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Technology Stocks : How high will Microsoft fly? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Bill Fischofer who wrote (60434)	8/8/2001 4:12:59 AM
From: dybdahl	Respond to of 74651

Linux also makes it possible to recycle computers, because you can run the newest version on old computers without license administration etc. A Linux VPN gateway only needs 486-66 or Pentium-75, and 8-16MB RAM. CD-ROM drive is not necessary for installation if a diskette drive is present, since installation can be made from an FTP or HTTP server. We just set up an intranet application and database server on a 200MHz Pentium Pro with 64MB RAM, running Interbase 6, Apache, PHP that automatically takes 2048-bit encrypted backup over the network. If you want to go the Microsoft way and use up-to-date software when deploying 100 desktops, you need: - A new computer: $600 - Windows: $100 - MS Office: $300 - Maybe backup software to take backup over the network - Anti-virus software :-) - Some remote control software: $100 = total approx. $1,100x100=$110,000 Linux is $0. Some handling, configuration etc. comes on top, but support is typically less on Linux than on Windows. If Linux expertise is already present in the company, most think that 100,000 dollar is worth saving on 100 desktops. Training costs are typically small if people know computers already, and my experience with Linux desktops for internet and a little StarOffice usage, shows that training costs are smaller than the savings on end-user support the first year. For instance you don't need any virus handling with Linux desktops. No virus info updates, no performance degradation, no incompatibilities, no infections etc. If you don't believe me, then ask some of the companies who do deploy Linux desktops why they do it. KDE has change from "works but weird" (version 1) to "works well and looks good" (version 2). Later versions will be even better, and often deliver the newest features to existing KDE users much faster than Microsoft delivers features to Windows users, which might be one of the reasons why so many technical schools and universities in Europe either consider to switch to Linux on the desktop or have switched. Many Windows XP features I already use on KDE/Linux, and I can always update my system over the internet to the newest version of KDE and Red Hat Linux without paying and administrating licenses. Installation can also be done remotely and while software is in use. There is no problem in upgrading Netscape 6 to Netscape 6.1, while Netscape is in use. And there is never a reboot, which is quite essential when doing remote installation. On Windows, you can only get many new features if you pay for it, and it often has compatibility consequences if you update your Windows to a newer version. Try to imagine those 100 desktops being upgraded to a newer version of KDE. It can be scripted without having the desktops prepared for it, it can be done entirely over the network, and it can be done while the computers are in use. There is no license administration or costs. Now try to imagine upgrading 100 remote desktops with Pentium 350 and 64MB RAM to Windows XP. Do you still need an explanation? Lars.