In Bexley Ohio, school district officials announced last week that they will migrate all computers to Linux from Microsoft Windows by 2010, apparently saving them $412,000. (This number should be argued, as I doubt they considered the true cost, but more on that later.) While this decision was based on a number of issues (cost being the primary motivator), it brings up the question that Steve Ballmer has been fearing: With the introduction of Windows Vista to the market, will this mark the time for organizations to consider migrating to Linux for their desktop operating systems? Will companies, schools, hospitals, etc. decide to take a closer look at Linux, while considering the time-consuming and costly process of upgrading to Windows Vista?

I’m not going to tell you it’s a good idea for everyone; however this does something very important by forcing us to evaluate the true cost of an upgrade. Not only do Vista (and Office 2007) require more memory and processing power but any other software programs you use will have to be compatible as well (see my post on Vista-Approved applications). That means, hardware, software, management costs (all direct and indirect).

While the Bexley school district was still stuck in the dark ages, using the worst operating system ever created (Windows ME), I have seen worse environments where more complex issues come to light. It is probably true, in this case, that Linux saved the district a sizable amount of money, but let’s hope they planned on supporting this new system with the knowledgeable people they will need. There are some excellent companies out there who specialize in particular vertical markets and support (and will proactively migrate and manage a Linux environment for you), but make sure you complete your due diligence.

One last note: One company I have worked with, who has a stellar Linux offering for the right environment, is Resara. Check them out and let me know if you’d like more information on their “Linux Thin Client.”