In an effort to recoup the many weeks of inactiivity, allow me share a few items with you.
I had the pleasure of doing another Linux talk.
This time I spoke to a group of Computer Science headz at the Detroit -Black Data Processors Association.
It marked the first time I actually spoke to non-Linux geeks like me. It was quite refreshing and somewhat challenging to extoll the virtues of Linux upon a large contingency of M$ users. Nonetheless, the talk was quite successful.
You can peep the presentation here.
I think some of the audience were surprised that I did not have a background in Computer Science. I was very upfront with them. I explained that I am self-taught, and a very firm believer that we learn by doing. You cannot connect with technology without immersing yourself in it. The audience was fairly docile, in that I didn't get the typical windoze questions. I did receive the following question, "Isn't Open Source insecure ?".
Basically, I flipped the question and provided the anti-thesis. I posed the following question. How secure is the closed source or proprietary model ?
How often is your business forced to rid itself of unwanted viruses and trojans destined for your Microsoft Information Internet Server or Outlook email client ?
To coin a phrase by Eric Raymond, "If the source code is closed only the bad guys see it, if it's open the good guys will see it too." No further questions were asked about this topic.
BDPA was kind enough to invite me back for a follow-up talk. I the next conversation, I will compare the Open Source and Closed Source models. If you're interested in understanding the Open Source model, take a moment to review the essays published by Eric Raymond.
Last word: I will add the event pics to my photo journal in the next few days.
Hey Al, congratulations. It sounds like your presentation went off well. You should also keep in mind that IBM has invested a lot of time and money into Linux. Maybe you can also present some of their beliefs or information. Be aware of some questions that may come up at your next presentation like:
1. Even though Linux is a stronger OS than MS, why not use daddy of Linux, UNIX?
2. How do you make someone liable for something when it is open source? If my whole network is compromised, from an open source code whom do you go after for the mistake made?
3. Last question, it was a slick move for you to try and turn around the security question, but I am assuming you did not answer it. How secure is Linux compared to MS? You can't skate around the issue. I know UNIX is extremely secure.
A Linux/Unix is only as secure as the applications running on it. In other words, if a programmer has built a piece of software, and was not security conscious, he could unknowingly open a hole to the OS. The problem w/ windoze is that the kernel layer and application layers merge. Hence, it becomes very easy to hack a windoze box.
Now to answer your questions:
1) UNIX is proprietary, Linux is free.
GNU/Linux has only slight similarities to UNIX
Please see http://gnu.org
2) If a custom application was written for your business, you would go after the software architect. Most companies can 'hire' Linux professionals, and they would help secure the applications.
3) See the above for ans to #3.