
Home Depot tests Linux for remote mangament of PCs 60
A Slashdotter wrote to us with the story about Home Depot testing Linux for an all-store roll-out. Due to the chain's massive growth, they are desperately in need of top notch remote management for all of their machines. Pilot-testing with Linux boxes is being down this summer.
Re:Home Depot (Score:1)
Yes, they do (Score:1)
This story was in one of their pubs 18 months ago, it may have been in _Memo to Mailers_, I fergit.
Personally, I crank out much of that junk mail that causes entire forests to be felled. If it wasn't for the low-rent Linux print spoolers that keep my laser printers busy, I'd be out of a job.
Remote Windows Administration? (Score:3)
Re:Linux == Unix, Linux != W2K (Score:1)
Good! Linux is proving it's value to business. (Score:1)
This should mean more jobs for competant technicians and support personnel too.
Soon, all will know that they don't have to put up with expensive and defective Operating Systems.
Re: Home Depot Sucks (Score:1)
I have no problem with placing the blame squarely on the company doing the cutting. If you're going to put blame on the person buying the end product from Home Depot (two levels removed), why not place it also on Home Depot themselves (only one level away)?
Thanks Home Depot (Score:2)
Good exposure.. (Score:1)
TRY WebMinRe:Linux == Unix, Linux != W2K (Score:1)
Re:They are flawed (Score:1)
I don't see why they can't issue a statement saying they care and sell wood from renewable or environmentally friendly sources. If they really do not, then I don't see why you have to dismiss people who blacklist them.
Re:I hope so (Score:2)
Re:They are flawed (Score:2)
Re:They are flawed (Score:2)
Re:Linux == Unix, Linux != W2K (Score:2)
From what I hear from the old Unix die hards, when it comes to comparing Unixen, Linux has the best feel. [lwn.net]
Re:They are flawed (Score:1)
At least as far as rain forest stuff goes, this is imho more futile worrying about this than worrying about animal (by)products if you're a strict vegan.
Do you check the boxes of new things you buy, to see if they were made in the US (in which case it's not likely that tropical wood was used to make the kraft, but clearcut wood from PNW, the South, etc.). But more often than not, what we buy wasn't packaged in the US, with US packaging. It was packaged with kraft made from other sources.
do you filter the chinese/asian restaurants you go to whether they use bamboo or wood chopsticks, because if they use wood ones it could be that they were made from wood in the Tsongas National Forest (big old growth temperate rainforest in Alaska), if not, then probably tropical woods? Etc...
So I bought a new wood front door there a couple of months ago. Yeah, it was made in Malaysia, with dougfir panels veneer on top of some sort of damn hard (and heavy) wood, probably tropical, but was it clearcut jungle wood? Was it plantation wood? I don't know.
Sure, I could have gotten a steel door, but the old door is only 77" tall. Steel doors only come 80" tall. Reframing the door was not an option, nor is really cutting a steel door. Nor was buying a good ol' American Oak Door for $1000.
Re:HomeDepot Sucks (Score:1)
In short it is cheaper, and crappier. I wouldnt built a house with it.
Matthew Hoskins
Hoskins Do-it Best Hardware and Supply
Manager/Co-owner
(we run Linux)
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bash# lynx http://www.slashdot.org >>/dev/geek
Matt on IRC, Nick: Tuttle
I hope they use Win95 (Byt i'm biased) (Score:2)
I own a Home center/Hardware Store in NJ. We have 4 (!) Home Depot's in our immediate area. And actually we're doing quite well.
We help and support all our customers.
We dont make you wait on line for 10 minutes.
We have almost everything you need, and can order the rest.
And... We run on Linux!
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Matt on IRC, Nick: Tuttle
Home Depot (Score:1)
It looks like they're making a good choice. Best of luck!
Cheers,
Vic
Pilot-testing with Linux boxes is being down this summer
.....hmm..you might want to edit that part, Hemos!
Then don't buy rainforest hardwood from them (Score:1)
Try that at your local computer store....
