How to get more businesses to deploy Linux

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Have any ideas on how to get more businesses to deploy Linux in corporate environments keen to Windows.

I'd hit the little businesses first. Point out the lesser barrier of cost. Play up the fact that a linux distro is friendly in a recession environment.

Get them past the mindset of "no one ever lost their job buying IBM"...

Mainly, it would be a matter of education. I'm seeing more requests for Linux-savvy people out there.

Its bound to happen regardless. Linux is becoming a powerhouse in mobile electronics such as GPS, mp3 players, phones. Its also hugely affecting game consoles. The PS3 is linux based, and I think the wii is as well? At any rate, they all use openGL because windows directX is proprietary and microsoft would never licence it to the competitors of the Xbox system.

Embedded systems are hugely linux as well. As it becomes more common in everyday items, people will start to wonder why they are fighting to get windows to talk to their devices.

Looking at Zune and Xbox.. that is the extent of Microsoft's excursion outside the computer market. The Zune for example, is known to not even play nice with windows for some people. http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2 ... r-some.ars

Which is a shame, because devices like that are a great entry point to windows for new customers. Just as the Ipod is for Apple.

The real slug fest starts when google brings their operating system to market. Be confident, adept and positioned for a explosion of new linux users then.

My 2 cents.

Linux could conquer the business market if it did one simple thing....CUSTOMER SERVICE.

People want an OS that does what they want out of the box. If people marketing Linux distros to business would agree to a set price to come in, set up, and return as needed to debug any issues that develop, I think that would start the move.

Not that Microsoft couldn't do the same, but the killer of Linux is that people have to stop being lazy and opt to do the work to customize the distro to do what they want and most consumers would rather deal with bloated software that works with most anything they own and is easy to use than go to something faster and more stable if it requires them to actually (gasp) open the manual.

thats government, they couldn't change if there lives depended on it, I was thinking smaller business

Unix based OS is already more into serious industry than Windows.

Do you think they build cars and planes on Windows? No they use AIX and Solaris. Catia runs much better on 'stealth' IBMs with AIX than it ever would with windows.

Is Hollywood CGI done on Windows? Nope.

However it is still rarer for non commercial to penetrate these market. The reason is these companies just don't share copy left principles. Business is obsessed with patents, and until limited patent legislation is pushed through we will still have inefficient juggernauts propped up by patents (with technology they didn't develop) wanting similar software provider.

China might make a difference. They are more inclined to just go with what works.

It is true that solaris is now open source. Though it is less popular than before.

I say the main issue is getting people used to the linux desktop. For one get people to start running Windows in a virtual box for non-ported apps and linux as the main. Show them how Linux is a out of box experience and how well computer usage policies can be implemented on a UNIX based OS.