Microsoft vs. Linux

[Kim]

Looking for any resources comparing and/or discussing the two operating
systems advantages and disadvantages for a small, medium or large
organization. Thx.

 

[Guest]

Please don't take this the wrong way but don't you think its time you learned
to internet search?

 

[George Hester]

Why, are you a smal medium or large organization? Small meaning just you
there are more applications on the market for Windows than there is for
Linux. For a medium organization same thing. For a large organization well
don't expect any support from Redhat so if you can hire all the support you
might need go for it.

 

[Kim]

Please don't take this the wrong way, but I was just introduced to
"newsgroup" world while take an intro computer class. Thought I could
get some assistance. Thanks for your input .... and understanding.

 

[Kim]

Thanks for your reply - appreciate it. Not an organization- just doing
some research for a paper.

 

[GO]

Why wouldn't Redhat support large organizations? Isn't that their target
market nowadays? And besides Redhat is not a free distro anymore, so when
you purchase it you're bound to get support for at least a set period of
time and then there would be paid support, just as MS offers.

And Kim, what you're asking covers a HUGE spectrum and is very difficult to
find unbiased information. Are you looking at the client side (desktop) or
server? What is the organization(s) trying to accomplish? I really don't
think the size of the organization would have a whole lot of bearing on
either's advantages/disadvantages. Both OSes have their strengths and
weaknesses.

 

[Galen]

In Kim <[email protected]> had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

Looking for any resources comparing and/or discussing the two
operating systems advantages and disadvantages for a small, medium or
large organization. Thx.

Take a gander here:

http://www.microsoft-watch.com/article2/0,1995,1553620,00.asp

Then here:

http://www.michaelhorowitz.com/Linux.vs.Windows.html

Both are light reading and enough to get you started on your paper. Best of
luck. (We generally don't do homework though I'm not opposed to giving a bit
of a start. <g>) Really, good luck and try to be objective.

My opinions? In a small business run by technically capable people who are
able to make do with OpenSource content or adapt their needs to what is in
place already (or even able to customize) then Linux is a viable option. At
the point the TCO for Windows vs. Linux still puts Windows in the lead and
more so when you count man-hours, education, support, and now potential
legal liabilities with the whole SCO thing. The lack of a true universal
office solution other than, say, OpenOffice makes interaction with Microsoft
based shops a bit problematic for instance. I think that sometime in the not
too distant future there's going to be more and more blended environments
and a lot of shops are sticking with Unix (which isn't to be mistaken for
Linux) and seem to be quite happy with it. If for no other reason than
interaction with the business world in general and the familiarity of the OS
I'd recommend Windows.

Galen
--

"You know that a conjurer gets no credit when once he has explained his
trick; and if I show you too much of my method of working, you will
come to the conclusion that I am a very ordinary individual after all."

Sherlock Holmes

 

[Andrew Morton]

Looking for any resources comparing and/or discussing the two
operating systems advantages and disadvantages for a small, medium or
large organization. Thx.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/09/01/ibm_windowsvlinux/

Andrew