I am currently using a dual-pentium Windows NT 4.0 Server machine to type this message. I am a software engineer and have worked on Solaris as well as NT machines.
As far as hardware goes, you cannot beat Sun. With some of their recent advances and their acquisition of Cray, Sun has become the dominant force in Server and Super-Computer technology (read: government, aerospace, military, etc..)
As far as software goes, NT is easy to use (read: good for home use) but lacks the rugged, no-nonsense engineering that goes into Solaris.
NT will do well as a replacement for Network Servers (i.e. Novel), and as a server for limited client-server work (mom and pop shops). But you would have to be retarded to try to run an enterprise on NT. NT is much too slow, still "hangs" occasionally, the Kernal is too big and sloppy, Win32 is too buggy, and there are NO ALTERNATIVES ONCE YOU MAKE THE COMMITMENT. This is Microsoft's roach motel, once you go in, you can never leave. With UNIX, the concept of open systems is alive and well. The benefits of open systems are compelling and do not exist with NT, except where Microsoft has deemed the pressure too intense and given in. Large enterprises want to be able to use operating systems and components from hundreds of different vendors (to hedge their bets if nothing else). This is not possible with NT. Every Microsoft Server product is designed so that once you import your database or whatever, it becomes virtually impossible to export it out again for use in someone else's systems. This "lock out" strategy may work fine on the average consumer, but corporate America is used to a higher ethic (i.e. UNIX and Open Systems) and will quickly sicken of NT and it's "advantages".
I would like to point out that in my office, I have 2 Dual-Pentium NT servers (2x133mhz and 2x100mhz) and a Linux box (60mhz pentium). The Linux box is soo much faster than the NT boxes that there is little comparison (YES! A 60mhz pentium Linux machine outperforms a 266mhz dual pentium NT 4.0 machine, hands down). Certainly, it depends on what you are doing - I am refering specifically to Internet/Intranet, file, database and development related activities (a fair sample).
UNIX simply makes much more effective use of hardware than does NT. NT is overhyped and underpowered. Sun will dominate the server, high-end and supercomputer marketplace for some time to come.
Dan Guinan |
