What You Will Learn

• How to get current information on software functionality and pricing
• How to deal with the various versions of Windows
• How to decide between using a PC and a Mac
• How to deal with Windows OSs and Mac OSs in the same shop
• What Linux is and why you should care
• How to deal with workstation software updates
• How to deal with software licensing

Introduction

You've heard of killer applications, but not killer hardware. That's because the real value of a computer system is the software. In other chapters of the book we examine the network operating systems software and enterprise resource planning (ERP) software. Here, we take a look at the desktop operating system (OS), Linux, as well as important issues to think about regarding software in large environments (deployment, testing, upgrades, etc.).

9.1 Software: How Do I Get Current Information on Functionality? On Pricing?

The Web is your best source for up-to-the-minute pricing data. Company brochures and literature are a close second. Most companies have both a Web and a paper version of product information. Web sites often include very detailed spec sheets about their products often in PDF format so that they can be easily printed.

Of course, with highly complicated and sophisticated products (e.g., an enterprise resource planning system), it might be impossible for the vendor to provide comprehensive information in a glossy brochure. In cases like this it could require research, reference checks, vendor briefings, ad presentations, and so on before you fully...