Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Red Hat Software Inc. (Nasdq-RHAT) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Eric Wells who wrote (1092)	9/9/1999 10:19:00 AM
From: Mitch Blevins	Respond to of 1794

In order for Linux to beat out NT, one of the following will have to occur: 1. Linux will have to be so much substantially better than NT to offset the costs listed above, in which Linux is lacking. <<or>> 2. Linux will have to have the same support infrastructure in place that NT has - namely, hundreds of books and training materials, a professional support community similar to Microsoft's Solution Provider Program and some sort of certification similar to Microsoft's Certified Professional Program. Very good point! The week in my home town, IBM is giving a certification class specifically for RedHat Linux. However, I am more in favor of a vendor-neutral certification such as that offered by linuxcertification.com This group uses Sylvan, just like the Microsoft Certified Professional Program. I believe that this will help to change the perception of "industry support" that could slow the growth of Linux. And I do believe it is only a perception problem. I myself am a product of the MCPP. I got my Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer title so that I could authoritatively recommend replacing NT in my consulting. ;-) The skillset required to be proficient using Linux is simply "Unix". It is the same. There are already a large number of qualified professionals with this skillset, and they are being produced in an every-increasing number due to the popularity of Linux in the university environment. A CIO might view WinNT as being easier/cheaper to install and use, simply because it looks similar to the Win98 box sitting on their desk at home. But, this similarity is superficial, and the problem is one of perception. Although I will concede to you that this perception may help WinNT lengthen its current popularity in the server market. Cheers, -Mitch

To: Eric Wells who wrote (1092)	9/9/1999 11:28:00 AM
From: Pink Minion	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1794

Keep in mind the following: the actual retail price of a piece of software is a minor component of the total cost of a software product to a corporate customer. In other words, when a corporate customer invests in a piece of software, only a small percentage (anywhere from 5%-10%) of that investment goes to paying for that software - the additional investment goes toward: 1. installation and deployment 2. conversion of existing systems 3. training 4. ongoing support #4 is the hightest cost and I'm assuming you mean the contracts they sign. If you view the above from the eyes of the CIO, NT looks very attractive. Why? Because in truth, NT is very easy to install and support. I've heard numerous IT managers make claims of how easy NT is - that one can "figure it out". This is bullcrap. The CIO's are bean counter's they look at the "package deal". Microsoft wins because they provide the biggest package. The CIO's are clueless on the "cost of support". Do they factor in the cost everytime I reboot my machine? F$%^King NO. I figure it cost between $100-$300 dollars every reboot with the lost hour of work. This goes to the thousands if I make a stupid mistake and spends days figuring it out. And I make some dillys when I lose focus. I'm writing this now cause our NT server is down and we have two Dilberts looking at it. Factor in that cost. The pointy hairs are idiots. MH