparison of all Unix migrations to Linux just the ones that this particular company did. It is simply their experience. And, Unix flavors are bleeding in favor of Linux. As I said at the end of my post, I'll do the research on those numbers and post them.

Thanks for the feedback. I'm actually glad to see this trend. If you notice, all the major Unix vendors have made significant investment in Linux technology--I think they see the writing on the wall.

In a recent report by ComputerWorld, Unix is losing major ground in the SAP data center space. HP-UX is losing at a rate of about 41% and AIX (IBM) is losing at a rate of 18%. And in the time period (roughly 2.5 years) between October 2005 through March 2008, Unix to Linux conversions almost doubled over the previous evaluation period (2001 - September 2005).

So why is SAP bleeding Unix and patching the wounds with Linux?

The number one reason is cost. The second most reported answer is vendor independence.

Surprisingly, stability, processor type, and number of cores weren't mentioned as motivating factors in the swap. Stability is assumed and processor specifications are esoteric attributes to most non-technical individuals (decision makers).

Most companies that make the leap from Unix (or other OS) see a return on investment (ROI) in 9 months to 2.5 years.

The OS Migration Numbers (Percent Loss)

HP-UX - 40.9
AIX - 18.2
Solaris - 4.2
Windows - 13.6
OS/390 - 13.6
OS/400 - 4.5
Other* - 4.9

* Tru64 and Reliant

It's no surprise that companies are running to Linux to save money, reduce licensing overhead, and remove vendor lock-in. What comes as a bit of surprise is the type of Linux used for the migrations: Novell's SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES). I would think that anyone wanting to save significant money wouldn't choose a vendor like …

SCO is putting up two of its business units on the auction block: Mobile Business and its Unix OpenServer Business. Jeff Hunsaker, President and COO, stated that "The auction, we believe, is the best approach for us to move forward and also to exit bankruptcy."

Ah, the agony of utter and complete defeat. What actually will SCO have left after selling off its Mobile Business and OpenServer Business? The better question in my mind is "Who the hell would want them?"

Perhaps an even better question is "Do they really own either of them?" You can't legally sell what you don't own. It was proven that they never owned Unix or UnixWare--Novell owns them both.

They want at least $6 million USD for the two business units. Um, I'll give them $1,000 and some advice: "Go Away."

I don't know what SCO's ultimate fate will be when it emerges from bankruptcy but I know what their fate should be--a smudge on the pages of history.

Go away SCO. Go far. Go fast. Fade ye into the good night.

True, Solaris 10 uses zones/containers, in fact, I use them every day at my day job but the problem is that this is a Linux-oriented blog. I also didn't list Microsoft's Hyper-V for the same reason.

There's only one company that doesn't use Linux for its server virtualization platform. Can you guess which one it is? If you guessed Microsoft, you're correct. Microsoft is a newbie in the virtualization space but wants in and may make significant dents in the already well-established market that is significantly owned by VMware. For Windows-only virtualization, there may be some validity to the switch to Hyper-V.

For the rest of us, who are either too stubborn or too smart to make the shift to Hyper-V, what are our choices? The following is a list of 5 of the main players in Linux-based virtualization. The list is ordered in what I believe to be from most popular/best supported to the least in this area.

1. VMware - I know I give these guys a hard time but when they're so prominently displayed, they must stand up to a bit of criticism. With over 80% market share, VMware is a force to be reckoned with in the virtualization space. VMware has superb support, excellent training, and their products are rock solid. You'll sleep better at night knowing you've got VMware ESX running and the VMware support people at your service in case something happens to go wrong. If you don't know where to start with virtualization, you should type in www.vmware.com to your browser first.

2. Citrix - I admit that I was more than a little disappointed when …

I agree. MS is just repackaging Vista now that they've fixed most of its issues. I think it's time for Microsoft to take a strong look at what they're doing and fix it. They have some great applications but the OS problems have hounded them for years beginning with Windows NT 4.0 which was 'crashy' and very hardware picky. I'll probably never see Windows 7 on any computer in my house. We only have one with Vista and my wife curses it constantly--I just haven't upgraded it to XP yet for her (it's a new laptop from a store--and no, she doesn't want to use Linux--been there, tried that, still wear the cast).
My biggest issue with MS and their OSs is that every time a new one comes out, you have to upgrade all your hardware to the next generation which is another thousand dollars on top of the price of the OS. Not worth it. Sorry, just not worth it.

