“… analysts say, you might want to wait if you’re thinking of
selling your Microsoft shares because of Linux.”
“I can understand a small independent Internet service provider
deploying Linux to operate a server, but I would be surprised to
see a money center bank use it to run its trust department,” says
Ed Muth, Microsoft group manager of enterprise marketing.
“Even if Linux were to push out all the other Unix systems
available, such as those sold by Sun Microsystems or IBM, it would
still have to compete against Microsoft’s NT, which is gaining
ground rapidly against all Unix systems.”
“The server market is divided into high-end and low-end. The low
end is dominated by Unix machines, most of them supported by major
manufacturers such as Compaq and IBM. If Valloppillil’s Halloween
memo turns out to be prescient and Linux takes all of the low-end
Unix market, Compaq and IBM will suffer accordingly.”
“It is in the high-end market that the fiercest battle will play
out, however. There, the two biggies are Microsoft’s NT and Sun
Microsystem’s Solaris7 version of Unix.”