Linux has been a popular server OS for many years. Expensive client licensing agreements are causing more and more organization to displace Window$ servers used for file, print, email, and Web services. There are many articles that contribute this switch from Window$ to Linux to the tough economic times, but it's really I feel, an overall greater awareness of Linux.

Linux on the desktop has always lagged, but is rapidly catching up to Micro$oft Office. The first and foremost problem keeping Linux of the desktop is the lack of a Micro$oft Office application for Linux. While StarOffice (http://www.sun.com/staroffice), the open-source OpenOffice (http://www.openoffice.org), and KOffice (http://www.koffice.org) come closer and closer to matching the Micro$oft Office functionality with each release, these office packages still are not Micro$oft Office. Corporations are looking for and demanding matching functionality between Micro$oft Office and the different office packages for Linux before they'll consider switching to Linux as a desktop OS. When you read "it's not Micro$oft Office" they're (corporation decision-makers) talking about the office package functionality for Linux compared to Micro$oft Office.

Different articles, I have read, have stated the following - that office packages (StarOffice, OpenOffice and KOffice) for Linux have greatly improved their ability to support the Micro$oft Office file formats, a crucial capability. And, as the compatibility for Micro$oft Office file formats improve, Linux will, one day, be considered good enough by more and more organizations. My response is here we go once again being brainwashed into thinking that when the office packages for Linux better improve their Micro$oft Office file format compatibility then Linux can and will be brought to the desktop as an OS. Whatever happened to the process of identifying the true costs, the cost savings, and benefits of a package (OS, office package, etc.) not just a file format compatibility issue. Once again there have been many authors who have been very misleading in stating it's a compatibility issue where in fact corporations are looking at the overall functionality of the office products not just the file format compatibility.

My question to all the file format compatibility critics is what ever happen to the seamless ability to share and exchange information? The Micro$oft Office file format is not the solution for sharing and exchanging information seamlessly! The office packages (StarOffice, OpenOffice, and KOffice) for Linux need to remain focused on creating the best quality functionality possible for the office desktop users. They need to provide more and more improved functionality. Effort needs to be focused on allowing an individual using StarOffice to seamlessly share and exchange information with an individual who's using OpenOffice or KOffice. Seamlessly exchanging information, what a trivial thought! Micro$oft's seamless approach is to save the document as text and then import it into other (other then Micro$oft) applications. Micro$oft talks XML out of one of there many sides of there mouth, and propriety formats out of the other. Imagine that?

I'd like my office package for any OS I decide to use on my desktop to open/save/save-as my word processor, spreadsheet or any other files as a XML document that can be shared and exchanged seamlessly across all office packages regardless of my desktop OS. What a trivial concept it is. If you don't believe it can be done then take a look at an application called Glade (http://glade.gnome.org). Glade is not an office package for Linux, but an interesting application that allows a user rapid GUI development for GTK+. Glade saves the user's work as a XML document. I want my office package to save all my work as XML documents! The critics also need to do a little testing on there own as to the file format compatibility issues between Micro$oft Office and the office packages for Linux reinforcing to there readers the cost between lets say Micro$oft Office and KOffice.

So in conclusion, Linux is ready for the desktop as an OS. What's keeping Linux from becoming a desktop OS? Nothing! The different office packages (StarOffice, OpenOffice, and KOffice) for Linux are ready for primetime use. Always look and compare the true costs, the cost savings and benefits before making any decisions. Don't be afraid to bring Linux to a desktop near you. StarOffice, OpenOffice and KOffice are great office packages for Linux and will bring competition to Micro$oft Office. A while back I was talking to a friend (I do have some friends) and I mentioned to him that he should think about using Linux as his desktop OS. I mentioned about the many fine applications and the cost. I knew he was a big fan of Micro$oft so I thought all my talk went in one ear and out the other. Then one day, just recently, I stopped by for a visit and noticed two laptops one his desk. Installed on one laptop was Micro$oft XP and on the other was Linux (Red Hat). I was amazed! He was using both machines to conduct his own research. I suggest if you're really interested in bringing Linux to your desktop(s) do your own research and then make your decision.

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