Good story Lisa. Scandal is everywhere.

I understand fully about privacy concerns but remember, I'm not talking about user info but only to count a unique installation. Hardware info doesn't even have to be collected, just a unique system ID would suffice.

@dietrich

Great! Now let's get everyone to do this. We need a concerted effort. Engage the Linux Foundation and let's call this the Linux Census project.

@John A

I would ask the distribution folk to enable the app by default.

Yes! Right and it skews the numbers to the detriment of all who use Linux. It should be enabled by default and on all Linux systems and distributions. It's our leverage to show our numbers.

There are over 1 million Linux system deployments worldwide. No, make that 2 million. Wait, it's really closer to 3 million. Ok, I really have it this time--there are over 3.5 million Linux deployments worldwide as of January 7, 2009. But according to the Linux Counter, there's fewer than 150,000.

So how many Linux systems are deployed worldwide?

The answer is that no one knows how many and any guesses are purely WAGs.

The fact is that Linux deployments are like an iceberg with only about 10 percent showing up in the light of day with the other 90% under the radar.

Why is this important?

Just think of the possibilities if we knew about all those deployments that are under the radar. With closer to real data, we might be able to leverage more commercial support for applications, drivers, and products for Linux and those derived from Linux. I believe a lot of commercial entities still see Linux as a geek toy and not as a real operating system with a substantial user base.

The solution is to have Linux phone home every so often like Windows and Macs do. Some people wouldn't like this, of course, and would disable that functionality but it would be very useful information for the above reasons.

Each system has a unique identifier and could check in to a repository database every so often to check for yum/apt-get/smart updates and exchange information on its …

Oh, and btw, I love the reference to Hemlock--awesome!

Everyone loves to report the gloom and doom. If you notice, most journalistic meanderings lean to the negative. Funny thing--if everyone started speaking positively, would the overall outlook change for the better and would things get better if we decided that they are getting better? I think so. Every prophecy fulfills itself.

I want to hear more about his hormone imbalance to explain why he is so thin. I think we could sell that.

@LinuxCanuck,
Your assertions are well thought out but I think, as I did when I wrote this piece, that Linux will continue its success in 2009 instead of losing ground because of the 7 issues I mentioned. If you've ever been in business and your budget is stressed from lack of client spending, you realize that you have to make some serious decisions and usually that means losing people but it doesn't have to. People, in service businesses, are your greatest asset and also your greatest cost but you can't do business without them.
The next most logical place to look to trim out excess 'fat' is hardware and software--especially if there is a free or cheaper alternative that is at least equivalent in performance and functionality to the pricey one.
Fear is a great motivator. People will do whatever is necessary for their businesses to survive including switching operating systems to save money.

@L4Linux,
You're right and you echo my point in #3 in the list. Anyone who uses IE can use FireFox and the same goes for MS Office and OpenOffice.org. In fact, most of the Linux applications and tools are built with ease of transition in mind.

@Danarchy,

Yes, it's feasible and I have done these conversions myself. For a large company though, it might be better to switch them to Terminal Services or some type of VDI (virtual desktop infrastructure) and thin client terminals. The cost and pain savings are very high.

Linux will continue its soaring success in 2009. Yes, Linux is free and free is good but what about its other advantages over commercial Unix flavors and Windows? Here are the top seven reasons why Linux will continue to smash the competition in the face of the economy, the Cloud, and the smart administrator.

1. Frugality - In the Data Center or on the Desktop, Linux is a frugal choice for those who need to save space, money, and time. If you care about getting the most out of your current hardware, you need to take a very close look at Linux which still runs comfortably on standard Pentium II and Pentium III technology. Don't cast off your old hardware, put it to use. No need for continuous upgrades here. Bigger, better, faster, and more isn't spoken here.

