Actually, only ebay's frontend servers run NT. The backend is some unix-variant. Damned if I can find the article where I read that though. Will be searching....
Ok, this is a dialogue between you and your boss, as you try to convince him that a webserver running linux would be better than NT. He is a long time windows user and redmond believer.
Boss: "So you're telling me that open-source practices lead to more secure software because security holes are spotted quicky and once a hole is found, it is patched up in a new version of the software... How do you know when a new version gets released?"
You: "Well, this distribution of linux called Redhat has a utility called up2date that you can run everyday and it will check for new packages"
Boss: "What if you're on vacation for two weeks, and there are critical software updates, how will we know about them?"
Which is a better response, a) or b)?
a) "Well, for a small fee, we can have Redhat alert us by e-mail whenever a new package is released"
b) "Uhh, hmm, yeaahhh... Linux good. Microsoft Bad"
Or how about this one?
Boss: "Hmmm, well where do we download the new software from?"
You: "Many universities and other organizations have set up mirror sites across the country"
Boss: "Universities, huh? There doesn't seem to be anyway that to guarantee that they will always be up, and fast?. How do you know that their download sites won't be full?"
a) "Well, once again, for a small fee, we can have guaranteed access to redhat's fast, priority servers, without ever having to worry about those things."
b) "Hmmm... Good point. Well, universities are reliable, they don't even take race as a factor in admission!"
It looks to me like Mr. Suit would be more likely to take your proposal seriously if you answered a) to both of his questions. They are looking for the "reliable" solution, even if they have to pay for it.
I don't even use Redhat, I just think they have a pretty good idea
You can always upgrade any package you want, just like always, for free. But if you subscribe to their service, instead of having to check for updated packages every day using Redhat's update tool, downloading from a mirror, all the while hoping that their anon ftp server isn't already full, you are now notified as soon as updated packages become availabe, and you have the ability to download from redhat directly, without worry that all the mirrors are full.
You aren't paying to upgrade your packages, you are paying for the service of being alerted to new packages and having a very dependable source to download from.
I'd start to get weary if they store a whole bunch of information about you (what software you have installed, which packages you cared to upgrade, etc), package that information with your name and address and targeted you for specialized advertising, but...
This network thing they've come up doesn't look like such a bad idea, in theory at least. It could turn out to be a crock, but otherwise my company will probably subscribe, as long as the fee is not outrageous. One of the reasons that a lot of closed-source folk don't embrace the open-source business model is becuase they claim that no revenue can be generated. Redhat has come up with another way to make money off of their open-source product. It's good to see that.
I wonder if this "review" is another, "hey man, write a good review and I'll hook you up with one of these..." The review makes it sound just too good.
Slashdot Mirror
www.afterstep.org
It's really well done, and you can run kfm on top of it to get the functionality of kwm's icons. My thoughts on the matter anyway.
Actually, only ebay's frontend servers run NT. The backend is some unix-variant. Damned if I can find the article where I read that though. Will be searching....
HAHA
Wanna expand on that? Not trying to be an ass, but I'm sure there are others as well who would like some links to check them out.
My bad, thanks though.
Which is a better response, a) or b)?
Or how about this one?It looks to me like Mr. Suit would be more likely to take your proposal seriously if you answered a) to both of his questions. They are looking for the "reliable" solution, even if they have to pay for it.
I don't even use Redhat, I just think they have a pretty good idea
Cheers
You can always upgrade any package you want, just like always, for free. But if you subscribe to their service, instead of having to check for updated packages every day using Redhat's update tool, downloading from a mirror, all the while hoping that their anon ftp server isn't already full, you are now notified as soon as updated packages become availabe, and you have the ability to download from redhat directly, without worry that all the mirrors are full.
You aren't paying to upgrade your packages, you are paying for the service of being alerted to new packages and having a very dependable source to download from.
Cheers
This network thing they've come up doesn't look like such a bad idea, in theory at least. It could turn out to be a crock, but otherwise my company will probably subscribe, as long as the fee is not outrageous. One of the reasons that a lot of closed-source folk don't embrace the open-source business model is becuase they claim that no revenue can be generated. Redhat has come up with another way to make money off of their open-source product. It's good to see that.
Cheers
We all know who the real obi-wan is. Hopefully this new generation of Star Wars fans don't think of Ewan as obi-wan.
My bad, I meant Four.
I wonder if this "review" is another, "hey man, write a good review and I'll hook you up with one of these..." The review makes it sound just too good.