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| "If
Linux’s cost-effectiveness is so appealing, why does a
large user base continue to use pirated Microsoft product
instead of using ‘free’ Linux" |
| Dr
Nitin Paranjape |
| CMD,
Maestros Mediline Systems |
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Not an apple-to-apple comparison...
The argument that most present for Linux is that it offers low total cost of
ownership (TCO) as compared to a Microsoft solution. But the fact remains that a
Microsoft product offers far more features than Linux. And in order to estimate
the true value of a solution we need to consider what the solution can do for
you.
However, since over 99% of users under-utilize the system, be it a
Microsoft-based or Linux-based one, the very comparison between the two becomes
skewed. I don’t think it’s an apple-to-apple comparison. To really estimate
Microsoft’s advantage over Linux, we need to compare the features offered by
both and see what benefits these features can provide to end-users.
Service ownership is an issue...
When we say Microsoft has a proprietary business model, what it means is
that the company owns the product as well as has the service ownership. This
also reflects a maturity in business and long-term commitment. The same holds
only partially true for Linux.
There are hardly any SLA guarantees offered on an open source solution.
Further, one flavor of Linux, at times, finds it difficult to talk to another
one. Integration between themselves is a big issue.
Demand for Microsoft continues to surge...
If cost-effectiveness and the ‘free’ nature of Linux were so appealing,
how is it that the piracy levels for Microsoft products remains the highest? Why
don’t people use free or cheap Linux-based solutions instead of going for
pirate proprietary software? The fact is the kind of features a Microsoft
product offers cannot be matched by Linux and this has become a necessity for a
majority section of users.
True potential unexplored...
As far as integration is concerned, Microsoft solutions offer them at the
highest levels. As far as cost-effectiveness is concerned, a Microsoft solution
can be proved to be more cost-effective. This could be done by listing each
feature of that solution and demonstrating the true capability of that feature.
The aberration lies in the fact that we are comparing inefficiencies most of the
time instead of comparing the potential capabilities of what the solution can do
for a user.
TCO comparison is not just for argument sake...
The argument is not just about the TCO on Linux. The true TCO can be arrived
at by looking at the availability of solutions (hardware plus software) that can
help deliver the improved TCO. And Linux plays a significant part on the
software front to bring down the same.
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| "Customers
move to Linux because they see the value, as it assists them
to integrate various technologies and enjoy flexibility and
choice" |
| Jyothi
Satyanathan |
| Linux
Business Manager, ASEAN/SA, IBM India |
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Linux allows customers to change their hardware platforms to take advantage
of better price performance. For example, customers can replace expensive
proprietary Unix servers with low-cost Intel servers running Linux. So not only
the hardware cost goes down, but also that of software. This is the true Linux
TCO advantage.
Mission-critical applications too run on Linux...
Customers continue to move to Linux because they see the value. As a
company, IBM continues to invest in Linux because we believe in the value of
Linux. Our commitment is also demonstrated by the fact that we use Linux across
over 3,500 servers inside IBM. Mission-critical applications that run Linux
include the IBM web site, support of IBM’s new $2.5 billion 300mm chip
manufacturing facility, and applications supporting more than 3,00,000 IBM
employees worldwide.
Linux assists organizations to provide better service to their customers in
enabling open technologies that can more easily integrate and provide
flexibility and choice.
Analysts show Linux is growing faster...
According to IDC, Linux server shipments are expected to grow at a CAGR of
28.5% in 2002-07 as compared to 10.3% CAGR for Windows. Linux server marketshare
in unit terms is expected to grow by 13.6% as compared to a decline of 3.6% for
Windows.
In revenue terms, the marketshare for Linux servers is expected to grow by 9%
(2002-07) as compared to 5.4% for Windows. Also, according to Gartner, 45% of
mid-sized businesses are already using or experimenting with Linux. These
findings clearly showcase the growth of Linux adoption.
Linux offers choice...
Linux is all about choice and open-standards. Linux creates a truly open and
viable alternative for an operating system—especially in the Intel server
market. Linux is the open platform choice that helps these organizations to
better integrate and at the same time save cost, get better reliability, avoid
costly viruses and provide better service to their customers. IBM isn’t just
saying this as a marketing campaign - we are directly responding to our customer’s
needs and open standards and Linux form a key part of our response.
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