Has anyone actually seen Red Hat provide "support, training, or consulting"?
Linux is so straightforward, and their's so much informal help around, that I'm not sure that very many companies will be willing to pay for support. Especially not when every computer geek and his sister are becoming linux consultants.
I don't think a lack of support is what is holding back the spread of Linux. I think it's inertia, legacy systems, the lack of device drivers for unusual hardware, and the lack of _reliable_ ports of well known software.
For example, the state of Java on Linux is very iffy.
Some technologies are almost not available at all, e.g. GIS (mapping) packages and libraries.
All these things are coming together though, and I'm sure they'll be solved in the next two years. I just don't understand how Red Hat stands to benefit.
Another thing that bugs me is that they have just begun the transition from a small lean tech company run by engineers to a larger, profit focused, corporate entity. Many companies don't handle this transition well; the result is frequently that the best people leave and mediocrity reigns.
Of course the hype will probably drive this stock through the roof, so there's probably not much to worry about in the short term.
Someone please tell me why I'm wrong. I'm a fan of the company, and love their product, so I'd like to see them succeed.
Regards,
Lee Nelson
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