Trying toget my Company to go Linux!

[cmt]

I work for a small Co.(10 people, 5 pc's, file sharing via XP) and am thinking of getting all the machines onto Linux.

Reasons for this are simple. Only one of the pc's has legit software on it (the others are all running the same installs) and to keep on the right side of 'the law' i am sugesting we use a 'License Free' OS.

Am i right in thinking that we will be able to do the basic networking, word processing, spreadsheets etc on a linux based system. There is nothing that we use that is specialist or window specific. is there anything a Linux system wont be able to do, or indeed do better.

I am on a limited budget hence the reason for switching as getting another 4 XP installs with Office etc is out of the question.


Thanks in advance!

cmt

 

[cmt]

One of the pc's is basically a file & printer server, with regular backups done and moved off site.



All of the software we run is excel, word, outlook, IE.



I would rather the Co did not run non-legit software hence the Linux queries,and we do not have the budget for making them all 'legit'

cmt

 

[cmt]

Running unlicensed MS software at work is very silly with the big penalties you could face, which would dwarf the cost of legit licenses

Hence the reasons for lookingfor an alternative.

 

[cmt]

how does Open Office handle office excel macros?

(i suppose i could just download it and try)

 

[cmt]

The main reason is that the chances are that the other users in the OP's office are not technical people, they are probably secretarial/admin types.
Changing the office suite is the lesser of two evils as far as learning curves go for non-techie (and probably techie) users Im afraid!

Also, OEM copies of XP can be bought for £50 a pop, you're looking at least double that for Office Standard.

Deffinately non techie types in the office.

Will be having a look at Open Office later if i get chance..