2. Value - Even if you choose to select a commercial support option for Linux through Novell, Red Hat, IBM, HP, or Canonical, you'll have the best support and operating environment that your money can possibly purchase. The best operating system in the world backed by expert support--what else do you need?

3. Leveraged Skills - You already have people who know Solaris, AIX, or HP-UX? Congratulations, you have the necessary skills at your disposal to successfully deploy and support Linux in your environment. Linux is Unix. Sure, there are subtle differences but those are easy to learn. Rest …

I believe it was the original plan for Sony to install Linux on PS3's disk but the plan never materialized. They can run Linux but they don't come with it pre-installed.

Everyone wants to know what's going to happen in the new year as if anyone can accurately predict these things. However, one can deduce, with reasonable accuracy, that there will be innovations that are designed to get our attention. This is my list of Linux-oriented predictions for 2009.
The keyword for 2009 is Innovation.

1. Buyouts/Mergers - 2009 will see its share of company buyouts and mergers--all innovation-related. Larger companies will buy up smaller ones with innovative products and services. Many new open source millionaires will be created through these transitions.

2. Gadgets, Gadgets, and more Gadgets - This will be the Year of the Gadget and they'll be Linux-powered. You'll see dozens of new gadgets from phones to home appliances to weather stations come out in 2009 all designed to attract your attention and your money. Watch for rapidly falling prices on these little gems along the way too.

3. Virtualization - Linux-powered virtualization in the form of virtual appliances, virtual services, and hosted solutions are going to overwhelm even the most enthusiastic virtualization afficianados among you. I will have plenty of fodder for my Virtualization column at linux-mag.com as well as posts here on DaniWeb. I expect to see weekly announcements for new products, new services, and new companies popping-up to solve our problems.

4. Desktop Innovations - Ahh, the pet peeve of every IT jock in the business: Desktop Linux. Well hold on to your shorts naysayers, this is going to …

How 'bout a one button mouse?

Just kidding. Good post.

Today, December 26, is the first day of LinuXmas, the Festival of Distros. This three day, three night uber fest of booting new Linux distributions is a new tradition for geeky boys and girls around the world.

Here's how it works:

Download Live Linux CDs from DistroWatch, burn them or use a virtualization software to boot and discover as many new Linux distributions as possible. What could be more fun than that? You could also learn something about Linux in the process.

The current top distributions waiting for LinuXmas madness are:
1. Ubuntu - No surprise here and a great place to start.
2. OpenSUSE - Big surprise here--they didn't get the memo.
3. Linux Mint - Really nice distro for a Desktop.
4. Fedora - RedHattish and mostly cool.
5. Debian - A perennial top 10 and Father of many Distros.
6. PCLinuxOS - A very strong contender for your Desktop.
7. Mandriva - Those French have a different word for everything.
8. CentOS - My personal choice for a Server system.
9. Dreamlinux - Looks interesting with USB install and remastering.
10. Damn Small Linux - Awesome tiny distro!

These will get you started but here are a few others that you should try too in your LinuXmas celebrative efforts:

Welcome to the new series, Seven Ways From Sunday, that replaces the Crystal Ball Sunday Series. This new series focuses on a single aspect of IT management from an "in the trenches" point-of-view. Being in list format, it will help you, the busy professional, quickly absorb and assess necessary information.

In this introductory entry, I examine reducing costs--a theme to which I'll return repeatedly in my posts.

1. Linux - It should be obvious from the title of my blog that Linux is the primary focus here but it bears repeating. Use Linux to reduce your costs. This free operating system is powerful, less hardware hungry, and actively developed and continuously updated and patched.

2. Virtualization - Using virtual machines (VMs), reduces costs in hardware, power, cooling, and break/fix issues related to hardware. Pound for pound, virtualization shows the greatest savings of any other technological change you can make to your infrastructure. The big players in this field: VMware, Citrix, Sun, and Microsoft.

