NWA-PCUG Newsletter Article, March 2003
President's Column
by Dale Oliver, President
d_oliver@swbell.net
(click to email author)


February's meeting included the last topic in a series of presentations on Linux. We learned quite a lot about Linux over the past few meetings. We learned about the Star Office and Open Office software suites. We got to hear about SuSE Linux and see a live demonstration of it. We learned about the differences between Linux and Windows at the nuts-and-bolts level. We learned about some of the various "flavors" of Linux that are available for little or no cost. And then last month, David Hinds and I discussed the cost-effectiveness of building a Linux system versus a Windows system.

I feel that we have done a good job in touching on the main topics regarding Linux, so now that we are more educated in that area, we can turn our attention to other topics. If you still have questions about Linux, remember that we now have a Linux round table discussion/support group after the regular meeting presentations.

The purpose of the February meeting was to illustrate the difference in the overall expense of a computer when ordering typical Microsoft software products versus using Linux software products. The hardware used for comparison purposes was a Dell PowerEdge Pentium 4 at 1.8 GHz, 256 MB RAM memory, 40 GB hard drive, 56K modem, and network interface card. No monitor, mouse or keyboard is included in the prices quoted below.

We had a group discussion and club members identified a number of advantages and disadvantages of a Linux versus Windows system, which are given below. The prices quoted below include the software required to make both systems about equal in functionality.

LINUX SYSTEM: It was generally agreed that this level of hardware could be considered overkill for a typical Linux computer. The factory-installed operating system consisted of Red Hat Linux 8.0 Professional for $169, bringing the system price to $737.00. Ordering the Star Office 6.0 software suite from CDW would add another $66.67, bringing the total system cost to $803.67.

LINUX advantages: Low price. Stability. Direct communication with software vendors when problems and questions arise. The ability to run many Windows programs under Linux using software such as Crossover, WINE, vmware, etc. Kernel stability and security. Less virus problems. Numerous customizable user interfaces to choose from. Separate command line and graphical interfaces (as opposed to an emulated command line operating system in newer versions of Windows).

LINUX disadvantages: Software compatibility can be an issue if you own a lot of Windows software-not all Windows software works reliably when using an emulator under Linux. Requires learning and doing some homework. Not all hardware devices are supported (although it was pointed out that this is the case with newer versions of Windows, too). Product is not as mature as Windows.

WINDOWS SYSTEM: It was generally agreed that this level of hardware could be considered marginal for a typical Windows computer. The factory-installed operating system consisted of Microsoft Windows 2000 with Small Business Server (5 user limit) for $1,299.00, bringing the system price to $1,867.00. Ordering the Microsoft Office XP Professional software suite from CDW would add another $539.89, bringing the total system cost to $2,406.89.

WINDOWS advantages: Software compatibility is not an issue if you own a lot of Windows software. Newer versions of Windows are more stable than previous versions. Microsoft is a mature company with a good degree of staying power.

WINDOWS disadvantages: High price (the same computer costs two- and-a-half times as much as the Linux computer without the office suite, and three times as much as the Linux computer with the office suite). Not all hardware devices are supported in newer versions of Windows (although this is also a potential disadvantage with Linux). Software written for Linux cannot run under Windows. The graphical user interface is inseparable from the command line interface, and the only graphical user interface available is the one that comes with Windows.

That pretty much sums up the high points that were discussed at the meeting. In summary, with the Linux system, the vast majority of the system's expense is hardware related; with the Windows system, the vast majority of the system's expense is software related.

This month's topic will be the ever-popular general Q & A session. Be sure to bring your questions, and if you have answers, bring those too!

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