Is it worth learning Linux?

[coffee]

I am interested in the typical Linux customer profile:
Type of user Business or Private
Average # of machines per customer.
On site server? File sharing? Hosted or local email.
Just a Router or other networking equipment or firewall installed.

Since this is a site for computer service professionals, and given the OP's question, what's the business case for expanding deeper into Linux? We're all looking at expanding our businesses, is this a growth area versus other things we could offer?
I make money working on Windows, OS X, iOS, Android, BSD, and using some Open Source tools, but if there is money to be made from Desktop Linux, I want to know about it.

Since linux is a free operating system and all updates are free I get paid on installing and maintaining and then add ons like printers ect. I install Linux Mint with the mate desktop for my clients unless they have a preference.

Like I posted earlier, My typical customer for linux is older and wants to surf the web, get email and edit videos or pics. They really do not own a ipad/pod because apple doesnt like to share. However, Anything android works great of course. Most all cameras work great with it. When cameras and such are plugged in they are mounted as mass storage devices and pictures are found under the DCIM directory.

Usually I sell either Brother or HP printers as the drivers are readily available.

File sharing with windows works well with SAMBA. Onsite server is actually the strength of linux and it depends on what services you want to offer. However, I sell linux in the residential area not the Business area. Not that it cannot be done if your looking for a rock solid file server for instance.

Of course linux is compatible with any router and firewall device really.

I hope I got everything for you.

 

[coffee]

Wow, you have difficulty reading ?

"hundreds or thousands"​

No Sparky, I just have problems with your rude posts.

 

[altrenda]

I'm not totally unfamiliar with the strengths and benefits of Linux. My question was who would pay me to install and service it. It's great that you and Choppie have developed a clientele of older people who don't use their computers much. That doesn't work for me.

If I was to really learn the ins and outs of Linux, like you guys, is it worth the time and effort? When I decided to learn to work on Macs, I wanted to know at least as much as I did about Windows, and it paid off. It more than doubled my income, not because I charge more for Macs, but because at the time there weren't that many people doing it and we filled a need. It's why I'm not looking to learn more about servers, in my mind it's a shrinking market and there are lots of good techs servicing them. The amount of server work I run into that I can't handle is easily outsourced.

This is a long way of saying that I want to expand my business, I'm willing to spend the time to learn new skills, but there has to be a payoff at the end. I don't think there is a big enough payoff with Desktop Linux.

 

[NJW]

I don't think there is a big enough payoff with Desktop Linux.

You're probably right, in terms of ROI, both for investment in time to learn and effort to sell. Linux, like any other service, isn't right for everyone – provider or client.

I make substantially more per client from Windows users than Linux users. Not because those users are cheap, but because Linux just doesn't demand as much attention in the real world.

 

[Markverhyden]

I am interested in the typical Linux customer profile:
Type of user Business or Private
Average # of machines per customer.
On site server? File sharing? Hosted or local email.
Just a Router or other networking equipment or firewall installed.

Since this is a site for computer service professionals, and given the OP's question, what's the business case for expanding deeper into Linux? We're all looking at expanding our businesses, is this a growth area versus other things we could offer?
I make money working on Windows, OS X, iOS, Android, BSD, and using some Open Source tools, but if there is money to be made from Desktop Linux, I want to know about it.

I had several Linux customers 10+ years ago. Today I have none. In the past they were all SMB, FTP, etc file servers, never any Linux clients. What I have seen over the years is many app providers in the M$ ecosystem have implemented changes in their application space to insure that a native M$ OS file system is present. But have seen many business's using various *nix flavors. Pizzahut/Tacobell, last time I ran a call, had RedHat. A smaller retailer, The Limited if I remember correctly, were using SUSE. Harbor Freight used to use RH. They switched to M$ and promptly had a security breach. LOL!!!!

In the mid 90's, people like Torvalds, Stallman, Jon "maddog" Hall, etc, were proclaiming that Linux was going to bury M$. When I could, I attended the meetings of the Boston Computer Society (BCS) Boston Linux Users Group (BLUG). Talking to the other members it was a different story. These were the troops on the front line and understood the realities, especially with client workstations. No one believed that Linux would have a meaningful impact in the workstation world. But would in the server and embedded device world.

 

[OaksLabs]

... Linux just doesn't demand as much attention in the real world.

+1 for this. I use linux for some minor internal things, and it just runs, and runs, and runs. It is great as a server OS, and I use a gateway firewall device based off of linux.

But for home users....

Pro of linux: New PC builds can be $100ish lower than your competition because you won't have the cost of a COA.
Con: It has a high learning curve for the end user.

Pro: Maintenance is low.
Con: It is more complex to troubleshoot. Reloading the OS is almost always faster, so the market for tune-ups and infection removals dwindle..

