Linux for doing business

[OrangeCrate]

I'm always curious what people mean when they talk about "doing business" using Linux. What kind of business are you referring to?

I'm a lawyer and use Ubuntu exclusively on my desktop. I use Evolution for my e-mail client due to the built-in calendar, and my calendar stays in-sync across my various devices since the Evolution calendar recognizes my entries in google calendar. The lawyer that I collaborate the most with (who maintains her own firm) uses OpenOffice on her Windows computer, so we don't have any issues w/r/t compatibility. I typically send documents to my clients in .pdf format, because I want my clients' input on my documents, but don't want them to edit the documents themselves. [Actually, my pdfs CAN be edited, but most of my clients don't realize that.]

So, again, what kind of business are you referring to?

I could/should have mentioned in my previous post, that I do the same. In fact, it was the ability to create .pdf docs on the fly, that originally drew me to OpenOffice.org.

[mJayk]

interesting questions.

a few things though...



Libre office can read MS office documents. the only thing i can think of is that formating could be off in some cases or some specific excell sheets wouldn't work well. but then again there is export as option in ms office as well.


Thunderbird has plugin for calendar that is kind of unnoficial/official calendar for T. it works quite well so what would be the issue? remember how thunderbird ran out of ideas of what else to add to the client.

Sorry but for anything other than plain text libre office sucks at reading MS docs.

[mharv]

Sorry but for anything other than plain text libre office sucks at reading MS docs.

So then pay someone to modify it to work the way you want, pay (or continue to pay) Microsoft even more money for a Microsoft Office license, or do it yourself. Those are your choices.

[Tamlynmac]

mJayk
Sorry but for anything other than plain text libre office sucks at reading MS docs.

Or does MS Office suck at formating and exporting for Libre Office. All in one's perspective.

The difference is more philosophical, either you support companies whose sole goal is to profit from initial sale and every conceivable upgrade - or you support Linux/FOSS. As mharv points out, the source code can be copied, changed, studied and improved. IMHO that alone separates Linux from MS. Of course, the typical response to that is "I don't have time or the skill level, it's easier to just pay for the upgrades" which is exactly what Windows software depends on. Ask yourself why Windows products refuse to share their source code?

Why keep trying a different product if one's completely satisfied with their existing product? Either they have time to waste, are actually dissatisfied with the existing product or have an agenda. I'm always surprised when a user comes here to complain that Linux products don't play well with Windows or that (in their opinion) they can't compete with MS products. Yet they never discuss source code only existing product. One could pay a professional (or do it themselves) to alter the source code, or they can pay software companies to spoon feed them on a regular basis. Which choice does one believe (closed or open source) would grow faster, contain more creativity/imagination and improve user knowledge base - if supported equally? Once the door is opened to all users, I wouldn't be surprised if software advancements grew exponentially. Instead of controlled linear improvements, based solely on profitability.

Just my $0.02

[mharv]

In my experience a person who talks about business as something != technology know little about "linear" or "exponentially" aside from that math class they took that was "a waste of time" and something "never used in the real world". TCO is the only math they understand and the TCO is lowest by using Linux as a platform for ANY software (Unless the only purpose of your software is to support specific other software. If my entire business was to provide technical support to Photoshop users I would not train my representatives on Linux but my infrastructure damn sure would be).

[Tamlynmac]

mharv
In my experience a person who talks about business as something != technology know little about "linear" or "exponentially" aside from that math class they took that was "a waste of time" and something "never used in the real world".

Perhaps, your experience is flawed. I started my career in electron microscopy and later moved into the world or process engineering (design, integration and implementation). I've received security clearances and worked at both Los Alamos and EG&G Idaho. Then moved on (with a friend) to start our own contract engineering company. I understand that type of employment may be beyond your expertise or comprehension, but I'm certainly not going to waste time explaining them here. Nor, will I waste my time arguing or debating with anyone who believes it's wise to belittle someone unknown to them. That action alone, IMO speaks volumes about an individual.

I will unsubscribe from this thread rather than risk being penalized and you can post anything you like regarding my knowledge base, experience or intellect. As I have no need to impress or influence anyone on this forum. Guess, I just don't fell that insecure.

Good Luck

Just my $0.02

Quote of the day (Author Unknown):
"It's far better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt."

[mharv]

You and I understand each other but you're wrong and always will be. And as Tamylynmac points out "Either they have time to waste, are actually dissatisfied with the existing product or have an agenda." At some point all of us had no experience with an existing product to be dissatisfied with, so everything you said is contradictory. Why do you defend Microsofts agenda based on subjective experience? The question is the point, there's no need to answer it, it's just to point out your hypocrisy and motivations beyond the realm of TCO.

[coldraven]

What is it with sending .doc files? This is not 1998 anymore.
I think you'll find that pdf files are all over the internet, that might be a clue as to what format you should be using.
Libre Office does all that I need, all my invoices are exported to pdf.

[mastablasta]

LibreOffice has major problems with formatting and it is important to send correctly formatted documents while doing business.

Thunderbird and calendar - in my opinion you can't take seriously some unofficial plugin and deploy it and support it on hundreds or even thousands of desktops.

Any more information?

haven't really ahd any major porblems. we moved a book that had 280 pages form MS to libre. the only issue was bullets changed and some fonts were missing in linux but once i instaleld them it was all the same. it then got exported to PDF. here a good quesiton is what kind of formattign are you talking abotu and what kind of business? where i work we use windows (XP and 7). the only thing we get in ms format are contracts, sometimes some quality report and orders (in excel). they all look the same to me if i import them to libre office.

ah so it seem TB plugin is offical. well it works well for us.

So, again, what kind of business are you referring to?

exactly it depends on what kind of business we talk about here. in company where i work spreadsheets are mostly used. word docuemtns here and then but nothing major that libre office won't open nicely. which is why i do not understand the lingering on MS, since all products i use have good linux alternatives or
linux ports. i know R&D and maybe design studio might use some thing like photoshop, or some specialised porgrammes so they could stay on windows if they need to but for others...

furthermore i the company that sent space dragon ship to space is linux exclusively. NASA just announced they will move fully to linux. Peugeot i believ uses linux. Munich city uses it etc. etc. point is many use it. so how can they work if all is not compatible with MS office? i believe the office is not as important as some other windows based applicaitons (certian ERP , Photoshop, some CAD/CAM stuff and similar). exchanging documents is easy (as others mentioned - if you use PDF). so i guess in at this moment it really does matter what kind of company/business.

Sorry but for anything other than plain text libre office sucks at reading MS docs.

not really. depends how you set it up. it used to be like that yes, but a lot has changed.

[mharv]

do you people not understand what he's trying to do? Shut it down quick and don't give him the negative attention he's trying to get,