not quality, but by ability to execute
BIG5/6
Yeah, I'd hire Booz Allen or some other such leech to provide useful support. NOT! It's exactly these bastards that sell me stuff that I don't need, because I hired them to save me the effort of thinking for myself.
EDS/IBM global services
Perhaps. They are still not close to the community and the code. So, then, why shouldn't they partner with Red Hat, too? They get access to expertise, and Red Hat increases the number of installed systems.
Current UNIX providers
Who, SCO? Yeah, right. SUNW? CPQ? HWP? SGI? IBM? I don't see them becoming large integrators on multiple hardware platforms, especially Intel, whereas Red Hat already has experience on x86, SPARC, and Alpha. HP-PA and MIPS are doable.
And think about this - how is MS going to deal with Merced? I would bet that Intel, as a part owner of Red Hat, is going to help them make something truly wonderful to run on multiprocessor Merced platforms. Microsoft is going to have a bitch of a time migrating to 64-bit systems.
Agreed the price is too rich at this date. Low 20's is not likely, though. Buying will occur at higher levels than that.
Doug |