3. Open Source Applications - Office Suites, Accounting programs, High-end Graphics programs, and much more are available as either free open source or open source format. (Not all open source programs are free but all include the program's source code). These days you have a choice and oftentimes the choice is a free, well-maintained, and Microsoft-compatible application that offers freedom from licensing prison. The most notable among these is OpenOffice.org the world-class Office …

“Give me your tired, your poor. Your huddled masses yearning to break free.”
It's funny that on the same day that I wrote, Hey Apple, What About iLinux?, that Apple announced that they will no longer attend or participate in MacWorld Expo and Jobs won't deliver the keynote address.

I guess my little rant about abandoning the Mac OS for Linux doesn't sound so far-fetched now does it?

You Mac-addicted people can lug your iBooks to OpenSource World since your awesome OS is a combination of two open source systems (FreeBSD and Mach 3.0 microkernel). You'll be right at home and everyone will be glad to see you. This may be the end of MacWorld Expo but you still have a place to go.

While you're at OpenSource World maybe you'll beat your swords into plowshares and begin working toward a Mac OS X replacement that involves Linux. You oppose it now but soon you'll have to embrace Linux as Apple focuses more on what it's really best at: Gadgetry.

Remember that name, iLinux. Catchy and Applesque.

Call now to setup those hotel and flight reservations for OpenSource World: You don't want to miss out on the fun.

Poor marketing was their first and biggest mistake. MS grabbed the desktop market from them. They make products that can't be cloned or licensed by others and their overly-simplistic design irks me to no end.

Now, to me, they're just a gadget company that is wasting its time messing with an OS that has no future. No one else will adopt it and it certainly will never see its way into a data center. I see Macs/Apples as high-end, overpriced, toys for the less technical folk. I have never had good luck with their products (2 iPods that lasted less than 3 weeks each)--they are more like lemons than apples and would be better suited to falling from trees IMHO. I could go on and on. Not that I have a strong opinion about them or anything. ;-)

My suggestion is legitimate, though. They should use Linux on their stuff to grab a huge market share and perhaps truly contend with the Evil Empire.

Mac OS X 10.5.6 is out today. Are you excited? According to all the Apple-oriented buzz, it's a much-anticipated release. It has lots of fixes and some cool enhancements but do you want to know what would sell me an Apple product?
(And it isn't a hip new release of their current proprietary OS.)

iLinux.

iLinux would sell me more than one Apple product. In fact, if iLinux were a reality, I would rebuke all other hardware and software in favor of it. For now, iLinux is a figment of my own imagination. I think Apple should develop it for its fleet of products from its iPod to its iPhone, to its iBook, iMac, and iWhatever. Linux runs on almost anything and iLinux could power everything Apple.

It's shocking to me that Apple would abandon its old operating system for a FreeBSD/NeXT hybrid instead of using Linux as the foundation for its next generation OS X. FreeBSD is a good operating system. It's fast, secure, and developed by some great folks but the problem is that it is too "lunatic fringe" and not mainstream enough to be widely supported like Linux is. And NeXT (NeXTstep) was pretty cool but was plagued with problems of its own and never really caught on in a big way. So, why did they make the very odd anti-establishment decision to go the way they did? Only Apple can answer that for sure.

My first guess is that they wanted …

Trying to find something for your gelibte this year? Look no further, my Linux Geek's Guide to Hanukkah will help you make the right decisions.

1. Linux Journal - A subscription to the world's first Linux magazine is the gift that gives you Linux every month for a year. Only $29.50. Such a deal!

2. A Stuffed Tux - The world's Linux ambassador in the shape of a penguin. A great addition to help dress up that drab gray cubicle. 2 sizes: 6 inch for $6.99USD and a 9 inch for $9.99USD.

3. Neuros OSD Linux Media Recorder - A non-subscription, free TV viewer that you can hook up to your TV and watch YouTube videos. Uses a wide range of audio and video formats. A true open source media appliance powered by Linux. Perfect for your multi-media maven. Buy it from ThinkGeek.com for 25% discount: $179.

