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	<title>Comments on: The Big SMB Problem: Dropping Microsoft&#160;Office</title>
	<link>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/</link>
	<description>J_K9</description>
	<pubDate>Sat, 11 Oct 2008 12:01:41 +0000</pubDate>
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		<title>By: Jim barnes</title>
		<link>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-161142</link>
		<author>Jim barnes</author>
		<pubDate>Sat, 15 Sep 2007 13:25:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-161142</guid>
					<description>I agree that Office is the show stopper.  In my case the problem comes down to Access.  As far as I know there is no open source equivalent with the ability to import and export.  

CrossOver does not support Access 2003.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I agree that Office is the show stopper.  In my case the problem comes down to Access.  As far as I know there is no open source equivalent with the ability to import and export.  </p>
<p>CrossOver does not support Access 2003.</p>
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		<title>By: hari</title>
		<link>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-161245</link>
		<author>hari</author>
		<pubDate>Sat, 15 Sep 2007 16:02:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-161245</guid>
					<description>Back with a bang, eh? Where were you all this while? It's been months since you've been spotted online... :P</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Back with a bang, eh? Where were you all this while? It&#8217;s been months since you&#8217;ve been spotted online&#8230; <img src='http://wolphination.com/linux/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_razz.gif' alt=':P' class='wp-smiley' /></p>
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		<title>By: Hari&#8217;s Corner &#187; Blog perambulations - first edition</title>
		<link>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-161254</link>
		<author>Hari&#8217;s Corner &#187; Blog perambulations - first edition</author>
		<pubDate>Sat, 15 Sep 2007 16:13:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-161254</guid>
					<description>[...] who's been away for a while is now back with a bang! His new article The Big SMB Problem: Dropping Microsoft Office on why small and medium business prefer Linux as a solution and why there is resistance from [...]</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>[&#8230;] who&#8217;s been away for a while is now back with a bang! His new article The Big SMB Problem: Dropping Microsoft Office on why small and medium business prefer Linux as a solution and why there is resistance from [&#8230;]</p>
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		<title>By: J_K9</title>
		<link>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-161355</link>
		<author>J_K9</author>
		<pubDate>Sat, 15 Sep 2007 22:13:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-161355</guid>
					<description>&lt;strong&gt;Jim&lt;/strong&gt; - And I presume that OpenOffice's Base application either does not suit your needs or is too different and time-consuming to change to, correct?

&lt;strong&gt;Hari&lt;/strong&gt; - Hey! I know, I've been practising my disappearance act - apparently it's working quite well! :P</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Jim</strong> - And I presume that OpenOffice&#8217;s Base application either does not suit your needs or is too different and time-consuming to change to, correct?</p>
<p><strong>Hari</strong> - Hey! I know, I&#8217;ve been practising my disappearance act - apparently it&#8217;s working quite well! <img src='http://wolphination.com/linux/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_razz.gif' alt=':P' class='wp-smiley' /></p>
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		<title>By: jim barnes</title>
		<link>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-161366</link>
		<author>jim barnes</author>
		<pubDate>Sat, 15 Sep 2007 23:51:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-161366</guid>
					<description>My users do fine with Writer, Calc, and Impress,but not Base. (They are setup to save in the appropriate MS format).  Even KDE has not been a difficult transition for my "test group". 

Change is tough, even moving to Office 07, as you well know, creates difficulty.  I believe I could sell it if they could directly open and save in Access format, but I haven't found the answer.  

At the moment still using the current, outdated, and hopelessly insecure system.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>My users do fine with Writer, Calc, and Impress,but not Base. (They are setup to save in the appropriate MS format).  Even KDE has not been a difficult transition for my &#8220;test group&#8221;. </p>
<p>Change is tough, even moving to Office 07, as you well know, creates difficulty.  I believe I could sell it if they could directly open and save in Access format, but I haven&#8217;t found the answer.  </p>
<p>At the moment still using the current, outdated, and hopelessly insecure system.</p>
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		<title>By: leftystrat</title>
		<link>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-161490</link>
		<author>leftystrat</author>
		<pubDate>Sun, 16 Sep 2007 05:57:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-161490</guid>
					<description>We're in the alpha phase of a conversion.  We have Manglement Approval (you say it's FREE?), we have a great MIS team with linux users and non-users, and the willingness to make it succeed.

