Why do schools not use Linux?

Answer 1

Nearly everyone uses Linux, but doesn't realize it. Linux is everywhere. Many devices run Linux "Behind the Scenes", including netbook computers, cell phones, tablet computers, routers, televisions, DVD players, MP3 players, GPS systems, and any device with Android. It is also popular on servers, especially Web servers.

Microsoft has been making deals with hardware vendors for years to ship it's Operating Systems. Approximately two years ago, a number of vendors decided to offer PCs without operating systems so that customers could install their own version of Linux. Microsoft quickly attempted to squash this movement, claiming that selling PCs without an OS will cause rampant piracy. http://news.zdnet.co.UK/software/0,1000000121,39261437,00.htm, plus Microsoft subsidies their OS with the vendors and spreads FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear,_uncertainty_and_doubt

Most of the other reasons stem from lack of options when purchasing a computer. IBM only sold their computers with MS-DOS, it was the only option. Most manufacturers now will only sell PCs and laptops with Windows installed. Couple that with the fact that most people have no idea how to install an OS, it is the same as with Windows, simply insert CD or DVD and click install, nor the fact that Linux even exists at all.

Further, Microsoft is a huge contributor, subsidies their software and stating a condition only their software is to be used at Universities, causing the Universities to centre their Computer Science courses around Microsoft products, meaning that future programmers are only programming for Microsoft's platform. The more incompatible software that exists, the more difficult it is for someone who wants to switch to Linux to actually do so.

Lot of people do not use Linux because using Linux would bring them out of their comfort zone, which is a false notion, because Linux is real easy to use and learn. Most users forced use Windows at work, school, and so take it home and have learned how to use computers through Windows. Even small changes are difficult for novice computer users.

One of the main reasons is that some programs can only be used on certain operating systems, but there are other programs that do the same thing or better in Linux, being a smaller player is catching up and is improving to the extent that today almost all programs can be used on Linux systems.

Linux has no real marketing department, so word by mouth is its marketing strategy. But once people get to use Linux they could be saving lots of money, because for the everyday user, they never have to pay for a OS license fee ever and can copy the OS to as many computers as they wish and never get sued. The same goes for the office suite, OpenOffice.org, it is free for taking.

Answer 2

It really depends on the location and the kind of curriculum the schools offer. You would not expect to see Linux machines in a school that primarily teaches software that only runs on the Windows platform.

Answer 3

On the contrary, lots of people use Linux. Novell estimated a few years ago there's at LEAST 10 million desktop users out there, and even estimated that minimum number was highly conservative and possibly not a realistic LOW deviation.

The trouble is unlike Windows or OS X, there's no reliable way to count Linux users or even to get a good estimate. A lot of people just go by user agent string rates on popular web sites but that's also very flawed. I expect about 2-8% of desktop users are Linux users, roughly the same amount as Mac users.

Note, this is on the DESKTOP. Outside the desktop Linux is utterly smashing the competition. Mobile is dominated by Android (Which is Linux.), majority of serious servers are Linux (Majority of internet servers are Linux.), as are supercomputers. On top of that, embedded applications go either to proprietary in-house stuff or Linux.

Even game consoles are going this way: The Ouya coming out in a couple of months is an Android device, and Valve's Steam box has all but been confirmed to be built around the Linux kernel.

Answer 4

• Most employees are probably not going to be familiar with Linux because its much less popular than Windows or Apple operating systems so they'll need time to adjust.
• Installing applications that are not listed in the official repository can be excruciatingly difficult especially for someone who has never used Linux in the past.
• Microsoft Office compatibility is there but it doesn't work flawlessly.
• If your employees are using Photoshop there might be some problems there too - Photoshop doesn't run on Linux and the alternative, Gimp, is famous for being difficult to use. A new version of Gimp called "Gimpshop" claims to have fixed this problem but its one of those apps not listed on an official repository so installing it is going to be a chore.

But aside from that Linux is free and can save your company a lot of money so I would recommend testing it out first and listening to feedback fromyour workers before you make a decision.