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Linux the Tortoise to Microsoft's Hare?

Posted by michael on from the slow-and-steady-gets-eaten-by-a-bear dept.

LukePieStalker writes "TheStreet.com is running a story by Ronna Abramson that makes a case for Linux cutting into Microsoft's server business and forcing Redmond to trim margins. A particular vulnerability is seen in overseas markets, but the heat should be turned up everywhere once Unix replacements are pretty far along by then end of next year. A quote from one CTO: [Linux is] "going to force Microsoft to spend more time on security and stability, and less time on adding new features.""

3 of 548 comments (clear)

  1. Er, I think the point is ... by Dlugar · · Score: 5, Informative

    "Slow and steady wins the race"?

    Sheesh. Don't people read Aesop any more?

    Dlugar

    --
    Computer Go: Writing Software to Play the Ancient Game of Go
  2. The real battle in the overseas market by andy1307 · · Score: 5, Informative
    Is going to be over "open" office suites. Most companies go with windows because their worker driods are accustomed to Ms Word, MS Excel and Ms Outlook. If we can keep the new emerging markets from being addicted to MS office productivity suites, that will be a big boost for open source.

    This is a good start

    Haryana(State in India) signs pact with Sun Microsystems
    The Haryana government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Sun Microsystems to adopt open source office productivity tool, the StarOffice 7, for departments and educational institutions.

    Linux may carve out bigger niche in desktop PC market
    On Feb. 4, it announced the sale of 10,000 copies of its StarOffice desktop suite to United India Insurance, one of India's largest insurers. StarOffice can run on Windows or Linux desktop PCs. Sun aims next to persuade United India to replace 10,000 Windows PCs with Linux-based Java Desktop PCs.

  3. Did Anyone Catch MS Admission to Paid Studies? by TheWanderingHermit · · Score: 5, Informative

    I thought this paragraph was most telling, the 1st one on the last page:

    Taylor also said the company is countering Linux's unbeatable price tag by commissioning studies that show the total cost of ownership over the life of the software is higher with Linux than Windows.

    Taylor is Martin Taylor, Microsoft's general manager of platform strategy.

    Basically, they are admitting to paying for studies that show the results they want.

    I'd love a direct quotation of his answer -- it'd be a great rebuttal when MS publishes another "Windows costs less" study.