JONTILLMAN.COM | part of the problem since 1976

Previously I have talked about issues with desktop Linux that I believe must be resolved before home users will adopt it. Most of these are not as much of an issue for businesses looking to make a move to Linux desktops. Hardware can be selected that willnot have driver issues, DVD playback is a priority feature in most business settings, and there are some neat things that corporate IT departments can do to make life easier, mostly involving automated patch management.

So, why hasn’t desktop Linux taken off in business environments? I really don’t think the fact that it hasn’t is indicative of any intrinsic problem with Linux, I believe that it is due to bad management - both IT and personnel.

Business computer users are some of the most conservative folks around when it comes to new ways of doing things. From the busy, deadline driven worker up through management, there is a point of view that goes something like

If X takes me 30 minutes to do now with old method A, and this other method B will accomplish the task in 5 minutes but takes an hour to learn how to accomplish, then method A is better by 35 minutes.

These users will end up spending hundreds of hours doing tasks with method A instead of “losing” an hour to learning method B. Never mind that method B would free up an entire working day every month.

IT managers, Linux desktop designers and distribution packagers actually make this worse in well-meaning but misguided attempts to ease workers into the transition from Windows to Linux. Dual-booting, staggered implementation and the utter nonsense of making the Linux desktop look like Windows only makes things worse.

Ther only way to successfully complete a systems migration is to take the users out of their regular jobs, force them to learn the new tools, and then completely take away the old tools before they return to their jobs. It’s ridiculous to do anything else. If the business has decided to make the switch, then make the switch and stop messing around with the IT equivilant of letting employees pick paint and furnishings for a new office.