Deploy Linux desktops for non-technical users, says study

Stephen Withers
Friday, 22 May 2009 04:54

Business IT - Open Source

Implementing Linux desktops is easier than IT staff expect, a new study concludes. You just need to pick the right users.

A study commissioned by IBM and carried out by Freeform Dynamics found that Linux on the desktop was most easily achieved when first targeted at groups of non-technical users, such as those with moderate and predictable use of email and office tools.

"Some users care a great deal about their desktop computing environment and may be emotionally or practically wedded to Windows," said Dale Vile, research director at Freeform Dynamics.

"The trick is to avoid getting distracted by these, and focus on the users for whom the PC on their desk is simply a tool to get their job done. Migrating a general professional user who only needs to access a couple of central systems, an email inbox and light word processing is pretty straightforward."

This makes a lot of sense.

The level of interaction with the operating system itself is minor for most of these users - log on, run a couple of programs, and maybe delete the occasional file.

Consequently, the amount of training required if you switch them to Linux is likely to be about the same as if you installed a new version of Windows and Microsoft Office.

Discover the respondents' reasons for selecting Linux on page 2.