Chapter 30. Business Desktop Linux: SLED
IN THIS CHAPTER
Migrating to Linux in large organizations
Commercial Linux desktop systems
Thin-client solutions
SLED special features
Future of SLED
SLED (SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop) is the version of SUSE provided to business customers by Novell on a paid-for maintenance subscription basis. Before looking at SLED itself, we examine the history of Linux as a desktop operating system and some of the problems that it faces in this area.
The vexed question of whether this year is the year of Linux on the desktop has been with us for some time now—so much so that "the year of Linux on the desktop" has become something of a joke or catchphrase.
As a desktop operating system, Linux is in third place in terms of users behind Windows and Mac OS. As far as home users are concerned, there is (and has been for years) a hard core of technology enthusiasts running Linux.
Until recently it was virtually impossible to buy a PC pre-loaded with Linux or a consumer PC without a pre-installed Windows operating system. That situation is changing. Major manufacturers including Lenovo and Dell have started offering consumer PCs and laptops pre-loaded with Linux. At the same time, a market niche is opening up for ultra portable PCs, ebook readers, and "Internet tablets." These devices are typically powered by Linux. For example, the Asus Eee PC is a low-end laptop with solid state storage and a Linux operating system. The one laptop per child (OLPC) project provides ...
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