question

["Thompson-Laurin, Harriet" <Harriet.Thompson-Laurin@ibx.com>]

Hi,

I am a systems analyst taking a course at the University of Phoenix on Unix.  My teacher has assigned a project in which I need to obtain specific information about Debian.  Although I searched your website, I wasn't able to find out if Debian runs on Pentium 4's.

Specifically, I am to find information regarding Debian regarding:
	Cost 
	Market share
	Hardware requirements
	File Processing
	Programming capabilities
	Availability of application software 
	User interface

Then I am to apply this information to a scenario in which a company is "facing the dilemma of upgrading the desktop PC's to run either Windows XP Professional or Linux platform (Debian)".  In the teacher's scenario, the following was provided about the mythical company's current hardware:

400 pc's running Windows 95/98 with a Pentium CPU, 64mb RAM and 2Gb hard drive and below or equal to 300 Mhz.
350 pc's running Windows NT with a Pentium 2 CPU, 128 RAM and 4 GB hard drive
150 pc's running Windows 2000 with a Pentium 3 CPU, 256 RAM and 20 GB hard drive
100 pc's running Windows XP with a Pentium 4 CPU, 256 RAM and 40 GB hard drive.

I was able to find on your site that Debian works with the older Pentiums, but no reference to Pentium 4, so that is my primary concern.  In this college case study, would the Pentium 4's need to be downgraded to Pentium 3's in order to run Debian?

Of course, any other information would be helpful.  It does appear that there are quite a number of available application packages for Debian, from the website.  I gather than the Unix/Linux/Debian marketshare in total is estimated at 5%, but I also need to obtain marketshare for just Debian by itself. 

Thank you in advance for your kind help,

Harriet Laurin


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