We settled on Kubuntu and Evolution, as we're using Outlook currently.  We're still up in the air over office suites, but I prefer Abiword and Gnumeric over OpenOffice (which has at least gotten faster).  

The CIO has signed on as a beta tester.  Mind you, this is the same CIO that has been making noise about upgrading to Office 2007.  I'd sooner upgrade to linux than face the horror described above.

The main question was why.
My answer is that I have had my last Windows crash, my last large-scale license purchase, and I'd rather be productive than messing with a flawed OS that only wants to be `helpful' or makes decisions about what media I can play for me.

I am one crash away from running Windows strictly as a VM on my all-linux desktop systems.

P.S. Today's Dilbert tip: use multiple monitors.  No matter what you do with them, people never fail to be impressed by someone with more than one on their desk.  If you have more than two, people's brains cannot comprehend what you must be doing, so they just assume you're incredibly busy AND incredibly smart.  This holds true for bosses (of the non-technical variety).


-lefty</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We&#8217;re in the alpha phase of a conversion.  We have Manglement Approval (you say it&#8217;s FREE?), we have a great MIS team with linux users and non-users, and the willingness to make it succeed.</p>
<p>We settled on Kubuntu and Evolution, as we&#8217;re using Outlook currently.  We&#8217;re still up in the air over office suites, but I prefer Abiword and Gnumeric over OpenOffice (which has at least gotten faster).  </p>
<p>The CIO has signed on as a beta tester.  Mind you, this is the same CIO that has been making noise about upgrading to Office 2007.  I&#8217;d sooner upgrade to linux than face the horror described above.</p>
<p>The main question was why.<br />
My answer is that I have had my last Windows crash, my last large-scale license purchase, and I&#8217;d rather be productive than messing with a flawed OS that only wants to be `helpful&#8217; or makes decisions about what media I can play for me.</p>
<p>I am one crash away from running Windows strictly as a VM on my all-linux desktop systems.</p>
<p>P.S. Today&#8217;s Dilbert tip: use multiple monitors.  No matter what you do with them, people never fail to be impressed by someone with more than one on their desk.  If you have more than two, people&#8217;s brains cannot comprehend what you must be doing, so they just assume you&#8217;re incredibly busy AND incredibly smart.  This holds true for bosses (of the non-technical variety).</p>
<p>-lefty</p>
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		<title>By: bumpy</title>
		<link>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-161873</link>
		<author>bumpy</author>
		<pubDate>Sun, 16 Sep 2007 11:31:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-161873</guid>
					<description>The solution was found years ago.  Don't tell employees they have to switch to Linux.  First let them install Open Office (or install it for them).  Let them see how much it is like what they are used to.   Say you want them to evaluate it (not a lie). Given MS Office 2007, you can now offer as an advantage the fact that OpenOffice is more familiar than MS Office 2007 is.

Once they are accustomed to Open Office, you can present Linux as just another way of getting at Open Office.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The solution was found years ago.  Don&#8217;t tell employees they have to switch to Linux.  First let them install Open Office (or install it for them).  Let them see how much it is like what they are used to.   Say you want them to evaluate it (not a lie). Given MS Office 2007, you can now offer as an advantage the fact that OpenOffice is more familiar than MS Office 2007 is.</p>
<p>Once they are accustomed to Open Office, you can present Linux as just another way of getting at Open Office.</p>
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		<title>By: Bob Lee</title>
		<link>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-161914</link>
		<author>Bob Lee</author>
		<pubDate>Sun, 16 Sep 2007 12:02:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-161914</guid>
					<description>"The Big SMB Problem:Dropping Microsoft Office". Their problem is finding good employees. When you work for a man work for him. If you don't like his personality, his management style, his working conditions, his wages, then don't work for him. Go somewhere else. But if you work for him then work for him.

Word processors are word processors and it's simple to move to another one and adjust to the differences. Any program has a learning curve and you can only learn by using it and using it's help programs.

These people should grow up.

Bob Lee</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&#8220;The Big SMB Problem:Dropping Microsoft Office&#8221;. Their problem is finding good employees. When you work for a man work for him. If you don&#8217;t like his personality, his management style, his working conditions, his wages, then don&#8217;t work for him. Go somewhere else. But if you work for him then work for him.</p>
<p>Word processors are word processors and it&#8217;s simple to move to another one and adjust to the differences. Any program has a learning curve and you can only learn by using it and using it&#8217;s help programs.</p>
<p>These people should grow up.</p>
<p>Bob Lee</p>
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		<title>By: helios</title>
		<link>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-162034</link>
		<author>helios</author>
		<pubDate>Sun, 16 Sep 2007 13:48:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-162034</guid>
					<description>I believe Bob might have something here...

