Linux: Alternative in the face of law

Vishnu K. Mahmud, Contributor, Jakarta, vmahmud@yahoo.com

The word is out. The law on intellectual property rights (UU HAKI) is scheduled to come into force in July. Selling bootleg software and pirated movies will no longer be tolerated.

Companies using illegal software must purchase licenses for the operating systems and computer applications, such as word processors and spreadsheet software, utilized. Already, raids against illegal DVD vendors have begun in some parts of Jakarta.

Some segments in the Indonesian IT industry are criticizing the law, saying that enforcing the regulations would raise prices of new computers by Rp 2 to 8 million, depending on the software requested. Companies with a large number of computer systems that previously used pirated software may suddenly face hundreds of millions of rupiah in software licenses. They can perhaps try and negotiate with software vendors for a better price, but if money is tough, what can they do?

Before IT Managers consider jumping out the window in despair over costs, they should remember they always have an alternative choice: Linux.

The Linux Operating System is an "open source" platform, which supports software reliability and quality by allowing independent peer reviews toward the rapid evolution of the source code.

In other words, anyone who creates a program under an open source can have the actual source code, or a program in legible form, studied by other programmers who may contribute in making the application more reliable, efficient and robust. In essence, a chef can have his omelette recipe evaluated by other chefs to make sure he has the best-tasting omelette.

Linux has come a long way from being a geeks-only operating system to being an important backbone of the Internet. A rising number of servers worldwide are using Linux, which is freely downloadable online. It is also making inroads into the desktop market as well.

There are many distributions, or distros, of Linux. Basically, companies can take the heart of the Linux operating system, known as the kernel, and package it with a user interface, or desktop, and other software. They would then sell the operating system as well as customer support, which usually costs a lot less than regular "proprietary" software companies.

For example, U.S.-based Red Hat (www.redhat.com), perhaps the world's best-known Linux company, has a look and feel that is totally different then Suse (www.suse.com) from Germany. But they are both Linux operating systems, and they also allow users to download their operating system for free, without the customer support.

As such, there are literally hundreds of Linux distros in the world that can be customized to meet each individual's requirements. For a list and reviews of the available Linux distributions, check out DistroWatch at www.distrowatch.com.

Everyone has their own favorite choice of Linux distro. This writer recommends Lycoris (www.lycoris.com) or Mandrake Linux (www.mandrakelinux.com) for home PCs, since it is very user- friendly. Corporate users can use the aforementioned Red Hat and Suse, but IT managers should take a look at the new Ximian Desktop 2 (XD2) from Ximian (www.ximian.com), which provides one of the best graphical user interfaces.

XD2 can be downloaded for free, but XD2 Professional edition (US$99) comes with all the necessary tools needed for a business environment, such as an e-mail program and productivity suite. The popular Linux alternative to Microsoft Office, Open Office (www.openoffice.org), is also well integrated into XD2, allowing users to share documents worldwide as it also saves and reads MS Word format.

XD2 is perhaps an excellent alternative for companies to switch to, but like all other Linux products, there are some pros and cons to consider: Users won't be able to run Microsoft Windows-based software such as games or accounting programs (unless you obtain special emulation software such as WineX), there is a high learning curve to use Linux applications, and some peripherals or gadgets are not supported (you can't plug in certain digital cameras, USB drives or PDAs).

However, the total cost of ownership for a Linux is rather low, it practically has no virus threats that constantly pound other operating systems, IT administrators can centrally and uniformly maintain user software, and there are thousands of people worldwide willing to help find or create solutions for your problems.

There are quite a few Linux companies in Indonesia that are ready to assist and even create customized solutions for your business. Check out eLinux (www.elinux.co.id) or Linuxindo (www.linuxindo.com) to see what is available.

Changing over to Linux may not be an easy task, but you always have a choice in life. In this case, you can either pay an enormous fee for software licensing -- which may sink your company -- or comply with the law using Linux and evolve your business process using freely available tools.

The choice is yours.