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Saturday, May 5, 2007

FON Abandons Microsoft, Adopts Ubuntu

FON founder and CEO, Martin Varsavsky (my boss) sent the memo below to all employees.

Dear All:

As of today Fon will disengage from Microsoft and adopt Linux in the Ubuntu form as our operating system of choice.

I would like to ask all Foneros to pls migrate to Ubuntu at your earliest convenience. As of next week Fon will not buy any more Microsoft licenses, nor install, service any new Microsoft programs on any existing computers. All the software we use will be Open Source unless a certain package we need is not easily available in Open Source format.

There are many reasons at Fon for dropping Microsoft. The first one and by far the most important is to save time. I have tested Ubuntu and Mac for about a month now and while I like Mac to play I found myself using Ubuntu more and more for work. Ubuntu has the look and feel of Microsoft, but it´s like a Microsoft software that works fast, that turns on and off very quickly, that installs programs very easily, that lacks that atmosphere of paranoia that surrounds Microsoft and that is extremely easy to learn and use. With Ubuntu I forgot about the computer and got to focus on the work at hand. This I could not do with Windows who through crashes and delays managed to remind me, all too frequently, that it was there. The second reason for the shift is savings. Ubuntu and all its associated software is free and not only will we save money on software but we will save money on computers as Ubuntu runs faster on a 2 year old computer than Vista on a brand new one. Lastly Fon already is an Open Source company and our software is an Open Source project called www.openwrt.org and we should support other Open Source movements/companies.

So the first thing that I would like those of you who are still using Windows at Fon is to install Ubuntu in the coming weeks. This is very easy to do. You download Ubuntu for free, you burn a CD with that file and you run the CD. If you are concerned about losing data you can back it up as usual before the install but once you install Ubuntu you will be happy to see that Ubuntu does not replace Windows but, instead, it splits your laptop into Windows territory and Ubuntu territory and that from Ubuntu you can still access all your Windows files. You decide how much memory you give each operating system. So the transition to Ubuntu is pretty painless and you can still go back to Windows every now and then if there´s something that Ubuntu cannot handle. To go back to Windows you turn your laptop off and turn it back on and choose Windows. During my first days with Ubuntu I was switching back frequently. Now I rarely do and in one laptop I erased Windows altogether and only have Ubuntu.

Once you have Ubuntu you will see that there are many free programs that are easy to download and install: you will find Skype, IM, Google Talk. Your Word, Excel, Power Point will work perfectly with OpenOffice. Ubuntu comes with Firefox and not Internet Explorer and this is great because you can then add Firefox extensions. One extension that you should download is Gspace to back up all your important data on line. Gspace sends your documents, pictures, etc to your Gmail account as files that can then be easily retrieved.

Now while the main objective in changing the computer guidelines is to avoid the slowness and complications associated with a Microsoft environment our secondary objective is to migrate all our work online so we cut another link that has caused a lot of problems in this company and that is the association between one person and a specific laptop. I would like all of us to migrate to an environment in which if you lose a laptop for some reason you are back on your feet in minutes. So Gspace is but one of the steps in the direction of having all your documents backed up online. Others are using Foxmarks so all your bookmarks are backed up online and using Gmail to constantly ask Fon for your e mail so your Fon e mail is backed up by Gmail. I also would like you to use IMAP on Fon so any computer can be your computer very quickly.

Zimbra, the software that comes with the Fon web mail is also very good and it has calendar and contacts. So does Gmail if you prefer to use Google tools. And if you would like to send your old e mail to your Gmail account you can try an experimental program web site that we launched today called Gmail Uploader that converts mbox files into gmail. This is a tool that we developed and are going to offer to others to use. This is a slow process but with this you will finally be able to search all your email. Until Gmailuploader old email is like having pictures stored in a box that you cannot open. Gmail will soon be of unlimited capacity and its great to have all your e mail in one site including your old e mail. If you have Microsoft Outlook you have to first install Thunderbird in Windows, and send the Thunderbird files to Gmail Uploader.

