For a small distribution company not dealing with computers (our products are water related -- usually quite unfriendly to electronic stuff), I think we have a rather high ratio of computers to employees. We have 20 or so computers, and 30 or so people, 10 or so of which will never have to touch computers.
Every now and then, we get to welcome new people to our company. Every now and then, we get to surprise them with our computing system. We only have 3 computers left running Windows XP -- the two inescapably must, and the last one just waiting to die and be reborn to Linux. Yes, the rest aren't Vista or Windows 7, or OSX, but all running Linux (Ubuntu distribution).
Every now and then, however, we still get hopeful requests for Windows in some employees' computers. This, even though they have been using Linux for more than a year already. It's not because Windows is inherently easier to use -- I have had a hard time using Vista (and harder time still to use Mac). More because of familiarity.
People here in the Philippines have been accustomed to using Windows (and Office) forever. Schools use them. Students use pirated versions of them at home. Where people work, it's more than 90% Windows (licensed or not). It's sometimes difficult to explain to them why we use Linux.
And so today (and last week), I got another request, that perhaps I can put Windows in an employee's laptop. The reason? The latest wireless broadband from Smart, Globe, or Sun do not support Linux.
I've researched some that Sun's wireless broadband is easy enough to configure under the latest Linux releases, but unfortunately, Sun's coverage leaves much to desire. Globe Tattoo and Smartbro however are a bit different. I'll have to do actual testing, based on successful reports by other ubuntu users here. But if I can't make them work, it wouldn't be Windows getting installed. It would be one or two less wireless broadband service to get.
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