[plug] linux in industry

[Leon Brooks]

On Wednesday 27 October 2004 09:02, Alex Polglaze wrote:
> The reason that I ask, is that I was in a meeting yesterday with an
> accountant and his whole attitude was that Linux was only for nerdy
> computer people and that no real business was done on Linux.

Any target audience size in particular?

My sister-in-law uses it for her photography business:

    http://www.goldenlight.bur.st/

You're gunna laugh at this one, but none other than SCO are proud of 
their Linux PointOfSale systems:

    http://www.caldera.com/retail/

> Linux is rapidly gaining ground as an ideal operating system
> for POS devices. SCO has built retail hardened technology
> around Linux, based on its SmallFoot template, to create the
> ideal platform for next generation POS devices as well as
> rejuvenating existing legacy POS hardware.    

Linux PointOfSale penetration is rising by over 30% per annum in 
general.

The Old Firestation Backpackers in Fremantle runs 100% Linux public 
terminals and infrastructure.

The European Space Agency and NASA use Linux extensively, and the (US) 
National Security Agency have even made their own extensive Linux 
kernel modifications - but these all probably count as "too technical".

New Zealand's TSB Bank uses Linux. That's not technical, and it is in 
the finance field.

AT&T are considering dumping 70,000 (count that: seventy thousand) 
MS-Windows desktops for Linux, and Cisco Systems are following suit. 
Are they too technical?

The city of Bergen has committed to Linux, as has Munich, and Paris is 
seriously considering following them and the entire government of 
Brazil. Brazil will probably have ten times more civil servants sitting 
in front of Linux-powered PCs than Australia has civil servants full 
stop. Are they too technical?

DTS Logistics in the UK chose Linux over Microsoft. Is pulling boxes off 
shelves and driving them around in trucks too technical?

How about the US Federal Courts? You might think they're reacting to the 
recent comments by a Queensland prefessor on the insanity of running 
anything security-sensitive on MS-Windows, but the move's been afoot 
for over a year already.

Korean Air? The Burlington Coat Factory? The US Census Bureau? Boscov's 
Department Stores? How long a list of names is enough?

Do you want something more local? Have a chat with Perm-A-Pleat in 
Osborne Park. And buy a new uniform while you're there. (-:

And for a laugh (requires Flash):

    http://www.ubergeek.tv/article.php?pid=54

Cheers; Leon