Windows to Linux Migration: Now or Never

Posted by admin in Blog

Nov
12

I mean in the early days of Linux, Windows to Linux migration wasn’t an easy thing to do. The simple task of installing the operating system was so difficult that a few hardcore geeks did the move. But today, changing to Linux is easier than ever.

Easier Migration

First of all, the installation itself is more easy. Now, installing Ubuntu distro is so simple that slightly computer-savvy users can consider Windows to Linux migration. Here is link to a step by step installation guide for Ubuntu 9.10 where you’ll see that the installation is done within 5 installation wizard steps. So the days of Microsoft FUD campaign against Linux complexity are over. If you know how to install Windows, then you have enough knowledge to install Ubuntu.

Better Compatibility With Windows Software

90% of people user computers for email, Internet surfing and productivity software. All these three things can be done using Linux. Of course, when more than 25% of surfers using Firefox and that Firefox is available in most important Linux distros, a lot of people can make the change to the open source operating system. Also, email standards aren’t proprietary Microsoft standards which results in great compatibility between email clients. Evolution, the default email client for Ubuntu, is very similar to Outlook in terms of functionality. The big question remains around productivity software and the replacement of MS Office with OpenOffice. In fact, .doc and .docx file formats’ domination of the productivity market makes it risky to switch to the productivity alternative.

While OpenOffice becomes is more and more compatible with MS Office, the is a third option and that’s Google Docs! Google Docs has something to offer that Office doesn’t have: it is cloud-based, which means that files are stored on Google Docs server hard-drive. If you are working on the same file from multiple computers or if you work in collaboration with your team on the same file, Google Docs will save you a lot of time and trouble because all changes to a file are stored on Google’s server instead of being stored on your computer hard-drive. And guess what? Google Docs is compatible with Office file format.

New Computing Platform

The days of the traditional OS are counted because of the emergence of mobile devices and of cloud computing. With people spending more time one Facebook, Twitter, Gmail and Google Docs from their mobile devices, the need for a stronger browser will increase and the need for the operating system will decrease! What will happen is that the current client-server architecture of the Internet will go one step further with servers doing more of the things that used to be done by the client machine. This is precisely why Well, guess what: Linux is very well positioned to be a strong player in this new market because of its small size. This is precisely why Google is betting so much on Android and Chrome OS which are both based on Linux versions capable of running on very basic processors.

Until recently, most software producers have concentrated their effort on building software and device drivers for Windows. However, with the current transformations in the IT industry, more producers will deliver Linux-compatible software which will give more options to the consumers.

Price

This has something to do with new devices and cheap computers flooding the market. Back in the old days when an average PC cost $2000+, nobody thought of complaining about $50 the Windows operating system OEM costs. Today, devices cost as low as $200 and we will soon see basic PCs for $100 or less. When people can cut prices down 25 to 50% by not paying Windows license, things are going to look bad for Microsoft.

Conclusion

It seems that the current IT market structure goes in favor of Windows to Linux migration. This is because people can consider a cheaper alternative that is as easy to use and that offers compatibility with the Windows platform and that is also less resource hungry. I think that those who have considered turning to the open source platform take a shot at Linux and enjoy all the benefits.