Need software/config recommendations

[icee]

Hi - here is what I am contemplating:

I would like to configure a machine that will work like a productive office computer. I know that I can use Star Office for the office suite and that I can use the Gimp for the graphics package and Netscape Navigator for the browser. There are plenty of tools that can provide the simple utilities. BUT here is the clincher: I want people who are familiar with Windows 9x and Microsoft applications to be able to use this with almost no retraining!

It should be able to talk on a network that has TCP/IP, NT, and Netware servers on it. It would be beautiful if I can access all three of these kinds of servers but for my purposes all I really need is access to the TCP/IP part.

What do you recommend? What pitfalls may I encounter? I am considering Mandrake but could be persuaded to use a different distro.

I am a Linux newbie but work in an IS department and would like to show the powers that be that this O/S could work on corporate desktops. This is not an authorized company project and would be done on my own time and at my own expense.

[snivlle]

Hello:

After pondering your question I've come up with a couple of answers for two possible opinions.

1.] The software you've mentioned are fine choices; especially if you want non-commercial software. All those you've listed are very good quality. ( with the exception of Netscape - go with Opera or the new 0.9.3 build of Mozilla) Since the afore mentioned products all share intuitive design they shouldn't pose much of a learning curve for any savvy business office professional.

My second thought on the matter is this:

You could buy, yes, buy a high-quality office suite - HancomOffice for Linux for example - and lessen the learning curve considerably. It would facilitate an even more familiar interface for average Windows users.

It would seem to me that you are questioning us in order to help you decide if the adoption of FREE software is a viable solution for you commercialy. If a business is solvent, I personally would consider it decent of them to support the Open Source community. Through the purchases of professional grade business solutions, offered by some of the commercial "software for Linux" vendors, Linux can continue to grow as a valuble commodity in today's Information Technology evolution.

Any well administered Linux machine makes not only a tremendous File server, Router Gateway, Firewall, Proxy server, etc., it also can easily communicate with other computers on a typical Windows based LAN. Mandrake Linux is my personal Desktop preference within a Linux environment. It is stable, easier than most distributions to use, and comes bundled a good degree of current, proven software. Red Hat, of course, has a strong following in the corporate world; albeit those types of companies tend to take advantage of the more retail based support and technical help provided by Red Hat.

Originally posted by icee:
<STRONG>Hi - here is what I am contemplating:

I would like to configure a machine that will work like a productive office computer. I know that I can use Star Office for the office suite and that I can use the Gimp for the graphics package and Netscape Navigator for the browser. There are plenty of tools that can provide the simple utilities. BUT here is the clincher: I want people who are familiar with Windows 9x and Microsoft applications to be able to use this with almost no retraining!

It should be able to talk on a network that has TCP/IP, NT, and Netware servers on it. It would be beautiful if I can access all three of these kinds of servers but for my purposes all I really need is access to the TCP/IP part.

What do you recommend? What pitfalls may I encounter? I am considering Mandrake but could be persuaded to use a different distro.

I am a Linux newbie but work in an IS department and would like to show the powers that be that this O/S could work on corporate desktops. This is not an authorized company project and would be done on my own time and at my own expense.</STRONG>

[ 11 September 2001: Message edited by: snivlle ]

[ 11 September 2001: Message edited by: snivlle ]

[bdg1983]

I may be able to give you a little advise for Netware.

Part of the reason I originally decided to use Caldera's distros was their support for Novell Netware. I've heard that other distros can and may include some sort of ipx support, but Caldera has always included support for Netware.

Up to and including Caldera's eDesktop 2.4, they had nwclient and utilities and I had no problem logging into our work Intranetware 4.11 servers plus my one at home. Since we are now upgrading to Netware 5.1 and I have also done so at home, I found out that the current nwclient does not support NW 5.1.

I'm also now using Caldera's Workstation 3.1 of which does not include the nwclient software anymore. I have spoken to a few of their executives at Comdex this year and had quite a few emails from them regarding their continued Netware support.

Apparently since most companies are now using NW 5.0 and 5.1, Caldera decided to not include their nwclient and supporting software due to the fact that Novell now has ConsoleOne for Linux plus eDirectory 8.5.

I've installed ConsoleOne at home and it works great with my Netware 5.1 server. NW 5.1 also has nfs (as an option) so file access is not a problem. I can also use any browser to access the NW server through the web management portal.

Hope this helps.

Contact me if you need any further assistance with Netware and Linux.

[tansy]

I think the choice of Mandrake would be a good one. It's install is painless and holds your hand through the entire (less then thirty minute) affair. That, I hear is it's flaw as well if you are a seasoned user, but I personally like my hand held :D .

I would suggest the KDE desktop for virgin users as it is most similar to the Windows desktop.

I have not used StarOffice, but would assume it is quite useable. I use Kword and have few complaints (the one that does come to mind is no tool for envelopes, but it is a snap to create a document landscape and set the margins appropriotley).

Netscape is a Browser, although not my choice because it seems to always be a bit unstable. 3 of 4 times I close it I find I have to go into KDE System Guard and really kill it, as it often stays resident. I would suggest Opera.

Gimp rocks.

An NCPFS rpm is available for Netware, I have no history with it so I can not comment as to it's useablity.

The one caution I would stress is to make sure your printers are supported, and I mean REALLY supported. I own four printers (a HP laserjet Series II, a Lexmark 3200, a Canon BJC 1000 and a Canon BJC 2000) and only one has real drivers (the Canon BJC 2000). I can phoney the others, but the output is not acceptable.