Gartner urges firms to choose Linux users carefully
Novell's newly developed SuSE Linux client operating system has an improved user interface and features, but the high cost of migrating from Windows remains a major barrier to uptake, according to Gartner.
The warning comes after Novell's demonstration last week of the next version of its Linux client operating system, SuSE Linux Enterprise Desktop (SLED) 10, which it plans to ship during the third quarter of this year.
The demonstration coincidentally occurred the day after Microsoft announced a delay in the shipment of Windows Vista.
"Although this Linux operating system is much improved over previous versions, the cost of migrating Windows applications remains the main barrier to widespread enterprise adoption," said Michael A. Silver, vice president and research director at Gartner Research.
However, the analyst pointed out that SLED 10 has many new features which enterprises are likely to find attractive, including integrated desktop search, support for popular virtual private network clients and the inclusion of OpenOffice.org 2.0.2.
Novell has enhanced OpenOffice.org 2.0.2 with licensed fonts and Visual Basic for Applications macro conversion.
Gartner also pointed to improved plug-and-play for USB and Bluetooth devices as major steps forward for the Linux distro.
Silver explained that the most visible change in SLED 10 is a new user interface, which is similar to Macintosh and Windows Vista. "Compared with the new one, previous Linux user interfaces felt 'grafted on'," he said.
Included in the new interface are live icons during task switching, improved window animation, transparent frames and multiple desktops that make the screen appear like a 3D cube when switching between them," Silver said.
Gartner noted that to get the most from the new features Novell recommends a minimum 915 chipset.
Vista's graphics requirements are reportedly heavier for its more advanced features, although the forthcoming operating system is likely to include features not offered by Novell in SLED 10.
"SLED 10 is a positive step in the evolution of desktop Linux. But it will not run Windows applications, which means that migration costs will be high for users who require access to many Windows applications," said Silver.
Gartner advises enterprises to consider SLED 10 for users who have very limited Windows compatibility needs, adding that Linux is still "unlikely to be suitable for all users".
"If you choose SLED 10, be prepared to classify users and support more desktop diversity," the analyst firm warned.
Companies should also factor in Novell's annual maintenance fee for access to security fixes for any business cases they develop.
"Expect Novell's version of OpenOffice.org to be suitable for more users. But it is too early to determine its level of compatibility and fidelity with enterprise Excel applications and complex Word documents," said Silver.
Novell's newly developed SuSE Linux client operating system has an improved user interface and features, but the high cost of migrating from Windows remains a major barrier to uptake, according to Gartner.
The warning comes after Novell's demonstration last week of the next version of its Linux client operating system, SuSE Linux Enterprise Desktop (SLED) 10, which it plans to ship during the third quarter of this year.
The demonstration coincidentally occurred the day after Microsoft announced a delay in the shipment of Windows Vista.
"Although this Linux operating system is much improved over previous versions, the cost of migrating Windows applications remains the main barrier to widespread enterprise adoption," said Michael A. Silver, vice president and research director at Gartner Research.
However, the analyst pointed out that SLED 10 has many new features which enterprises are likely to find attractive, including integrated desktop search, support for popular virtual private network clients and the inclusion of OpenOffice.org 2.0.2.
Novell has enhanced OpenOffice.org 2.0.2 with licensed fonts and Visual Basic for Applications macro conversion.
Gartner also pointed to improved plug-and-play for USB and Bluetooth devices as major steps forward for the Linux distro.
Silver explained that the most visible change in SLED 10 is a new user interface, which is similar to Macintosh and Windows Vista. "Compared with the new one, previous Linux user interfaces felt 'grafted on'," he said.
Included in the new interface are live icons during task switching, improved window animation, transparent frames and multiple desktops that make the screen appear like a 3D cube when switching between them," Silver said.
Gartner noted that to get the most from the new features Novell recommends a minimum 915 chipset.
Vista's graphics requirements are reportedly heavier for its more advanced features, although the forthcoming operating system is likely to include features not offered by Novell in SLED 10.
"SLED 10 is a positive step in the evolution of desktop Linux. But it will not run Windows applications, which means that migration costs will be high for users who require access to many Windows applications," said Silver.
Gartner advises enterprises to consider SLED 10 for users who have very limited Windows compatibility needs, adding that Linux is still "unlikely to be suitable for all users".
"If you choose SLED 10, be prepared to classify users and support more desktop diversity," the analyst firm warned.
Companies should also factor in Novell's annual maintenance fee for access to security fixes for any business cases they develop.
"Expect Novell's version of OpenOffice.org to be suitable for more users. But it is too early to determine its level of compatibility and fidelity with enterprise Excel applications and complex Word documents," said Silver.
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