The Reluctant Entrepreneur : MICROSOFT Proof your business

Many years ago a direct mailer from the world’s richest man came to me. The mailer went of to say, “Blaise, if you do not want to wear a real pair of handcuffs, buy and use only originalMicrosoft products”.  That helped me decide to avoid Microsoft products.  Linus Torvalds had the same idea but he went one step ahead, he designed the LINUX kernel, a  software to match Microsoft's windows,  but made it free, open source was born.

Subsequently, when we were deciding how to go about building an enterprise software for our Company, our discussions evolved around the choice of operating software. Mr. Saha, the then Director at ETDC was promoting Linux, after discussing with him on the pros and cons, the decision was LINUX.

The easier decision could have been MICROSOFT's Oracle, Novel Netware and My SQL. In addition we would need windows operating systems and at the minimum windows office.  All this would have set us back a few lacs. Upgrades or new versions coupled with increasing number of nodes in the network would have added to the cost. All this would have been easily taken care with pirated versions. This is the route most small or start up businesses take.

By opting for LINUX we were actually venturing into uncharted territory. REDHAT LINUX, APACHE, Postgrace and Open office were free. Setting up and support were key issues.  LINUX did not install on any and every PC as it does so today. A change of mother boards was on the cards and technically sound people were required. Luck they say favours the brave and we got all the support we needed at the correct time.

In one case the money was being spent on an asset creation while in another it was for a CD. In one case handcuffs could be provided if we were not careful or freedom from the hand cuffs. 

Today, ten odd years later that decision has paid rich dividends. A compliance officer from Microsoft, called my office and took details unauthorisedly about the number of PC’s and also called up our hardware supplier. We, later got a mail from him, offering to help us transition to legal software assuming that we were using pirated copies. We did speak to him, after that he was clear that he had chased the wrong Company. We even got a polite notice from a Delhi law firm on the same issue, “anti piracy education” it is called.  Apparently there is a fine of 2 lacs and jail for using pirated software. They did not mention the invasion of our privacy. No one can call Microsoft and get information from any one in the organisation.

I am sure even today as people decide to set up, the last item on their agenda or may not even be on the agenda is regular day to day software. They will buy an office computer and for the boss a laptop and slowly increase the nodes as the Company grows. Despite the fact that pirated software is a well known issue no one worries about it. That is till Microsoft compliance officers come after you.

There are options which are not expensive, Ubuntu is a good example of a desktop OS, while Redhat can be an enterprise version. The standard accounting software Tally can be run using Linux Wine. Some propriety software necessarily requires a windows environment, buy the license. Rationalise the use, load all software using the windows environment on one system as far as possible. Instead of paying good money for windows office opt for libre office with similar functionality of MS office. If funds are not an issue try the apple products, lots of free apps available and graphics fantastic. The  advantage of a non windows environment, usually you are safe from virus and the blue screen of death. Change over if you are already running pirated windows, it is pretty simple, just needs the will.

Go ahead do an audit of your software usage, see where you stand. Either buy the license and sleep easy or switch and be free for ever.

Blaise Costabir