>>what do you think about Linux.
A lot of people seem very excited about the potential changes in the operating system market that may result from Linux. I must admit to having done little research in this area - I know nothing about Red Hat, know little of Linux, and no nothing about any customers that are using Linux. I do however, know quite a bit about the factors that corporate IT managers and CIOs take into account in deciding what software to purchase in running their organizations (I worked as product manager in charge of corporate marketing for Microsoft Office at Microsoft for a number years).
My gut feel is that there is a major issue which is working against Linux: product support. Your average corporate customer can purchase thousands of copies of Windows 95 (for client machines), and hundreds of copies of Windows NT (for server machines) with confidence - corporate IT managers know that Microsoft has thousands of people working in Windows development, testing and product support. If there is a bug, Microsoft will take responsibility for it and fix it (well, at least Microsoft fixes most major bugs). And Microsoft will periodically release service packs with bug fixes and new features.
Can the corporate IT manager purchase Linux with the same level of confidence? No, I don't think so. So what is the value of the confidence that Windows offers? I think it's worth more than the $50 or $60 per copy that the average corporate customer is paying for Windows. I would bet that your average corporate IT manager wouldn't install Linux even if the product is free. Why? Because the major cost of corporate software is not the price of the software, but the cost of installation, maintenance, training and support. And why invest in an operating system like Linux which is likely to introduce much higher costs in each of these areas?
I don't think that Linux will be successful in making a major dint in Microsoft's share of the corporate operating system market. And it is my view that end-users are not going to buy Linux. So the main question is - where is the main opportunity for Linux? I have no clue. A lot of software developers seem to like Linux because they can alter it at will. This may be good for the developer - but is it good for the user? Again, keep in mind that I have done no research on Red Hat and no nothing of their customers.
Red Hat may certainly get a short term pop, but I certainly wouldn't want to hold it long term.
Thanks,
-Eric |
