Is Linux Outgrowing Its Roots?

ZDNet Tech Update ^ | August 15, 2002 | Dan Farber

[ShadowAce]

Penguin Ping!

[rdb3]

The Penguin Ping.

Want on or off? Just holla!

Got root?

[Lorenb420]

Even Oracle CEO Larry Ellison touted Linux as if it were the best technology invention since his company pioneered relational databases. Ellison said he was promoting Linux because it is the best operating system, and to back up that statement said his company is running all of its enterprise applications and Web sites on Linux.

That's probably a nice sound bite, but according to NetCraft, www.oracle.com is running under Solaris.

[ShadowAce]

LOL!!!

[stainlessbanner]

Microsoft-led Initiative for Software Choice

Microsoft, Software Choice? Some irony here....

[rdb3]

The level playing field is a new phenomenon for them, and at this point in time they cannot ignore the power of the open source movement and the demand from customers for more cost effective, flexible technology.

That's right. MS and the rest will ignore The Penguin at their own peril.

But MS is not ignoring Linux. That, in and of itself, is satisfaction to me. For all the dissing of the platform, the big boys at MS are really concerned now.

[ShadowAce]

...the big boys at MS are really concerned now.

Are they? They're paying a lot of lip service to the issue, but I haven't seen any actual response. No price cuts, no software improvement, no vuln response-time improvement. In short, there are no competitive moves being made on their part. How are they showing that they are concerned?

[Dimensio]

They have crafted exclusive OEM deals. Some Linux users like to buy PCs without an OS because they have no intention of using Windows, and they don't want to pay for an operating system that they won't be using. Microsoft has a deal with Dell that prohibits them from selling computers without an OS.

Dell now offers to sell computers without an installed OS and a copy of FreeDOS on disk, since the contract does not specify that the OS must be installed, nor does it specify what OS be included.

[stainlessbanner]

Microsoft has a deal with Dell that prohibits them from selling computers without an OS

That's the irony of the Software Choice initiative!

[rdb3]

They're showing it by their new campaign of "consultation" against companies using Linux. They attempt (operative word) to painstakingly "prove" that Linux costs more to run than their own products.

You talk about chutzpah!

[rdb3]

not only got root, -AM root!

I hope you're not all the time.

[Mr. K]

As a computer software engineer and consultant I marvel at the people who think Linux is free.

I get calls all the time from people who want me to install and configure their 'free' linux- and when they get my bill for $60/hr they start to see where the cost goes- especially when they have to call me every time because no one knows what a command line is...

And before you penguin lovers start whining again like liberals I DO NOT CARE what operating system people want to use, I can make money in any of them

Linux is Great, so is Windows, so is Mac OS...

[RightOnline]

The kind of folks that are calling you at $60 per hour are NOT the primary target market for Linux. Linux is terrific for the technical desktop (i.e. workstations); our clients are the type who definitely know what a command line is, etc.

[wireplay]

I for one would buy a Dell w/o an O/S but not because I support Linux or any open-source initiatives. I have a Microsoft universal subscription and therefore do not need another copy of Windows XP. Dell tried selling Linux based PCs and no one ordered them.

[Dimensio]

I think that Linux based PCs from PC manufacturers don't sell because individual Linux users typically build their own machines. I prefer choosing exactly what parts make up my system.

[rdb3]

And before you penguin lovers start whining again like liberals I DO NOT CARE what operating system people want to use, I can make money in any of them.

Neither do I. I don't hold a "faith" in a software platform. I simply prefer Linux, especially Slackware.

At any rate, you're comparing apples to oranges. What your customers are paying for is your service and expertise. If they bought a Linux distro from a retailer, then of course it's not "free" that way. They could simply download it and burn it to a disk(s).

Also, there are myriad Linux user help groups and usenet newsgroups. They could simply read up on how to install Linux themselves (both Mandrake and Redhat now make it real easy to do so).

They're paying because they choose to, not because they have to.

Now find a legitimate and non-pirated Windows XP disk that's free.

[Poohbah]

Is Linux Outgrowing Its Roots?

Not important. If, on the other hand, Linux outgrows root, then there might be a problem.

[rdb3]

Not important. If, on the other hand, Linux outgrows root, then there might be a problem.

Oh, behave! ;-)