LOL

My name is Ken Starks and am a Linux/FOSS Advocate.  Through Lobby4Linux.com and the enterprise we formed to support that endeavor, HeliOS Solutions, we are attacking this problem head on.

A year ago I was hired as a consultant to look at a companies system and recommend alternate measures.  Long story short, I was able to switch them to Linux and FOSS exclusively.  The motivation is the key here, and the motivation is usually sourced at upper management.  

I won't bore you with the details here.  In order to show a bit of respect to this blogger I won't post that link but suggest you Google "fired for using microsoft" it should be the first two hits.  I chronicled much of the change-over in a three part series.  Some will ask: "where's the third part."  Unfortunately, there are some legal issues pending and I am gagged until they are adjudicated.

Employee input is important, yes...but the inmates shouldn't run the asylum.  Again, I will allude to Bob's response and suggest that his proposal is about the best way to go about this.

Oh, I spoke of management motivation...?  The company I switched and ultimately accepted employment from for a year or so had been raped by a BSA invasion.  The CEO vowed to wipe every bit of Microsoft code from his 9 city corporation and with Linux, he did just that.  

Anger can be powerful when channeled properly...unfortunately, so can fear.

helios</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I believe Bob might have something here&#8230;</p>
<p>LOL</p>
<p>My name is Ken Starks and am a Linux/FOSS Advocate.  Through Lobby4Linux.com and the enterprise we formed to support that endeavor, HeliOS Solutions, we are attacking this problem head on.</p>
<p>A year ago I was hired as a consultant to look at a companies system and recommend alternate measures.  Long story short, I was able to switch them to Linux and FOSS exclusively.  The motivation is the key here, and the motivation is usually sourced at upper management.  </p>
<p>I won&#8217;t bore you with the details here.  In order to show a bit of respect to this blogger I won&#8217;t post that link but suggest you Google &#8220;fired for using microsoft&#8221; it should be the first two hits.  I chronicled much of the change-over in a three part series.  Some will ask: &#8220;where&#8217;s the third part.&#8221;  Unfortunately, there are some legal issues pending and I am gagged until they are adjudicated.</p>
<p>Employee input is important, yes&#8230;but the inmates shouldn&#8217;t run the asylum.  Again, I will allude to Bob&#8217;s response and suggest that his proposal is about the best way to go about this.</p>
<p>Oh, I spoke of management motivation&#8230;?  The company I switched and ultimately accepted employment from for a year or so had been raped by a BSA invasion.  The CEO vowed to wipe every bit of Microsoft code from his 9 city corporation and with Linux, he did just that.  </p>
<p>Anger can be powerful when channeled properly&#8230;unfortunately, so can fear.</p>
<p>helios</p>
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		<title>By: FreeSoftNews &#187; Blog Archive &#187; The Big SMB Problem: Dropping Microsoft Office</title>
		<link>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-162211</link>
		<author>FreeSoftNews &#187; Blog Archive &#187; The Big SMB Problem: Dropping Microsoft Office</author>
		<pubDate>Sun, 16 Sep 2007 17:04:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-162211</guid>
					<description>[...] Read more at J_K9@Linux [...]</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>[&#8230;] Read more at <a href="mailto:J_K9@Linux">J_K9@Linux</a> [&#8230;]</p>
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		<title>By: J_K9</title>
		<link>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-162256</link>
		<author>J_K9</author>
		<pubDate>Sun, 16 Sep 2007 17:50:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-162256</guid>
					<description>&lt;strong&gt;bumpy&lt;/strong&gt; - That solution does work in many cases, but just because most employees are obstinate when it comes to things like this does not mean that they are idiots. If you're going to take that approach&#8212;which is probably the best way of going about a switch, by introducing Open Source one application at a time&#8212;I think it's best to inform the employees of the advantages and of the switch itself as opposed to keeping them in the dark. It's true that they will oppose it more strongly once they know what it really is (and without knowing &lt;em&gt;why&lt;/em&gt; they are opposing it, apart from basing their opinions on the stereotypes they may have heard), but I think that forcing stubborn employees to switch is easier than forcing stubborn, &lt;em&gt;angry&lt;/em&gt;, deceived employees to switch. I do agree with you that that is the right way of going about it, although it's not a perfect solution.

