The 'Ubunuts'

An area for OSCAR users using Ubuntu desktop for their office workstations. Jel Coward and Gunther Klein are leading this group.

Welcome 'Ubunuts' everywhere!

...we are NUTS about Ubuntu...

Index:

This page exists to encourage Ubuntu use in medical offices and to support physicians, midwives, physios, MOAs.....well just about anyone really, who want to run Ubuntu Linux on their workstations in their practice. Jel Coward and Gunther Klein lead this group and are fully fledged 'Ubunuts' with Ubuntu running all of their business processes, patient charting, scanning, printing etc.

Jel and Gunther believe that an open source EMR system should run on a network that is entirely open source in all its components. The OSCAR servers already benefit from an open source technology "stack" that serves as a platform for OSCAR: This includes Linux Ubuntu Server as the operating system, Tomcat as the web server, MySQL for database management.

On the network workstations OSCAR already makes use of Firefox as the open source application platform. We believe that it is only logical to replace the remaining pieces of the puzzle with open source components. Ubuntu Desktop is the one-stop shop to get this done. We call this the "All Ubuntu" solution.

And, by the way, our colleagues, locums and staff all love using Ubuntu too...

take the online guided tour at ubuntu.com

Why Ubuntu? Quite simply because it makes sense for our small businesses.

...but 'why is it better'?

Well, it does everything that other operating systems do, only usually better, faster, prettier and in a more stable manner
There is very little learning curve for users - if your users use Windows or Mac, they will be able to use Ubuntu within about two minutes - seriously (I just didn't tell my staff much other than that the computers had changed appearance a bit, and they seemed to not really notice!)
It is free, yes, you read that correctly, free, no charge, you can do what you like with it, no-one cares what you do!
it is stable (did we mention that above?)
Robust Security! At the local environment, Linux is by its nature, significantly stronger than Windows in terms of user and multi-user security. In addition, Ubuntu installs in a "pre-locked down" configuration, and uses centrally administered secure software repositories for new program downloads and updates, thus making the operating system highly resistant to attack by viruses, worms, trojans and other malware. Furthermore, the entire operating system kernel updates itself every few weeks. Even though a small number of Linux/Unix viruses have been written (just over 800 of them, compared to the 400,000 + Windows viruses out there), it is actually very difficult to write viruses for Linux servers or desktops that have any real chance of survival "out in the wild". You can confidently wave those pesky, virus checking applications with their associated license fees, setup hassle and processing overhead goodbye forever! If you are really paranoid about security you can of course equip your Linux machines with a capable open source, cross platform virus checker that is freely available, but the chances of actually getting infected are highly theoretical. If anything, the Linux virus checker might find the hidden malware in your Windows partition!
Word-processing, spreadsheets, scanning, printing, email, messaging, graphics, desktop publishing etc etc are all included, and are all free, naturally. You get the powerful open source LibreOffice suite pre-installed for free so you can keep working seamlessly with your MSWord and PowerPoint files. No need to pay real money for every single instance of MsOffice in running your office.
There is no need to manage any software licenses. For the business/enterprise user these software license fees add up to a significant regular overhead cost. (If you run Windows or Mac you had better be sure you have a license for each machine it runs on and that you can put your hand on that license, the 'software police' do come knocking, just ask Ernie Ball)
Files can be shared with Windows and Mac users, even on the same network, there are no barriers to interoperability
Beautiful and prominent checkboxes on your eForms by default
Advanced window management options: Set default window sizes to eliminate scrolling in OSCAR. Choose from a variety handy window switching / picking interfaces that make working with multiple open windows a breeze
Networking your workstations and printers is probably as close to "plug and play" as it gets
"...If it's good enough for Google..." Ubuntu is at work every day on thousands of desktops and laptops at Google Inc. Ubuntu is their choice of enterprise desktop OS on the strength of superior security and function.
Increasingly, large corporate and business users are claiming the advantage of the free desktop with Ubuntu. For example in 2010 and 2011 Ubuntu shipped pre-installed on $7.5 billion worth of notebook and desktop hardware, mostly to business users in Asian countries. Then there is German insurance company LVM Insurance, who have Ubuntu deployed on over 10,000 desktops; Consultancy firm CapGemini who are rolling Ubuntu out on 10,000 desktop in the next 2 years; Google, who have 10,000 Ubuntu-based desktops and laptops in use; and the Ministry of Defense in The Netherlands, who are using an Ubuntu-based client across a staggering 40,000 desktops. By running a free Linux desktop, the savings in software license fees and the gains in security for these enterprise users are significant. Ubuntu delivers these advantages in a convenient and user friendly package, that makes sense for smaller offices too.
With 20 million users around the globe in 140 countries and in 80 languages, Ubuntu is well supported by an active community. If you get stuck, a quick look at the Ubuntu Forums, or a Google search, answers just about all questions, and if not, well, that is what _we_ are here for!
It has 'cool' factor, no doubt about it, this is where computing is headed, riding the front of the wave comes with 'cool'!
For a quick look around, check out the guided tour of the Ubuntu operating system on the official Ubuntu site.

Just jump in! Ubuntufy your office work stations. It's easy:

Visit the official Ubuntu site to download your install copy of the Ubuntu Desktop operating system. The how-to instructions on the site are excellent too.
Get "Infrarecorder" to burn the Ubuntu write image to a CD, and burn yourself an install disc
With your freshly baked install CD in the drive, restart your computer, hold down Esc (or F4, F9 or F12 - check the bottom of your splash screen during boot up) to access the boot menu, and pick "boot from CD", hit ENTER

Follow the clear and easy steps on the Ubuntu install wizard. You get the option to partition your hard-drive to keep your existing Windows installation.
Start using Ubuntu. It's intuitive. You already know how to use it. You'll be hooked in no time...
...don't feel like burning an install CD? Just use the Ubuntu Windows Installer to install and uninstall it just like any Windows program
Using a Mac? No need to feel left out! Ubuntu installs just fine on a Mac too. There is even a home in the Ubuntu Forums for Mac users who have seen the open source light...

How to get help Ubuntu-izing your practice?

Look at the pages here.
Join the OSCAR User Group list and ask questions there. If you put 'Ubunuts' in the Subject line, we will be able to pick out your Ubuntu questions and get them answered faster.
Join your local Ubuntu LoCo (Local Community), these are official Ubuntu groups providing local fun and support. In Vancouver this is at http://www.meetup.com/ubuntuvancouver/ We have experience of Vancouver Ubuntu LoCo and it is a fantastic group of people, running events that are extraordinarily fun.

Come on in, the water is warm!

Jel and Gunther, the Ubunuts!

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