I can install linux with 32m ram 1g drive on an old computer. Name that OS!

[computoman]

Let's see windows 7 do this.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/LowMemorySystems
http://www.howtoforge.com/minimal-ubuntu-8.04-server-install

[tehboris]

Windows can't run on a PS3, WRT54G or NSLU2 either.

[computoman]

Yep and Vista will not work on nettops either (from the lips of Microsoft). Rumor has it that w7 is vista. or s/b vista-me. I suppose someone will prepare a tinyw7 like tinyxp has been done. Unless there is a perm fix to run w7 past its experiation date, I will bet a lot of people stop using it. It is also amazing how many ms fans are now being critical of Vista all of the sudden.

[gta_bmx]

Yep and Vista will not work on nettops either (from the lips of Microsoft). Rumor has it that w7 is vista. or s/b vista-me. I suppose someone will prepare a tinyw7 like tinyxp has been done. Unless there is a perm fix to run w7 past its experiation date, I will bet a lot of people stop using it. It is also amazing how many ms fans are now being critical of Vista all of the sudden.

Yep, a lot of folks will jump back to XP or Vista when it comes time to pay Microsoft $100-$150 to continue using Win7. Thank goodness for awesome free Linux. I fix people's PC's on the side. A lot of them don't have the OS disks or a COA on their PC, so I tell them if they want Windows, it'll cost $100 extra, but if they don't mind Ubuntu Linux, it'll just cost $50 for me to format and install Ubuntu. Not surprisingly, most opt for Ubuntu. Then I blow out the dust bunnies from their machines and put a Ubuntu case sticker on their PC and show them Firefox, VLC Player, OpenOffice. Another satisfied customer. Ubuntu, I love thee.

[computoman]

I have run into that with people having windows os and no licence or they said they lost it. They they want me to reload the os. No way. Down here people are ms oriented becuase of job requirements and the ms only network software clients required to run on their machines. I suggest linux, but really do not push it maybe as much as I should.

There are computer resellers that buy computers with xp in bulk and then resell them with the coa for xp on the systems for a hundred bucks or not much more in price. That is the real way to go if you have to get a windoze license at a good price. I did have to get a oem license for a customer lately, luckily it was on sale. Linux may not be perfect, at least one do not have to incessantly deal with always having to upgrade hardware, virus, spyware, licensing, and the yearly Microsoft tax when software upgrades are supposedly needed.

[gta_bmx]

Do you know how much MS charges for OEM copies of Vista Basic? Newegg charges $89 for the OEM, but I was wondering if I could get them cheaper direct from MS or one of their resellers. I couldn't find any prices on the MS website or on the reseller's websites. I guess I'll have to call one of the resellers. I wouldn't mind buying a 10 pack of Vista Basic if the price is right -- $60-$70 per COA.

My graphic artist pal designed a real cool case sticker for Linux. It's Tux the Penguin wearing a t-shirt that says "Ubuntu Linux" on it. The regular Ubuntu case stickers are nice also, but Tux just looks cool. Gotta love case stickers.

[computoman]

if you want to hook a windows box to a Microsoft server it gets even more fun:
assuming these prices are current and they may vary... correct me if I am wrong.
$1000 Server license
$0050 dollars back office license per station
$0050 terminal server client license
$0050 client os license per station
$0050 office license per station
or an average of $200 per station.
assuming 10 free client licenses
(limited external tech support included) The better your IT staff, the more money you save. There are a ton of free sources on the net to help with tech issues but the better ones are not free.This not including extra external support costs though. if your it staff is saavy. For a small business with 20 computers, iusing proprietary software it might cost

$3000 = $1000 + ($200 * 10) + ($0 x 10)
That is not including the cost of virus detection and spyware detection software.

For Ubuntu terminal/ldap/web server and open office and a ton of other open source software. (Assuming you do not need any tech support)
$0 software cost of server
$0 software cost of license per station.
Assuming a linux only network there is no need for any detection software.

External profeesional (s/b professional. A freudian slip.) paid tech support from various vendors is about the same. (Varying from $50 to 100 per station per year) external profession server support is extra and may or may not be included. the cost varies extremely. The better your IT staff, the more money you save. There are a ton of free sources on the net to help with tech issues.

$3000 dollars or $0 if you do not need external tech support.

It is your choice for a small business with 20 workstations.

Then we can talk about how much linux can save you in hardware costs. I was able to set up a 5 person office for under $500 which includes refurbished systems of 1 headless terminal server, 5 thin clients including monitors, cabling, two ups's, and network switch (but not including internet connection software and hardware.) Your mileage may vary depending on market prices at any given time and how much scrounging and horse trading you can do. Setting up refurbished hardware for a typical Microsoft refurbished system with 5 fat clients and 1 server properly licensed would have cost minimum of $1000+. I would dread the cost of a new system.