digitalv - 4:40 pm on Jun 22, 2004 (gmt 0)

You know, there are a lot of Linux users out there who have this mindset that "People only use Microsoft products because they don't know how much better Linux is".

This mentality is not only annoying, but flawed. Many organizations, such as mine, choose Microsoft products over Linux on a regular basis. In fact, we've decided to upgrade to Windows 2003 next weekend and purchased all new servers in the data center to do it. There are people on the payroll already that could adequately administer a Linux-based network, so salary costs isn't a consideration. Is it more expensive? You bet it is. But I personally like the fact that Microsoft provides one thing that Linux doesn't: accountability.

While the manufacturer of any particular flavor of a Linux operating system no doubt stands behind their product, many of the third party applications out there that were designed to compare to similar Microsoft applications were written by independent authors, released under GNU, and clearly state that if it doesn't work it's not their problem. But it is MY problem if it doesn't work. I know that when I buy a Microsoft product it will work the way it's supposed to, and if it doesn't for some reason Microsoft will fix the bug. I don't have that guarantee from the vast majority of Linux programs out there.

The other issue I have with Linux is with certifications/employee knowledge. If someone is Microsoft certified (RECENT certification now, not 1998) I know that they've had training in all Microsoft products, not just the operating system. The "Linux Certification" procedure only covers the operating system, and not even every flavor. The OS itself is the easy part - it's all of the third party programs you install ON TOP OF IT where you need to know your sh--.

So when a company decides to switch operating systems, good for them. I just hope they weigh out all of the odds. I will gladly continue to pay for Microsoft products until a "better" operating system comes along with the same level of support. Currently the only OS that comes close only runs on Macintosh.

[disclaimer: not flame bait, so I don't want to hear it]