When would be a good time to move to Novell Linux Desktop?

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: DAVE KEARNS ON NOVELL NETWARE TIPS
10/11/05
Today's focus: When would be a good time to move to Novell
Linux Desktop?

Dear networking.world@gmail.com,

In this issue:

* Migration to Linux desktop decisions
* Links related to Novell NetWare Tips
* Featured reader resource
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Today's focus: When would be a good time to move to Novell
Linux Desktop?

By Dave Kearns

I recently took Novell to task over CEO Jack Messman's remarks
at BrainShare Europe about the coming release of Windows Vista
being the "window of opportunity" for Windows XP desktops to be
migrated to Novell Linux Desktop
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlnovell8332>. I still think
Messman talks first and thinks later, but other reports I've
gotten (from a number of you, gentle readers) help give a better
picture of Novell's strategy.

A number of you have said that the message you got from
front-line Novell people was that you shouldn't rush to move to
NLD, it's not ready for everybody's desktop just yet. The
general thinking is that late next year, when another revision
of the package is available with more "Windows-like" features,
better ease-of-use and more well-rounded functionality, will be
the time to start rolling it out to the masses. Serendipitously,
this is also the time frame when Windows Vista will ship.
Predictably, the Microsoft marketing machine will go into high
gear at that time promoting upgrades from Windows XP (and
earlier) to Windows Vista.

Well-respected analysts, though, are cautioning that the move to
Vista should be slow and deliberate - if you move at all. See
this week's Windows Networking newsletters for more on what the
Gartner Group and the Burton Group have to say about Vista
(you'll be able to read those newsletters online later this week
<http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/nt/index.html?rl>, if
you don't already subscribe to it).

The issue of training has also been raised as a discouragement
from moving to Linux on the desktop with NLD. Specifically, some
feel, users would prefer the familiarity of Windows to the
unknown depths of Linux. This would also require more expense in
training users on the less familiar system. But, as some have
pointed out to me, if you consider the differences in the user
interface between the last two Microsoft desktop releases
(Windows 2000 Professional and Windows XP) and extrapolate that
to the new UI coming with Vista, then even diehard Windows fans
will have a tough learning curve coming to grips with the new
system.

I would certainly encourage you to get at least one copy of
Novell Linux Desktop just so you can put it through its paces in
your test lab. You might decide it's right for your organization
now or, you might prefer to wait for the next release or reject
it and stick with Windows for your users. There is no "right"
answer, but your answer should be well-informed.

The top 5: Today's most-read stories

1. Symantec AntiVirus Scan Engine has serious bug
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlnovell8528>
2. How to solve Windows system crashes in minutes
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlnovell7734>
3. IETF effort promises fewer net failures
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlnovell8529>
4. Nortel's uphill battle
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlnovell8120>
5. You won't find this book on Oprah's list
<http://www.networkworld.com/nlnovell8530>

_______________________________________________________________
To contact: Dave Kearns

Dave Kearns is a writer and consultant in Silicon Valley. He's
written a number of books including the (sadly) now out of print
"Peter Norton's Complete Guide to Networks." His musings can be
found at Virtual Quill <http://www.vquill.com/>.

Kearns is the author of three Network World Newsletters: Windows
Networking Tips, Novell NetWare Tips, and Identity Management.
Comments about these newsletters should be sent to him at these

respective addresses: <mailto:windows@vquill.com>,
<mailto:netware@vquill.com>, <mailto:identity@vquill.com>.

Kearns provides content services to network vendors: books,
manuals, white papers, lectures and seminars, marketing,
technical marketing and support documents. Virtual Quill
provides "words to sell by..." Find out more by e-mail at
<mailto:info@vquill.com>
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Nokia
Empower Your Mobile Enterprise

Nokia believes that business mobility will fundamentally change
the way work gets done-and for the better. To allow the entire
organization to get the most from this paradigm shift in
productivity, Nokia Enterprise Solutions focuses on delivering
increased efficiency through enhanced mobility. Learn more by
downloading this white paper today!
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=117283
_______________________________________________________________
ARCHIVE LINKS

Archive of the Novell NetWare Tips newsletter:
http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/netware/index.html

Novell news page:
http://www.networkworld.com/news/financial/novell.html
_______________________________________________________________
FEATURED READER RESOURCE

IT PROS SHARE THEIR TALES OF MAKING ITIL WORK

Running an enterprise network is challenging. IT organizational
change can be even more so if managers don't balance efforts
proportionally across people, process and technology.
Implementing best practices frameworks such as Information
Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) can help, but they
introduce their own set of challenges. Click here for more:

<http://www.networkworld.com/news/2005/092205-itil.html>
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