Re:Remote Windows Administration? (Score:1)
They could be using WorkSpaceOnDemand from IBM but nobody like OS/2. Even if it has the fastest Java on Intel. Then again, they would have to maintain it at the server which is at each location. Linux makes sense and in this case cents. I only wish Linux has a marketing/PR department....
Cool. (Score:1)
Re:Linux == Unix, Linux != W2K (Score:1)
Do-It-Yourself? (Score:1)
Home Depot (Score:1)
Re:HomeDepot Sucks (Score:1)
hard drives, hard drives everywhere (Score:1)
When I worked for Zenith Data Systems, if customers' laptops got a screwed up Windows config, we just sent them a new hard drive. It was cheaper and easier than spending hours on the phone troubleshooting driver configuration. In the same way, vendors like Compaq just have you re-image their system from CD-ROM, rather than reinstall individual components.
(By the way, the old hard drives most likely go back to HQ and get re-imaged
Because Linux is better and.. (Score:1)
Re:They are flawed (Score:1)
Go, Tivoli, go! (Score:1)
I for one wish they would hurry up with it - I'm a Tivoli hacker at IBM and *I* haven't seen it yet.
Re:Secondary effects (Score:1)
They know of many flaws (Score:1)
Re:HomeDepot Sucks (Score:1)
I agree with you... it's like I'm always saying, why do people always blame the poor, innocent cocaine dealers? Place blame where blame resides, in the Coca farmers that grow the plants, and the druggies who buy the end product.
Maybe blaming the stores that sell it IS putting blame where blame resides.
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"Sometimes you have to take an opposing point of view to make people understand you." - Moe Berg (paraphrased)
Re:Marketing/PR (Score:1)
Don't mind me while I don't rejoice... (Score:1)
Why Linux? (Score:3)
-_Quinn
Re: (Score:1)
Linux == Unix, Linux != W2K (Score:2)
You might as well say that Australians don't speak English, or that Mexicans don't speak Spanish. That argument evaporates when you confront the Aussie with Spanish or the Mexican with English. Spanish is non-English, and vice versa.
Likewise, if you try to tell joe-random hapless W2K victim that Linux isn't Unix, he'll either just laugh at you, or else get highly confused. To these Prisoners of Bill, Linux certainly is Unix in every meaningful sense. Linux and BSD are not non-Unix. CP/M, W2K, MacOS, and all the other abominations foisted off on consumers are non-Unix.
Why must we continue to be Pharisaic about all this? Call a spade a spade.
Re:Good! Linux is proving it's value to business. (Score:2)
Yes! We see a lot of articles out there that have the usual crap about how "More and more businesses are switching to Linux. Why? Um, cuz they think it's, like, better?" I prefer to read stories that talk about 1) a well-known company, 2) exactly what they intend to use Linux for, and 3) exactly what was lacking from Windows that made them switch. On the other hand, Home Depot hasn't switched to Linux, they're just considering it. But I'll be watching.
Re:Linux == Unix, Linux != W2K (Score:1)
I'd agree with you, except... Linux has Linuxconf. Unixes, like Solaris (The one I am most familiar with) don't have a tool like Linuxconf (Or, at least I haven't found it yet). I have spend many a night wishing for Solarisconf.
I hope so (Score:2)
Its funny that under their current Win32 model, they have to ship in a new hard drive for repairs. Wow. That seems like a huge waste to me. Hmm... maybe I should go to Home Depot and ask for some hard drives...
-Clmup
Re:Secondary effects (Score:1)
good news for the Linux job market
Exactly. I'm glad to see an increase in the deployment
of Linux. It means that in 5 or 6 years time, when
I'll be looking to start my career as a guru, there
should be plenty of opportunities to choose from
Secondary effects (Score:2)
We also have to consider the secondary effects of this move by Home Depot. Just think, that means they will be HIRING Linux gurus. This is good news for the Linux job market, and it's also great for people deciding whether or not to learn Linux. If a robust job market for Linux people is created, it can spell nothing but good news for the Linux community.