&lt;strong&gt;Bob Lee&lt;/strong&gt; - I agree, but it's not that simple. These employees have been working at the company for many, many years. Then, one day, I come in for consultation and suggest a complete switch of their outdated, proprietary system to a more stable, secure, Open Source system. Even with the support of the upper management, the employees think it unfair that they are being pressurised into leaving behind the software that they have grown so used to switch to something which, at first, has no visible productivity advantages. Of course, if the management is strongly for the proposal then the switch will happen anyway, but the last thing that they want to do is unsettle the employees and cause them extra stress which they can then use to fight for a few days off work or a pay rise.

We're all human. I wonder if there's even such a thing as a "good employee." ;)</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>bumpy</strong> - That solution does work in many cases, but just because most employees are obstinate when it comes to things like this does not mean that they are idiots. If you&#8217;re going to take that approach&mdash;which is probably the best way of going about a switch, by introducing Open Source one application at a time&mdash;I think it&#8217;s best to inform the employees of the advantages and of the switch itself as opposed to keeping them in the dark. It&#8217;s true that they will oppose it more strongly once they know what it really is (and without knowing <em>why</em> they are opposing it, apart from basing their opinions on the stereotypes they may have heard), but I think that forcing stubborn employees to switch is easier than forcing stubborn, <em>angry</em>, deceived employees to switch. I do agree with you that that is the right way of going about it, although it&#8217;s not a perfect solution.</p>
<p><strong>Bob Lee</strong> - I agree, but it&#8217;s not that simple. These employees have been working at the company for many, many years. Then, one day, I come in for consultation and suggest a complete switch of their outdated, proprietary system to a more stable, secure, Open Source system. Even with the support of the upper management, the employees think it unfair that they are being pressurised into leaving behind the software that they have grown so used to switch to something which, at first, has no visible productivity advantages. Of course, if the management is strongly for the proposal then the switch will happen anyway, but the last thing that they want to do is unsettle the employees and cause them extra stress which they can then use to fight for a few days off work or a pay rise.</p>
<p>We&#8217;re all human. I wonder if there&#8217;s even such a thing as a &#8220;good employee.&#8221; <img src='http://wolphination.com/linux/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif' alt=';)' class='wp-smiley' /></p>
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		<title>By: Aasmodeus</title>
		<link>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-163515</link>
		<author>Aasmodeus</author>
		<pubDate>Mon, 17 Sep 2007 13:34:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-163515</guid>
					<description>It's up to the upper management to figure out how to manage the process.  After all, that's why they're managers.  It's all about managing the employees' expectations.  Have I mentioned management?

You are the technical consultant (I assume), not the management consultant.  I'd love to be paid as much as a management consultant!  You point out the reasons why they need to upgrade to Linux et al., and point out the benefits to the users, and let management figure out how to sell it using those talking points.

Be it team-building exercises, fun competition between fuddy-duddies and power-penguins, or what have you, they will need to build support from the long-existing employees if they (management) don't want mutiny or outright hostility.  This is a human problem, not a technical one.

Which brings us back to DOH.  Rather, back to management having to answer this one.  It's up to them, they know their employees best.

Also, if anything goes wrong (and it will), it's up to the management to figure out backup strategies, exit strategies, rollback strategies, communication strategies (with customers and employees), etc.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It&#8217;s up to the upper management to figure out how to manage the process.  After all, that&#8217;s why they&#8217;re managers.  It&#8217;s all about managing the employees&#8217; expectations.  Have I mentioned management?</p>
<p>You are the technical consultant (I assume), not the management consultant.  I&#8217;d love to be paid as much as a management consultant!  You point out the reasons why they need to upgrade to Linux et al., and point out the benefits to the users, and let management figure out how to sell it using those talking points.</p>
<p>Be it team-building exercises, fun competition between fuddy-duddies and power-penguins, or what have you, they will need to build support from the long-existing employees if they (management) don&#8217;t want mutiny or outright hostility.  This is a human problem, not a technical one.</p>
<p>Which brings us back to DOH.  Rather, back to management having to answer this one.  It&#8217;s up to them, they know their employees best.</p>
<p>Also, if anything goes wrong (and it will), it&#8217;s up to the management to figure out backup strategies, exit strategies, rollback strategies, communication strategies (with customers and employees), etc.</p>
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		<title>By: Tom</title>
		<link>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-164628</link>
		<author>Tom</author>
		<pubDate>Tue, 18 Sep 2007 06:06:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-164628</guid>
					<description>Here is one small idea, If the SMB did a TCO and came to the conclusion that Linux lowered there TCO If said SMB were to offer each employee a percentage of the savings for happily going along (give then incentive) with the cost cutting changes in mind. Then the employee would receive a larger Christmas bonus for a year or two.... The SMB would save the difference for the first year or two and all there after.

