Your shout
- Posted:
- 15:47 12 Mar 2004
- Topics:
- Operating Systems | Linux | Open Source Software
Have your say at computerweekly.com
On the untrained use of touch-pads by
children
In response to the letter about money being spent on IT in
schools without the provision of proper back-up (Computer Weekly, 9
March)
I have been reading the letter about infants complaining about
aching hands when using laptop touchpads.
They are lucky to have computers. I seem to remember having the
same problem when I was young back in the dark ages while using a
pen and holding it too tight!
I survived and I am sure they will.
Martin Hall, financial director, O Seaman & Son
On running Linux and controlling 'people
costs'
In response to David Hurley's comments on whether Linux can
rival Windows (Computer Weekly, 2 March)
David Hurley makes some interesting comments about switching to
Linux, picking up especially on the fact that Stuart Cohen said,
"Many users run only one application."
Although I agree with Hurley that many users run much more than one
application, most of the examples Hurley selects are also available
on Linux. The main place Hurley's argument would have merit is
where companies have in-house applications written in Visual Studio
or complex VBA automations.
I take issue, however, with his comment that the majority of costs
are people costs, and the implication that you cannot save with
Linux here.
It is lunacy to consider running more than one server application
per server with Windows. With Linux, the only applications that
need their own dedicated servers are DNS and firewall. The first
because it is a memory hog and the latter because anything other
than security software is a security liability. A company migrating
to Linux could easily halve the number of servers they need. If you
add to this the fact that the typical Linux administrator is
responsible for many more servers than his Windows opposite number,
the potential for saving on salaries is high, even if you are
paying the Linux guy twice as much.
And as for Microsoft's world-class applications - I spent my own
money on a copy of Corel Perfectoffice, rather than accept a free
copy of Microsoft Office from my employer.
Anthony Youngman
On the waning role of the IT director
In response to Mike Norris, who said the role of the IT
director is waning (Computer Weekly, 9 March)
Historically, it has not been easy for chief information officers
to demonstrate the value of IT,
especially when presenting to those who may not understand or care
how things are done, just that they get done.
However, as corporate governance appears on the agenda of every
chief executive and chief financial officer, CIOs may find they
hold the key to the compliant company of the future,
rather than simply providing a service to the business at the most
effective cost.
No one can deny that IT and corporate governance are linked. IT
governance could provide CIOs with the opportunity to help ensure
the legality of their organisation and to take a bigger and more
strategic role in the running of the business. But they will also
find their own heads on the block if it all goes wrong. Therefore,
they should act on IT governance now - ensuring that IT operations
are run efficiently to support and regulate the business - or face
the consequences of another Enron or Parmalat.
Solutions exist to help CIOs govern IT operations throughout the
enterprise - giving them measurement as well as visibility and
control over IT performance to prove that IT is aligned with the
business and delivering return on investment. For CIOs, IT
governance and its link to corporate governance is an opportunity
not to be missed, unless they want Mike Norris' predictions to be
realised.
David Harrison, managing director UK, Mercury
