[plug] (Josh) library incompatibilities

[Leon Brooks]

>From http://www.zdnet.com.au/newstech/os/story/0,2000024997,20265644,00.htm

> Friends who work in IT have told me horror stories about having systems
> down for days while trying to work around library incompatibilities.

Yes, that sounds right. You _were_ discussing Windows, weren't you?

Why do you think the term `DLL hell' was invented? On Linux, simply install 
all of the libraries side by side and let the apps take what they want.

It sounds more like incompetence than a design issue, which is sad because 
before you over-reached, some of what you were saying almost made sense.

CyberSource is indeed a biassed source. Can you name a truly unbiassed one?

A small group of `Linux Heads' here in Perth are installing an LTSP network 
for a local State primary school, despite the fact that Microsoft software 
would be essentially free for them through State agreements. It will wind up 
costing them much less. Quote:

> Given there are only so many hours in a year, if the same number of
> staff are expected to maintain the same sized organisation, they'll
> either be working much longer hours, or the company will have to hire
> more staff.

Wrong.

Intel budgets one IT support person per 30 desktops, but they had a Mac 
section with 120 desktops and *one* unbusy support person. The City of Largo, 
Florida supports 400 thin Linux workstations (900 users) with *two* unbusy 
part-timers - and a few score Windows library machines with 8 FTEs. Linux is 
*different* to Windows. Get the picture?

> But fighting FUD with FUD leaves you with as much credibility as The Enemy.

This you did get right. Stick to your basic message and you'll do fine.

Cheers, Leon


Refs:

http://www.ssw.com.au/ssw/database/dllhell.asp                     (DLL Hell)
http://www.ltsp.org/                             (Linux thin clients for all)
http://www.k12ltsp.org/                  (school-specific Linux thin clients)
http://newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=01/08/10/1441239          (City of Largo)
http://www.cosn.org/tco/checklist/          (for schools but works elsewhere)
http://homepage.mac.com/mac_vs_pc/1.html (Linux & OpenOffice run on Macs too)