Why I use Linux 4291

Well, yes. But that's not a difference between Linux and Windows. If Linux is going to replace Windows on the desktop it's going to have to cope with people who don't know what they are doing. That's going to include people storing files in the wrong place and installing programs that aren't pre-approved by a sysadmin.

It's not a problem at the site I'm currently managing. Nobody stores data files on local drives, nobody downloads and installs programs without checking. That doesn't apply everywhere and so cruft will accumulate. Again, that's a management not a technical problem.

It's possible to lock down a recent Windows system (or any UNIX like system) to stop naive users from becrufting it. But if you do that someone has to be able to unlock it when it's time to change the system. That's how UNIX systems have worked for years. But from now onwards there are going to be lots of people who buy their first ever computer at the supermarket, with Linux installed, and they will expect it to be no more difficult to use than a washing machine. Dealing with those people is going to make the newsgroups busy. Perpetual September is coming.

It isn't necessarily true for Windows systems either. I agree that any system that *needs* to be reimaged nightly is probably broken. I am recommending something similar for one site I manage, but the problems there would still be problems if we were using Linux. (I have been considering switching 900 users there from Windows to XP. I think Ubuntu will do the job.)

-- Bernard Peek London, UK. DBA, Manager, Trainer & Author.