Yes I know some of you will read and worry. I know how hard it is to change. I used Microsoft for 20 years and until I had a terrible, fatal crash I did not change. Also Linux used to be very hard to use and people are prejudiced against it. But now it´s the perfect time to change because Ubuntu has made Linux easy and fast to use and because Microsoft has made Vista so complicated and expensive to upgrade to. If somehow you find you need help in this process please contact the local chapter of your Microsoft Anonymous organization ;)

I’m not completely new to Linux, but I’ve always kept it on my laptop or a “play” pc so my family could continue using Windows. I’ve decided to take the plunge and run Ubuntu on my home PC. That means my wife gets to use it too. Wow will she be surprised (should I tell her first?)! I’m going do it this weekend, I’ll report back on how it goes next week!

Posted by Steve Ross on Technology
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Steve, you made my day! What news! You should think about virtualizing Microsoft with vmware.
http://www.vmware.com/de/download/server/open_source.html
Easy to handle, for free to download and use, it helps you to install an ISO image of vista or your other windows operating system running on top and indepentely from Ubuntu. Easy! and working incl networking and so on. And you can run it at the same time with ubuntu just switching from one to another by mousemove. It saves a lot of time instead of shutting down and starting up again. Any questions? ask.
By the way: I am not working for that company, I just was so fed up with Redmond, that I was looking for ways to get back the power over my computer ...
Once you made this ISO of microsoft, you won't have any problems with crashing: it has a photofunction included - just one click and system is restored to an earlier date. And the ISO is transferable to any other computer, where vmware server or player is installed.
Best regards
Peer

# 1 | Sent by: Peer Wüschner – Saturday, May 5, 2007 (09:40)

I switched to Ubuntu at the end of 2006 when I bought a 50-Euro used Dell PC (Pentium IV 2800 512 MB RAM) without operating system on it.

My wife was using Thunderbird on Windows and now she is using the same on Ubuntu.
Best thing is that if I want let her look at her mail, I can switch users in less than one minute. With Windows it was 15 minutes to switch users back and forth.

# 2 | Sent by: Riccardo – Saturday, May 5, 2007 (14:43)

Wow, your boss is quite the director! It seems he is going forward with Ubuntu, problems be darned. I also think the reliance on Google is somewhat foolhardy, you guys might want to invest in a hosting service that you pay for to do your online backup and email.

# 3 | Sent by: Stefan – Saturday, May 5, 2007 (19:21)

Your gonna love Ubuntu, I used it almost exclusively until I had a severe hardware malfunction, now I'm stuck on someone else's windows machine until mine is fixed. Enjoy Ubuntu!!!

# 4 | Sent by: BlueB – Saturday, May 5, 2007 (20:24)

This move towards Linux is great news. If today had been April 1st I wouldn't have believed it.

Even more interesting is the suggestion that "Gmail will soon be of unlimited capacity". Is there any way to confirm that is is the case? GMail capacity is high, and constantly increasing, but I've not seen any suggestion elsewhere that it will soon be unlimited.

# 5 | Sent by: Roger Browne – Saturday, May 5, 2007 (22:50)

very interesting..I agree with Stefan to please be careful with Gmail. Since you're already partly using Zimbra, they also have an integrated groupmail (Postfix backend) for Evolution (needs a downloadable plugiN) or a web interface in Firefox which seems to get high marks from people. They also have a guide for installing it on a Debian or a Ubuntu server.

Also which version are you recommending, the LTS 6.04 Dapper Drake or 7.04 Feisty Fawn?

# 6 | Sent by: CA – Sunday, May 6, 2007 (10:01)

Great move from FON!
I use Ubuntu exclusively for about 2 years now and I have not regretted the move yet.
It is easy to use and makes the computing life easy.
But remenber it is not Windows. Take your time to get used to Ubuntu. Things work differently compared to windows, but once you discovered the advantages of the packagemanagement (Synaptic) you will fall in love with it and realize how easy it is to install/uninstall software.
Have fun!

# 7 | Sent by: Michael S. – Sunday, May 6, 2007 (11:27)

We have used Debian (almost Ubuntu, right? ;) ) where I'm working for a while now, and it is an amazing asset :) So congratulation on a smart choice, makes me happy about my FON router.

Martin must be heading a company of smart people; there isn't many organizations where I would dare send out such a note :) "Go to Ubuntu.org, burn CD, get rolling". Not even an email address of where to get help.

In any case, good luck, Martin!

