InformationWeek: Linux Vendors Face Support Issues

"Now that Linux has gained credibility among IT managers and received the imprimatur of Wall Street investors, both groups of stakeholders are demanding that Linux vendors offer more than repackaged freeware and telephone support. By some measures, these vendors have their work cut out for them."

"The big question right now is reliable vendor support," says Bill Santille, a VP responsible for IT procurement at investment bank ABN Amro Inc. in Chicago. "Second is the availability of talent and expertise. Sure, Linux is free, but you have to go out and hire all the talent." Santille says IT staff with Unix experience can go part of the way to solving the support problem-but only part. "For companies like ourselves that are more risk-averse," he says, "we have more of a wait-and-see attitude...."

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