From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Sat Jul 24 18:40:46 2004 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 80E2D16A4CE for ; Sat, 24 Jul 2004 18:40:46 +0000 (GMT) Received: from www.wcborstel.nl (wcborstel.demon.nl [82.161.134.53]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 8AD7B43D54 for ; Sat, 24 Jul 2004 18:40:45 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from jorn@wcborstel.nl) Received: from localhost (localhost.chello.nl [127.0.0.1]) by www.wcborstel.nl (Postfix) with ESMTP id C99398120; Sat, 24 Jul 2004 20:41:55 +0200 (CEST) Received: from www.wcborstel.nl ([127.0.0.1]) by localhost (www.wcborstel.nl [127.0.0.1]) (amavisd-new, port 10024) with ESMTP id 65777-01; Sat, 24 Jul 2004 20:41:55 +0200 (CEST) Received: from www.wcborstel.nl (localhost.chello.nl [127.0.0.1]) by www.wcborstel.nl (Postfix) with ESMTP id DBDAC80EB; Sat, 24 Jul 2004 20:41:54 +0200 (CEST) Received: (from www@localhost) by www.wcborstel.nl (8.12.10/8.12.10/Submit) id i6OIfsq2066062; Sat, 24 Jul 2004 20:41:54 +0200 (CEST) (envelope-from jorn@wcborstel.nl) Date: Sat, 24 Jul 2004 20:41:54 +0200 (CEST) Message-Id: <200407241841.i6OIfsq2066062@www.wcborstel.nl> X-Authentication-Warning: www.wcborstel.nl: www set sender to jorn@wcborstel.nl using -f From: "Jorn Argelo" To: "Aaron Benson" , X-Mailer: NeoMail 1.27 X-IPAddress: 82.161.134.53 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 X-Virus-Scanned: by amavisd-new at mail.domain.tld Subject: Re: Are you truly a M$ desktop alternative? X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Sat, 24 Jul 2004 18:40:46 -0000 > Hi, > > This email is going to any Linux house whom has pitched themselves via > their websites and reviews, from my research as being possible > alternatives to XP at this stage. Depends on your Google hit and > thereafter (if found within 2 pages) site FAQ's I suppose. > > As a currently dedicated M$ house (apart from Oracle Databases), we > question the move to a XP desktop amid the Linux hype in recent times. > Any IT department trying to save company money is only doing the right > thing and ask the question, what can Linux do for us? As mentioned before, FreeBSD is NOT Linux. Keep that in mind. > I've flipped through your FAQ's and over forums but result in no answer > for Active Directory 2K3 and Exchange 2K3 server client connectivity, > integration and functionality? Note that we have not moved to these > product versions yet. Hence this email. KDE's Kmail can connect to Exchange servers, I believe. As for logging into active directory ... That doesn't exist AFAIK. Perhaps there are programs that allow such things, but I wouldn't count on that. Windows is an excellent OS for integration with Active Directory. > I ask because I cannot see a server based centralised authentication and > administrative option in Linux. If there were, say a "centralised server > option" for Linux, this would be seriously considered. Is there a User > Manager equivalent (NT4 domain for example) or Exchange Administrator > equivalent (Exchange 5.5) "functional" alternative? More importantly, > 2K3 Server and Exchange integration? > Not AFAIK. > Failing that, connecting clients as above to M$ servers would be > sufficient. Stay with M$ in servers, go with Linux in desktops. I've > seen enough "glossy brochures" and want to know the facts. Again, you can't do this when you want centralised server option. > The cost difference is obvious. The functional difference is not. I've > still no reason to choose your Linux over Windows XP Pro at this stage. > Cost is not enough. Any sane IT department doesn't need screaming users > due to lack of pure functionality. Experience suggests most find it > difficult enough getting around the OS to even perform basic functions, > let alone usability. > > Assuming aforementioned functionality, where does your Linux stand with > converting between M$ Office 97/2K/2K3? Will our accounts department be > able to work with their previous 40Mb Excel files full of VLookups and > Formulas straightup, or is it going to be bigger than a Lotus 4.1 to > Excel 5 conversion debacle? > Of course Word,PowerPoint,Publisher and Access are questioned also. OpenOffice.org can do the job there, but a file created with OOo will be rather misshapen when opened with Excel and vica versa. So it's not advicable. > I'm talking up to 500 user desktops to be upgraded. Upgraded need not be > a literal word. Installing Linux from scratch would be expected. > Anything "upgrade wise" extra would be a bonus. > > Outside of M$ Office, current application functionality would have to be > trialed. This is expected. A list of currently supported M$ applications > would be helpful. > > Your detailed reply appreciated > So, for your needs, upgrading to Linux or BSD or whatever is a BAD idea, IMHO. Your employees and your desktops simply don't have any use of it, with the desires mentioned above. As long as you wish for integration with Active Directory, then an Microsoft OS is still the best for you. Cheers, Jorn. BTW, why don't you just write MS instead of M$? Most people here aren't extremely anti-MS like the Linux folks.