[ Thanks to Brandioch
Conner for this link. ]
Here’s a former Gartner VP who maintains that Linux has a bright
future… as a low end server for web and e-mail hosting, but that
isn’t ever going anywhere in datacenters or on desktops. “While
Linux’s acquisition cost may remain low, using it can be penny-wise
and pound-foolish.”
“In particular, you might be looking to alternative
operating systems, such as Linux, as a lower-cost option for some
servers or perhaps even desktops. While Linux’s acquisition cost
may remain low, using it can be penny-wise and pound-foolish. Many
in IT feel that Linux is the heir to Microsoft’s 32-bit Windows
offerings and will soon surpass Windows in volume shipments, but
I’m not as sanguine about Linux’s prospects for mainstream
business, except in specific cases.For most enterprises, the lower acquisition cost isn’t a
compelling reason to switch – and for good reason. Windows has
achieved a level of nonsubstitutable infrastructure and is tightly
linked with the hardware and peripherals vendors, as well as
independent software vendors. Nonsubstitutable infrastructure
technologies, by definition, support high switching costs
(rendering any lower acquisition cost moot). Their total or
near-total permeation throughout a business makes the switch
difficult to achieve. They boast strong third-party and vendor
support, which Linux hasn’t achieved, and functionality as a key
and underlying integrated technology for other services and
mission-critical business applications.”