“Despite getting relatively little support from large software
sellers, Linux took a 17 per cent share of all sales of server
software 1998. That put it in third place behind Windows NT on 34
per cent, and Novell’s Netware on 24 per cent. Linux is now
estimated to be the most popular operating system for web servers,
with almost a third of the market.
Every large hardware manufacturer now sells products with Linux
or plans to soon. Most big software companies are rushing to get
out Linux-compatible versions of their products.”
“The emergence of Linux has been hailed as a promising sign by
most rivals of Microsoft. Until recently Microsoft owned the
fastest-growing operating system for servers… Windows
NT…”
“Linux has not made much impact on Microsoft’s financial
performance to date. …Microsoft is still expected to increase
sales by a healthy 20 per cent a year in the market and to retain
overall leadership.
Linux has had little success with desktop machines. Microsoft
still accounts for well over 90 per cent of all personal computer
operating systems and Linux has little more than 1 per cent market
share. That will remain the case until there is a Linux-compatible
desktop application to match the Microsoft Office suite.”