ComputerUser.com: Desktop Linux serves up big savings

[ Thanks to Eugene von Niederhausern for this link. ]

"But the vast majority of desktop users perform basic functions using general-purpose software. Keeping in mind the majority of users who mainly need general-purpose software on the desktop, I was curious as to the overall cost and functional differences between a general-purpose Red Hat Linux workstation and a general-purpose Windows 2000 Professional desktop.

For my small-business desktop experiment, I compared two identically equipped desktop systems--one running Red Hat Deluxe Linux Workstation and the other running Windows 2000 Professional (see chart). Running the Linux workstation was seven times less expensive than running the equally outfitted Windows desktop.

With the exception of my project scheduling software, every other piece of software on my Linux workstation was a commercially available product. That meant that I could order training and support to keep my staff up to date."

Complete Story

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• InfoWorld: Go Linux Desktop Now(Aug 21, 2001)
• LinuxWorld/IDG: Does Linux have a future on the desktop? (Aug 20, 2001)
• ZDNet i-Week: Intel: Linux Has 'No Place' On Desktop(Jun 21, 2001)
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• Three on the Desktop: Linux Myths 101 and Desktop Convergence by December.(Jun 14, 2001)
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