4. The $10 Answering Machine - If your besherte loves a challenge and tinkering with a project, buy him a $10USD modem and a link to the project page. Additionally, he'll need a Linux desktop computer and a few hours of solitude.

5. Asus Eee PC - For the mobile arbeter in your life, this diminutive mini-laptop is the perfect gift. He'll enjoy the long battery life, pre-installed Linux, and very light weight (2lbs). A wide range of pricing and models are available at large department …

I don't like to link directly to products because those links may change. I think it's better to link directly to the company site and allow the reader to search for themselves.

@peter_budo
Actually what happens is that when you go to motorola.com, you're sent to the site that corresponds with where you are...on mine it goes to motorola.com/us and yours goes to the UK site.

www.motorola.com doesn't lead to the UK anything. They aren't Unix-based, they are Linux based. You'd have to look at the specs for the units to see the OS, sometimes it will say OS 2008, GNU Linux, LimeOS, etc.

If you haven't bought that special geek in your life something electronic yet for Christmas, here are 10 ideas for you. They're all Linux-based and are sure to bring a smile to any geek's face. They are in no particular order.

1. Asus Eee PC - The new Eee PC 1000 boasts long battery life (6+ hours), a large keyboard, screen, 1 GB RAM, 40 GB SSD (Hard Drive) and 20GB of Eee Storage. Under $650USD.

2. Chumby - I don't exactly know what it is about this thing that makes me want one so badly--but I do. At $179USD, it isn't cheap but it's cool. A Chumby is a soft, Internet gadget thing that is an always-on Internet news reader, photo album, music player, weather, social networking, messaging thingy. Go take a look. You'll want one too.

3. MusicPal - A wireless Internet radio from FreeCom. Not only can you listen any one of thousands of radio broadcasts but also your own music and get live RSS feeds. It's almost a Chumby without the screen. 129EUR, if you can find one.

4. LimeBook - Beijing, China-based LimePC, the company, makes several different products but the LimeBook is the coolest among them although the LimeMobile comes in a close second. The LimeBook is a small format laptop much like the Eee PC but it is extremely energy efficient and can even run on AA batteries. Less than 2lbs …

In the old days, a mere 15 years ago, we said that the amount of printed knowledge doubles every 10 years--now, with the Internet and fast computers, it probably doubles every 18 months. That means just good info not fluff. Now add the fluff in to that.

@michinobu--

What do they have at your school? If you are using Linux workstations and they are slow, it could be something they are trying to do or the person who built them did it wrong.

I'd be glad to help.

If you've always wanted to create your own Linux distribution (distro), like I have, now you can by using a tool that was originally developed to create Virtual Appliances. SUSE Studio (still currently in alpha) is a web-based tool that helps you create Linux Virtual Appliances and complete bootable distros on CD/DVDs or USB drives.

Starting in early 2009, you can sign up for the beta version but to see the power of this tool now, you can pick up the January 2009 copy of Linux Pro Magazine complete with screenshots and a full description of its features.

You begin with a basic Linux installation based on OpenSUSE but you have lots of options to install all kinds of software and applications to make the ultimate Desktop, a cool Server system, or your very own branded Virtual Appliance.

How long does it take to build your very own Linux distribution?

About 20 minutes from login to download.

How large your distribution is depends on how many packages you install on it. If you're a minimalist, you can get away with under 600MB but if you get caught up in the process for a full-blown Desktop with KDE or GNOME, you could exceed 3GB.

Have lots of Blank DVD-Rs handy.

Not to worry, there is a Testdrive option that allows you to boot and use your new distro before you download it so that you don't waste valuable …

Whether the ailing economy is real or imagined, you might be looking for ways to shed some pounds off your bloated IT budget. You should seriously consider Linux and Open Source software to put your 2009 financial appetite on a diet. Here are 10 reasons to choose Linux in a bad economy and none of them have to do with the fact that Linux is free.

10. Value - Linux has value to a worldwide group of consumers. It runs most of the world's mission critical websites and is the platform of choice for server virtualization.

9. Less Hardware Overhead - You can still run world class websites, applications, and services on a machine that is outdated by today's standards. And you have the added bonus of being able to outrun those applications compared to their Windows counterparts.

