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

To: taxman who wrote (16899)	2/24/1999 8:02:00 PM
From: Teflon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 74651

Mr taxman, I owe you dinner for that post. I will sleep well tonight. Thanks, Teflon

To: taxman who wrote (16899)	2/24/1999 8:20:00 PM
From: t2	Respond to of 74651

Taxman, Thanks---I am going to post part of that long report. --just found it hard to read all on one post > From: Robson, Robert > To: The Bull Market Report > Date: Tuesday, February 23, 1999 10:30 AM > Subject: Linux vs. Win NT > > Todd, > > First, let me say that I've been a reader of the Bull-Market for the last > few months and am profiting from the experience. My thanks on a job well > done. I just read the question from a reader on the effects of Linux on the > Windows market. I'd like to toss in my two cents worth. > > The Windows market should be divided into two segments: desktops and > servers. The desktop is what most people use and does a great job of > displaying their word processor, spread sheet, etc. It does this > efficiently, gives most people what they want, and is a success. Servers > are a different story. > > A server sits in the back room and performs services for other machines on > the network. This typically involves heavy computation, whether it be > serving out files, responding to database requests, or running a web server. > These machines are installed, configured, and left to do their thing. While > they have the familiar Windows GUI interface, people only look at it > occasionally, when something goes wrong. Thus, servers are more concerned > with computational performance than with the quality of the GUI. Since > every machine on a network depends on the server, the server must be stable > and not subject to crashing several times per day. > > Traditionally, servers were run by non-Microsoft operating systems on non-PC > hardware. Only recently has PC hardware become fast enough to be considered > for use as a server. Older servers were much more expensive than PCs so > there was a great push to replace them with PCs. But what operating system > should be used? Windows 3.1/95/98 were quickly ruled out due to their > instability (when did your machine last crash?). Windows NT was designed to > fill this niche. It is an entirely new operating system that shares little > with 3.1/95/98. It is a pre-emptive multitasking, virtual memory operating > system with protected memory, which is what is required for a server. > > Linux is also a pre-emptive multitasking, virtual memory OS with protected > memory. Both Linux and NT are highly stable. Both have GUI interfaces. > Linux will not run your favorite word processor. Microsoft wants a hefty > fee for an NT server license. Linux is free. > > Microsoft will remain the undisputed king of the desktop. The battle with > Linux will be waged over who runs the servers. There are still a lot of > servers out there run by IBM and Sun. Microsoft is still gaining ground as > people switch from more expensive hardware. I do not see Linux as taking > current market share from Microsoft but slowing Microsoft's expansion into > the server market. Microsoft will not be stopped since many people will > never trust and use a free operating system. > > Linux will not take over the desktop. It will reduce server sales, but that > is a market Microsoft is still moving into. Thus, the effect on Microsoft > will be to reduce growth in a new area where they are just developing a > presence. It will not reduce current sales nor will it slow growth in areas > other than servers. Thus, instead of making obscene profits from the server > market, Microsoft will probably only make good profits. Still, there is one > less area in which Microsoft can experience rapid growth and dominance. > > I'm not selling Microsoft yet. >