Forum Moderators: bakedjake
This is the conventional wisdom argument revisited, I guess. In many situations the benefits of an operating system switch cannot justify the huge cost of retraining, redeploying and the lost opportunities during the change over.
Since Linux is just another variant Of Unix, I think that a movement to Linux is easier to justify when cannibalizing a Unix relative.
At least ZDnet had the decency to print a few more of the numbers.
[zdnet.com.com...]
Beyond the 4% and 10% numbers mentioned in the Forbes article:
21% are adding some Linux servers to mostly Windows shops
36% are adding some Linux desktops to mostly Windows shops
So it's not as bleak as the Forbes article makes out the results. It would be very interesting to check up in a year with the shops adding some *nix machines and see the results of their experiments.
It doesn't matter to me that the percentages are not huge and that companies aren't switching wholesale to Linux. Businesses trying something different at all is encouraging, especially given the economy. Small, consistent moves towards alternative OS's speaks to a greater understanding of the technology available and more realistic expectations of their place. If everybody and their dog were making an instant, large-scale switch to any OS, I would simply assume that it's a fad and expect a quick decline.
Each company must look within, make a realistic assessment of their existing software operating system infrastructure, decide whether the current infrastructure meets your company's current and planned business needs and goals and balance your business requirements against your current and future budget and then chart your technology course
And I really wish Ms. Didio would knock off the blinding flashes of the obvious.
[forbes.com...]
"Worldwide sales of Unix servers have already plunged from $26.5 billion in 2000 to $16.4 billion in 2003, according to market researcher IDC.
To be sure, Microsoft too is losing sales to Linux. By 2008, sales of Intel-based servers running Linux will approach $10 billion, versus $22 billion for Windows, IDC reckons"