8. Active Development - Linux is actively developed meaning that new hardware drivers are available as soon as a new device hits the market and improvements are being made on a daily basis to the kernel and supporting code. No need to wait two or three years for the next belated and bloated version from the other guys.

7. Choice - Linux gives you a choice to do things differently and better in your home, office, or data center. Having a choice is good for consumers because it means that vendors and programmers are trying to get your attention by creating quality products for you to use. Competition …

I've looked at GoodOS (gOS) before in two other posts: The Netbook Market Booms with Linux Onboard and Three Linux Distros to Watch and Use but now they've taken the lightweight operating system (OS) one step further with Taiwan-based manufacturer GigaByte.

The GoodOS team created a very stripped down, browser-based mini OS, named Cloud. Every netbook comes standard with Cloud and Windows or Linux as its locally installed "heavy" OS. You can boot directly to Cloud, use the Internet, rich applications, online applications, etc. and with a single click, you can boot to your "real" OS--either Windows and Linux.

The advantages to such an operating system such as Cloud are to extend battery life while unplugged, speed boot times, and to avoid locally installed OS problems such as viruses, spyware, and adware.

How it works: The netbook boots the Cloud OS in the foreground within a few seconds and allows you to get started right away. In the background, either Linux or Windows boots so that when you want or need to, you can switch.

Within the next couple of years, you'll see more manufacturers creating this same kind of environment for regular notebooks, desktops, and possibly even server systems.

I would like to have one of these Cloudbooks for myself since I spend most of my time in either a browser or a word processor. [Note to GigaByte and GoodOS: I'll be glad to supply you …

@DigitaLink
Ubuntu is very good. Some prefer a Red Hat-based distro to a Debian-based one so for them Fedora 10 is the bomb.

Thanks Markus. A print mag, eh? I can give you some insight into that if you want--costs, gaining readership, etc.

If it dies just after it detects the video card, try booting with
nousb

Fedora releases usually generate more yawns than a Ben Affleck movie for me but this time, they've gone the extra mile. I placed Fedora at number 7 in my 10 Best Linux Distributions post but now that I've seen Fedora 10, I may have to reorder the list and place Fedora at number 5 or 6.

Is this release really that good? Yes, it is.

With an improved boot process, much needed printing enhancements, and built-in virtualization; Fedora 10 is worth a serious look.

Its full list of new and improved features are:
1) Faster Boot Process
2) New Artwork and Themes
3) Faster and Better Printing
4) Better WebCam Support
5) Virtualization
6) Remix Capability (Roll Your Own Distro)
7) Fedora Ambassadors
8) An Intelligent Packaging System Interface (PackageKit)
9) Fedora Community
10) Fedora Spins

Ok, I think they're grasping a bit with some of those to get to 10 new and improved features but I'll allow it since Fedora 10 impressed me as much has it did.
But, I won't let them get away with "prettying" features like new artwork and themes. That has nothing to do with functionality, stability, or usability. As far as I'm concerned, that stuff is a grand waste of time for a team bent on improving the operating system.

Come on guys, focus here. You're trying to compete with the likes of Windows, Mac, and …

Steve Ballmer called Linux a "Cancer" in the past, ranted about patent infringement, accused Linux programmers of ripping-off intellectual property, and penned a deal between rival Novell to sell Linux.

Wait, that last one doesn't fit with the others.

Did you ever notice how someone is often mean or harsh to someone whom, deep down, they really like? When such a high-profile C-Level Executive so fervently rants against something, methinks he doth protest too much.

He says so many negative, nasty, and acrid things about Linux that there is only one possible answer: Steve Ballmer Loves Linux.

He loves it because it gives him something to rail against. Without Linux, there is no competition for Windows. Linux gives Ballmer an enemy--it gives him a target. Ballmer loves a good fight. He likes competition (He was a Harvard Football Manager) and he likes to mouth-off without restraint. Linux is good for him and he knows it.

