TNC Applied Technology has a client at the startup phase. Details of the company are currently confidential but they have the potential to grow very rapidly and have a strongly entrepreneurial style. During discussions about their short term and future needs, they voiced disquiet about being pushed down the relatively unknown Vista route, and were frustrated at the confusion of operating system versions, office productivity software versions, upgrades, anti spam, anti virus, anti spyware security requirements and the like. They eventually asked “What does TNC run?” after which they decided on a Linux server, similar to that described here for the infrastructure, a Dell desktop running Ubuntu Linux and a Lenovo laptop, also running Ubuntu Linux. They went for OpenOffice as their productivity tool, and have had considerable success in developing relatively complex business plans and business models, apart from day to day use. Firefox is used for browsing, Thunderbird for email and the browser-based eGroupware suite for common address books, diary systems and other collaboration tools.
The Lenovo laptop was set up with a fully encrypted hard disk for added security, all with Free software.
The two clients were supplemented by the excellent little Asus eeePC, also running Linux and OpenOffice, which is now used on business trips, leaving the laptop behind.
For added reliability, the systems are monitored remotely and system information sent to and managed by TNC Applied Technology.
The systems were designed not just for short term use, but also with significant expansion in mind, ultimately becoming a multi site system with many more users.
There has been some traction from a user uncomfortable with a change not perceived as a linear one, but the business advantages and cost saving over-rode these concerns.