Pro: Lots of open source programs exist.
Con: To get Windows programs to work, you can configure Wine (windows emulator) -- but it isn't an intuitive thing. You'll be spending time looking up and troubleshooting the configuration.

If you market yourself as a certified technician to draw customers, you can look into Linux+. Just working through the training materials might help you learn what you need to do.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

If you market yourself as a certified technician to draw customers, you can look into Linux+. Just working through the training materials might help you learn what you need to do.

Have you found linux clients coming to you? I would figure, any residential end users already running linux are computer enthusiast geeks that installed it themselves. Usually, anyone you find running *nix, is either a tech, or a super computer geek that surely doesn't need a tech.

 

[coffee]

I think those like me that have a love for linux will do good when selling it to the public. One of the nice things I like about it is that you do not have the cryptic error messages you do with windows. You have a log file that tells you exactly what is wrong. From there you can google (or better yet, use Startpage.com) and find answers. Remote support is my bread and butter on linux boxes. The idea I am working on right now is a reduced rate on remote support. I am charging 35.00 /hr . The reasoning is : Its a small amount and people are more apt to use it. If I priced it at say 60 / hr I would not get a lot of remote support. But people with minor problems will pay the 35/hr for minor headaches.

I have a great love for linux. I want to share it with the world. Its a great experience to see someone's eyes light up and a big smile when they see it and use it on their computer. Linux is a great O/S. Just have to figure out how to market it. Thats the big deal. There are those that will not bother because its not worth their time. Thats fine. But then there are the pioneers. I want to be a pioneer. Of course, There are nay sayers always in everything you do. But if you never try then how would you know?

As per servicing linux. I really do not have an issue with it. I dont consider myself 'special' either. Most all problems you will have with linux is because of hardware failures. Hardware driver issues - mostly see it in wireless chipsets. But, There is always a fix.

I would say - Download Linux Mint with the mate desktop and put it thru its paces.

 

[cypress]

I have pretty much been Windows my whole tech life lol but the flavors of Linux I have tried are Ubuntu and Mintu. I really like the way Zorin looks just because it has a similar look to that of Windows 7. This thread makes me want to get to tweaking on this stuff. I have 2 desktops that were given to be to dispose of. I think I am just going to install Mint on one and Zorin on the other and give them to friends that could use them. They just need it for basic online search and word processing which Libre could take care of.

 

[OaksLabs]

Have you found linux clients coming to you? I would figure, any residential end users already running linux are computer enthusiast geeks that installed it themselves. Usually, anyone you find running *nix, is either a tech, or a super computer geek that surely doesn't need a tech.

We have a competing business in our town that dual boots customer PCs with Ubuntu -- and a good number of them don't like it. Our most frequent request is to remove linux. We don't actually service it.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

I really like the way Zorin looks just because it has a similar look to that of Windows 7. .

If you're into "visuals" for the desktop environment, check out ElementaryOS....very sharp looking. I think it's the most visually stunning *nix distro.

 

[cypress]

If you're into "visuals" for the desktop environment, check out ElementaryOS....very sharp looking. I think it's the most visually stunning *nix distro.

Wow absolutely stunning! Definitely has the Mac feel to it. I am gonna run it on a VM. I think it looks great.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Yeah at first glance, due to the Dock on the bottom..has that MAC look. It's an unusually good twist of Unity desktop.

 

[kwisher]

Another plus for Linux is the cost savings for a customer who is still running XP or Vista. If they are not dependent on a particular Windows application, this is an upsell for me as they can still use their existing PC without the need of new hardware and the cost of the current Windows O/S.

 

[JoeTech]

I have mainly only used linux in the shop for data recovery or transferring data from a windows hard drive to an external. In over 5 years, only 2 people have brought in linux machines for help. They didn't even know they were running linux either as a friend had set it up for them and it finally broke down on them.

There just isn't any money to be made here in my area with residential customers. Nobody is looking for it and trying to educate older customers on switching to it, would just resort to troubleshooting why there solitaire game isn't working and would just be a waste of time and money I think.

 

[mr m]

I'm closing in on the end of a 39 year career fixing 'puters of all sizes and shapes. My biz has slowed waaay down and my interests have waned. I still enjoy the challenge of the fix but the passion and motivation has got up and gone. I want to go from high tech to no tech. Ironically, I'm not a fan of smart phones, smart TV's or social media. I'm probably one of the few Luddites here!

Still, when retired I'll probably install some form of Linux just to get me on the Web. I'm not happy where MS is heading with all these privacy concerns with Win 10.

 

[JoeTech]

I feel the same way mr.m. I grew up in the 80's loving technology and needing to have the latest and greatest of everything. Now with all the hacking and privacy problems with new tech, I have found myself hesitant to upgrade and just wanting something simple instead.

I really like linux mint and would love to use it full time, but stuck with windows because I need to use a lot of adobe products still.