A contented linux user

[joel]

There was a lot of correspondence generated by that essay.
It would be nice if all linux advocates bothered to learn to use correct 
English grammar and spelling, but, such is life.
Of more interest was the claim by one fellow that their switch to linux 
worked great until a couple of guys left who knew linux and then 
everything fell apart. He even claimed they got hit by viruses.
Now, how can viruses affect linux if you are running the boxes properly?
This one fellow sounded like he worked for a company that didn't have 
procedure manuals. In my place of work, a hospital, we have procedure 
manuals for every conceivable task.
IT SEEMS TO ME that MS is giving linux a great opening for at least 
three reasons:
1. MS is still expensive.
2. MS is still insecure.
3. MS is getting nonstandard. This isn't talked about much, but there 
are so many version of MS out  there (I still use Windows 95 for my 
desktop machine, works fine.) that windows is in danger of losing that 
which makes windows so desirable, standardization. There are even 
different versions of powerpoint for different versions of windows. This 
is not making MS look good. However, MS makes its money by selling 
software, and so it has to keep changing its software and forcing its 
users to upgrade, both software and hardware. MS generated 16 billion in 
free cash flow in the last 12 months. Their strategy is working fine. I 
guess people don't see that as excessive. However, imagine if linux 
could be understood by CEO's to offer a more stable and standard 
platform than windows.  Imagine, Mr. CEO, no more being forced to 
upgrade because MS needs more money. Upgrade only when you want to and 
can afford to. Sounds like a good sales pitch to me.
Joel


Collins Richey wrote:

>Even though entitled with the eggregious GNU/linux moniker, this is a
>really great article:
>
>http://newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=03/09/12/1733209
>
>What makes it even better, is the article is squeezed between Microsoft
>ads <chuckle>.  
>
>  
>