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...and not that crazy about using Windows!
The "Ubunut" stimulates your computer metabolism, eliminates unwanted IT toxins and waste products, protects you from viral illness and makes you (and your computers) look great!
The "Ubunut" is grown, matured and refined in an organically maintained ecosystem.....and it is even Fair Trade certified!
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 and Java as programming language.
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.
Why Ubuntu?........quite simply because it is better for our small businesses. But 'Why is it better'?
- it does everything that other operating systems do, only usually better, faster 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!)
- no viruses or anti-virus software that make computers run slowly
- it is stable (did we mention that above?) - it doesn't crash, unlike other operating systems
- 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 well supported by an active community - google 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' !
- there is no need to manage any software licences (if you run Windows or Mac you had better be sure you have a licence for each machine it runs on and that you can put your hand on that licence, the 'software police' do come knocking, just ask Ernie Ball)
- word-processing, spreadsheets, scanning, printing, email, messaging, graphics, desktop publishing etc etc are all included, and are all free, naturally
- files can be shared with Windows and Mac users, even on the same network, there are no barriers to interoperability
- there can be as many desktops as you want on any machine......and you can do this ......perhaps 'cool' doesn't do it justice
- 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
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-ising 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!