Simple give your employees incentive to want to switch! And 99.9% of the time it comes down to $$</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Here is one small idea, If the SMB did a TCO and came to the conclusion that Linux lowered there TCO If said SMB were to offer each employee a percentage of the savings for happily going along (give then incentive) with the cost cutting changes in mind. Then the employee would receive a larger Christmas bonus for a year or two&#8230;. The SMB would save the difference for the first year or two and all there after.</p>
<p>Simple give your employees incentive to want to switch! And 99.9% of the time it comes down to $$</p>
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		<title>By: J_K9</title>
		<link>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-164722</link>
		<author>J_K9</author>
		<pubDate>Tue, 18 Sep 2007 07:32:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-164722</guid>
					<description>&lt;strong&gt;Aasmodeus&lt;/strong&gt; - That is true, but you have not proposed a solution for the management. Team-building exercises and the like are all well and good, but that won't necessarily make the employees any more accepting of the switch.

I think &lt;strong&gt;Tom&lt;/strong&gt; has offered the best solution to this problem: offer the employees incentives. Whether it's a bonus or temporary salary increase, or even longer holidays, if the employees are offered incentives for staying on at the company they will almost definitely stay and learn the new system. If, as Tom said, the SMB found that the TCO of Linux would be less than Windows for them then they would be saving money in the long-term and, in the short-term, could use their savings to provide the incentives. So, they would not be losing any money and would provide the necessary advantages for the employees to help them be more partial to the switch.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Aasmodeus</strong> - That is true, but you have not proposed a solution for the management. Team-building exercises and the like are all well and good, but that won&#8217;t necessarily make the employees any more accepting of the switch.</p>
<p>I think <strong>Tom</strong> has offered the best solution to this problem: offer the employees incentives. Whether it&#8217;s a bonus or temporary salary increase, or even longer holidays, if the employees are offered incentives for staying on at the company they will almost definitely stay and learn the new system. If, as Tom said, the SMB found that the TCO of Linux would be less than Windows for them then they would be saving money in the long-term and, in the short-term, could use their savings to provide the incentives. So, they would not be losing any money and would provide the necessary advantages for the employees to help them be more partial to the switch.</p>
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		<title>By: kpdriscoll</title>
		<link>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-165072</link>
		<author>kpdriscoll</author>
		<pubDate>Tue, 18 Sep 2007 12:50:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-165072</guid>
					<description>It all boils down to complying with your client's requirements.  If the big corporations (or government offices) you do most of your business with operate with Word and Excel, most SMB's are not willing to risk document conversions.  It doesn't matter whether it poses an inconvenience or perhaps looks like a blunder when there's a poorly converted document.  Losing a large client over perceived incompetence is not worth the savings.  
Granted, staff re-training on not just the use of the software, but accurate conversion techniques is also a barrier.
Change the big fish and the smaller fish will follow.  Better yet, colleges encouraging open source apps will help break the training issue with attrition into the work-force.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It all boils down to complying with your client&#8217;s requirements.  If the big corporations (or government offices) you do most of your business with operate with Word and Excel, most SMB&#8217;s are not willing to risk document conversions.  It doesn&#8217;t matter whether it poses an inconvenience or perhaps looks like a blunder when there&#8217;s a poorly converted document.  Losing a large client over perceived incompetence is not worth the savings.<br />
Granted, staff re-training on not just the use of the software, but accurate conversion techniques is also a barrier.<br />
Change the big fish and the smaller fish will follow.  Better yet, colleges encouraging open source apps will help break the training issue with attrition into the work-force.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
				</item>
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		<title>By: jkl</title>
		<link>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-165174</link>
		<author>jkl</author>
		<pubDate>Tue, 18 Sep 2007 14:33:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-165174</guid>
					<description>Enter &lt;i&gt;there ain’t no such thing as a free lunch&lt;/i&gt; into Google to quickly discover, definitively, its true provenance.  Heinlein said it, sure, but not first, not by a long shot.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Enter <i>there ain’t no such thing as a free lunch</i> into Google to quickly discover, definitively, its true provenance.  Heinlein said it, sure, but not first, not by a long shot.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
				</item>
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		<title>By: Sum Yung Gai</title>
		<link>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-165885</link>
		<author>Sum Yung Gai</author>
		<pubDate>Wed, 19 Sep 2007 02:25:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-165885</guid>
					<description>Umm...scuze me?  If the boss says "we're doing X," and the employees whine, then fire the whiners!  This is not difficult, people.

