One of the most common objections to desktop Linux is fragmentation. With so many distributions, which one do you choose for serious deployment in a business environment? Given the amount of work involved in any desktop OS switch in terms requirements analysis, application selection, compatibility testing, integration with systems management processes, etc., you want to make sure that the horse you back represents a safe long-term bet.
Against this background, many would argue that the favourite distribution amongst hobbyists, Ubuntu, may not always be the right choice. Red Hat and Novell (with SUSE) in particular are often highlighted as being more ‘enterprise friendly’, both in terms of the tools and service surround that accompany them, and support from the enterprise IT supplier community in general.
But is this true? Is there a difference between the requirements of smaller and larger organisations? Does it depend on the type(s) of user involved?
We want to know your views on what matters when selecting a distribution for mainstream business deployment.
Let us know what you think in the comment box below or via our broader desktop Linux survey running over here.