“With promising vendor support and a range of options, will
Linux replace Windows NT? We put them head-to-head to find
out.”
“… Though the cost savings are attractive, what network
managers expect from a desktop operating system simply isn’t
available under Linux at this time…” For those evaluating Linux
right now, its corporate place is still mostly in the server room.
And even here, its one-box niche status is still largely in effect.
Yes, small businesses with small server rooms and clients that use
mostly standard office-type applications can move to an all-Linux
system with little trouble. But Linux just isn’t ready for
migration of an entire corporate-serving architecture.”
“Overall, although Linux is receiving attention from established
corporate software players, it will need much more to challenge NT
for corporate dominance. Management, server and desktop software
libraries, and the ability to find qualified Linux professionals
are all issues that need addressing. Fortunately, they’re all
receiving attention.
“For both servers and desktops, Linux is already a viable
alternative for small businesses-as long as they evaluate and test
it carefully before full-scale deployment. Moving into the
corporate space is only a matter of maturation.”