Remember that not so long ago, "everyone" used WordPerfect.  Then the bosses came in and said "no, we're using MS Word now, if you don't like it, then quit, and if you don't get with the program, you're FIRED."  Guess what?  People got with the program real quick, since they like getting paychecks.

I know a tech writer that loved WordPerfect.  She came to work for our small, MS Office 2000-using company.  Every other day, I heard her lament to me "why can't this be more like WordPerfect?  WordPerfect makes so much sense!"  I finally got tired of it and invited her to suggest that to the boss.  She shut up real quick and got back to work.

The same is true of an OpenOffice.org migration.

--SYG</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Umm&#8230;scuze me?  If the boss says &#8220;we&#8217;re doing X,&#8221; and the employees whine, then fire the whiners!  This is not difficult, people.</p>
<p>Remember that not so long ago, &#8220;everyone&#8221; used WordPerfect.  Then the bosses came in and said &#8220;no, we&#8217;re using MS Word now, if you don&#8217;t like it, then quit, and if you don&#8217;t get with the program, you&#8217;re FIRED.&#8221;  Guess what?  People got with the program real quick, since they like getting paychecks.</p>
<p>I know a tech writer that loved WordPerfect.  She came to work for our small, MS Office 2000-using company.  Every other day, I heard her lament to me &#8220;why can&#8217;t this be more like WordPerfect?  WordPerfect makes so much sense!&#8221;  I finally got tired of it and invited her to suggest that to the boss.  She shut up real quick and got back to work.</p>
<p>The same is true of an OpenOffice.org migration.</p>
<p>&#8211;SYG</p>
]]></content:encoded>
				</item>
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		<title>By: J_K9</title>
		<link>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-166588</link>
		<author>J_K9</author>
		<pubDate>Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:17:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-166588</guid>
					<description>&lt;strong&gt;kpdriscoll&lt;/strong&gt; - With respect to your last comment, that is true, but it will be a few years before the new technological generation occupies a large share of the working sector. I also agree with what you said about document conversion, but I do think that the official converters do an outstanding job converting most files from ODF to DOC and vice-versa. However, if&#8212;as you said&#8212;the big fish make the switch to Open Source the smaller ones will soon follow, as is  happening in Germany and other countries which are converting to Open Source in a top-down approach. Government change is another push factor to Open Source which should not be forgotten.

&lt;strong&gt;jkl&lt;/strong&gt; - My apologies. I have now fixed the citation.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>kpdriscoll</strong> - With respect to your last comment, that is true, but it will be a few years before the new technological generation occupies a large share of the working sector. I also agree with what you said about document conversion, but I do think that the official converters do an outstanding job converting most files from ODF to DOC and vice-versa. However, if&mdash;as you said&mdash;the big fish make the switch to Open Source the smaller ones will soon follow, as is  happening in Germany and other countries which are converting to Open Source in a top-down approach. Government change is another push factor to Open Source which should not be forgotten.</p>
<p><strong>jkl</strong> - My apologies. I have now fixed the citation.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<guid>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-304485</guid>
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		<link>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-361355</link>
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		<link>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-528519</link>
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		<link>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-531069</link>
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		<link>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-534224</link>
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		<link>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-538832</link>
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		<link>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-549435</link>
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		<link>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-554644</link>
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		<link>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-605890</link>
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		<link>http://wolphination.com/linux/2007/09/15/the-big-smb-problem-dropping-microsoft-office/#comment-608399</link>
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