# 8 | Sent by: Esben Mose Hansen – Sunday, May 6, 2007 (17:28)

I don't "use" FON so I might be missing something but how would/could my OS have any influence on the functioning of my WiFi router?
i.e. why would it matter to FON what OS I use.

E.

# 9 | Sent by: Evert Bopp – Monday, May 7, 2007 (13:14)

Evert - it doesn't. The move to Ubuntu as our OS has nothing to do with the way our wifi routers function. The reasons for the move are detailed in the letter from our CEO above.

# 10 | Sent by: Steve Ross – Monday, May 7, 2007 (17:48)

I tried Ubuntu on an old latop and found it great BUT installing new applications is not a trivial matter for non-techies. Windows has a simple installer that helps load in new programs without resorting to command line syntax. Linux/Ubuntu really needs to do the same and hide the complexity in loading new apps. Other than that it was alright - no better or worse than Windows as I did all of my work inside of Firefox. I now use a Mac Book Pro which is no better or worse.


My total experience is now online with GMail, Firefox etc.

# 11 | Sent by: Sam Sethi – Tuesday, May 8, 2007 (03:09)

Steve,

OK, I "missed" the intro. It just looked like an open letter to all FON users.
Point taken.

E.

# 12 | Sent by: Evert Bopp – Tuesday, May 8, 2007 (10:47)

Sam - what version of Ubuntu were you using?

# 13 | Sent by: Steve Ross – Tuesday, May 8, 2007 (12:39)

Here is an interview with the creator of Ubuntu. Fastinating...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke-kel9zOFo

For a link to get software:

http://www.ubuntu.com/

# 14 | Sent by: Alexei Budsan – Wednesday, May 9, 2007 (03:09)

Martin, congratulations. I have also recently switched from Microsoft to Ubuntu and have found it a remarkably painless and empowering experience.

Maybe this will help get FON more widely known in the UK?

Great Stuff!

Alan

# 15 | Sent by: Alan Lord – Wednesday, May 9, 2007 (14:06)

Sam Sethi: installing is not a trivial matter?
what are you using, perl scripts and sudo? synaptic is just as easy as any windows installer, as is the add/remove software option thats more for the ubuntu (debian) menu bar. please look around a little more, you'll find its as easy as it gets to install just about anything you want.

# 16 | Sent by: kneemoe – Thursday, May 10, 2007 (19:20)

Sam Sethi - try Synaptic package manager. You will soon see that installing software on Linux is far easier than in Windows. When you want a new Windows app installed you must first find it, then download and finally run the installer and sometimes even reboot. This is all gone away with Synaptic. Browse the vast collection of software available, mark it for installation and hit 'Apply'. No reboot required just start using the application. :)

Awesome news from FON!

# 17 | Sent by: mzilikazi – Thursday, May 10, 2007 (20:39)

I have to admit - a fascinating move!
Two things that struck me though...
1. Every employee will install the OS him/herself?
Is there no IT department or deployment policy around?
2. "...if someone looses his laptop..."
Don't tell me you're not working with a domain AND do a backup anywhere else than the personal machine?!
Any clarification on this one?

# 18 | Sent by: dante – Saturday, May 12, 2007 (01:37)

Would still like to see a windows version. 90% of the games and programs on only on windows?

# 19 | Sent by: Crashuk – Sunday, May 13, 2007 (21:52)

Yes, every employee does this him/her self. Of course there are lots of us around to help.

When I blogged about backing up my computer it was my home pc. I don't have an automatic back up on the PC my family uses. I used this experience in the blog because I thought this would be what most of our users are doing, home computers not corporate.

# 20 | Sent by: Steve Ross – Monday, May 14, 2007 (17:28)

I think the key point is "I had a terrible, fatal crash" but he left out "and I forgot to routinly backup important data". This little missing detail is probably the reason your boss is so energetic.

I have worked intensly with win/osx/linux/unix platforms and asure you they all crash. Either learn the Zen method for dealing with the attachment you have to your data OR BACKUP. Doesnt matter how many OS's you point your finger at, the answer is still the same.

# 21 | Sent by: cyphunk – Tuesday, June 5, 2007 (09:15)

I wrote about this as one reason I'm considering running a FON point on my site. (I tried sending a trackback to this article and was told "This TrackBack item is disabled.")

# 22 | Sent by: MJ Ray – Tuesday, June 5, 2007 (18:37)


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