Ballmer is polarizing, opinionated, and often weird but he is also very smart--don't underestimate him. He also loves Linux. He loves it so much that he was instrumental in creating the deals between Novell and Microsoft and Xandros and Microsoft.

Thanks Steve, we love you too.

For current systems, no. Where you save real money by using Linux is on refresh or new systems. Licensing fees are unreasonably high for certain OSs and applications. Linux will also save money in the future because soon most commercial software will be sold as subscription only.

Henry Ford, father of the mass production assembly line, would have hated Linux although embracing it today might help pull his company out of its current financial nosedive (Current stock price under $1.50 per share). Ford held 161 patents and if he were alive today, some of those might well be software-related--a very anti-Linux and anti-open source concept.

He also believed in the anti-open source religion known as consumerism and giving away something for free would be grounds for a good lashing, verbally and physically, from old Henry himself. He was also adamantly anti-union--a concept closely akin to the solidarity of like minds seen in many community-based open source projects.

A good financial advisor, another anti-Fordian entity, would tell Mr. Ford that he should minimize his capital outlay by using Linux and free, open source software programs to power his empire. My guess is, though, that he would toss off such a suggestion as "bunk" or "poppycock" and opt for the costly alternative.

So, why wouldn't someone like Henry Ford appreciate Linux and its status as a free and comparable product? Only Henry would know for sure but I think it's because he would consider it un-American, anti-capitalist, and non-revenue generating--probably associating with socialism or communism.

Using Linux makes sense both fiscally and conceptually for those who are cautious with their precious financial resources. Maybe Henry Ford wouldn't buy in to Linux and open source but surely Henry the Plumber who drives a Ford would.

…

Has your IT budget just taken a big hit for 2009? Many have. These desperate times call for desperate measures but don't worry these measures aren't nearly so desperate and they just might help you fix that ailing IT budget. All you need is a little creative thinking and some good people behind you--and these 5 things (in order of importance).

1. Linux - No surprise here since this is a Linux-oriented blog. Linux makes sense for those tightening those budgetary belts since it's free, robust, and stable. You can't go wrong choosing Linux for your IT infrastructure. It handles any job thrown at it and will significantly lower your IT bill.

2. Virtualization - Another of my favorite rants: Virtualization. The less hardware you have to support, the better. Virtualization diminishes your power consumption, cooling needs, and hardware refresh issues. And, if you use operating system level (OS-level) virtualization, you have nothing else to buy and you'll enjoy the best input/output (I/O) performance available for any type of virtualization.

3. Automation - The 4 syllable bane of every system administrator: Automation. Automating repetitive and time-consuming tasks makes good business sense and frees you up for higher level accomplishments. Don't fear automation; embrace it. Automate using shell scripts (because obviously you're using Linux or Unix), perl, python, php, or some other higher-level language. Just about anything you do at the command line can be automated.

4. Open Source Applications - Before you spend thousands on some …

You're right, an Apple ebook reader might be the ultimate device. And it would probably only have one button. ;-)

Thanks. Maybe Amazon will send me one.

It's been a year since Amazon released its Linux-based Kindle Ebook Reader into its online store and currently more than 200,000 people have purchased one. Are you going to join the fray at almost 400USD or wait for my bombshell?

I suggest you wait.

There have been several articles surrounding the little Kindle lately but the most interesting one is on ZDNet titled Kindle Economics. It's a good article but I think there's a better way.

Amazon needs to revamp the Kindle into a more reader friendly sized device, perhaps a 9x6 inch screen (The entire Kindle is only about 7.5x5 inches). I like portability too but come on--you're dealing with an aging population here--have a heart.

The real reason I think we should all wait before buying into the whole Kindle thing is that Amazon should actually give away these things or make them available at cost. How will they make money? Simple. Sell a book subscription with the device. It's kind of the same logic as the book clubs that we (or your parents) belonged to. You signed up to get 5 free books and promised to purchase 5 more books over the next 3 years. It was a win-win situation for everyone.

Here's what I propose for the Amazon Kindle: Give away the device or, as I said, sell it at cost and bundle it with a subscription for say 10 ebook purchases over the next …