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LinuxDig.Com : Linux Expensive for Established Companies - Not Really
Author: HumanX | Tuesday April 06, 2004
The last two days has brought numerous opinions, potential facts and scant information regarding the expense of Linux to existing large companies. And some of this information misleadingly points out that because large corporations will not adopt Linux because of its expense, therefore, Linux cannot dethrone the Microsoft reign on the desktop.
Quoting Bill Orielly, "Stop Spinning". Did large corporations adopt Kazza? Did large corporations adopt the Internet? Yes to both, but not until the popularity of these services was obvious to large corporations. And as such, the popularity of Linux is not dependent on 300 large companies - though it would not hurt either.
What I would like to see is the same survey introduced into budding corporate environments. Environments whose IT departments are just beginning to grow or that have not started but will.
The expense of Microsoft products lies in the licenses, plain and simple. Their is practically no such thing as an inexpensive Microsoft product. In Linux, you can match practically every Microsoft product with a Linux product that is absolutely free. Now throw in that Linux is more secure, stable and offers thousands of free software packages. Linux will win that competition, plain and simple.
The expense of Linux falls into the area of experience. The majority of people in the world are running Microsoft products in there homes, and these are the same people who go to work everyday. The familiarity they bring with them from there home computing environment automatically lends itself to there working environment.
But this is still only a matter of a few programs. Most people at work use the web, email and a word processor. These applications exist on Linux and are just as easy if not easier then they are on Microsoft products. It is a matter of familiarity. A good systems administrator could develop a platform for his/her company in which Linux is not only well suited, but easy for the user base to take advantage of.
It is my belief that many of these surveys are also based on ignorance. I do believe many of the people at the supposed large corporations are not familiar enough with Linux or its potential to properly answer survey questions posed. Also do not forget, we are dealing with systems administrators. Most systems administrators are not real quick to bring change into there networks, rightly so.
I would like to see an experiment done with Microsoft Windows and Linux in a 200 client network. They would use a web based application (accounting maybe), word processor, email and the web. Then rate install time, install cost, growth potential and TCO. I do believe that Linux would surely win this competition. Some may say you would still have the issue of employee's who are unfamiliar with Linux, take some of the money you would have spent on Windows and train them for a day. No matter how you look at it, Linux will come out the winner.
Do the Math:
200 Client Network
6 Servers (Lets Say)
Windows
Each Client add $125 for Windows XP Pro : $25,000
Each Client add $200 Office XP Pro: $40,000
3 Servers add $1500 (total) Windows 2000 Advanced: $1,500
3 Servers add $1500 (total) for Sql: $1,500
Mail Software - Another: $500
TOTAL: $68,500
* These are not hard numbers as qty discounts would apply. But it would still be in the ball park more then likely. Off by %25 possibly.
Linux
Client Desktop:Your Favorite Linux Distro : $0
Open Office: $0
Server: Your favorite Linux Distro: $0
DBase Server Software: Mysql or PostGres: $0
Mail Software: Qmail, Sendmail or another free mail server: $0
TOTAL: $0
Let's say you wanted to train the employees for a couple of days, figure $10,000 for inhouse training. You would probably have better trained employees on the Linux system then on the MS system now.
Linux Total: $10,000
There would be claims that Linux administrators are more expensive, well Microsoft licenses are not cheap! Linux administrators are a growing bread and admins can now be found at reasonable salary levels.
Other thoughts to consider
Remote Desktop : Free for Linux - Not for Microsoft Products
Can be run from Dumb Terminals or Minimal Machines : Linux Yes - MS Not Likely
Access to Source Code: Linux Yes - MS No
HumanX
www.LinuxDig.Com
Contact me from "Contact LinuxDig" at LinuxDig.Com
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