Linux or Windows?
March 14, 2007 | By Raymond T. Hightower
The Wall Street Journal asked an Illinois government official about his preference for Microsoft Windows over Linux. His response: “We don’t have time for science projects in state government.”
Linux Saves Money… Sometimes
IT departments have deployed Linux servers in steadily increasing numbers ever since the late 1990’s. Reason: They get the performance of industrial-strength Unix at a fraction of the cost. Linux costs are lower because:
- Linux runs on off-the-shelf Intel (or AMD) based PCs. Expensive, specialized hardware is not required.
- Linux is free (vs. $299 for Windows) if you’re willing to do most of the legwork in-house.
Of course, “doing the legwork yourself” is the reason why most companies have avoided Linux on the desktop. All cost savings evaporate when you consider the difficulty most users will face in trying to make Linux work. Further, office suites running on Linux are not completely compatible with Microsoft Office, the de facto standard.
Windows for Most Users
That’s where Microsoft Windows makes sense. Go to any bookstore in any mall and you’re bound to find books & magazines and even DVDs devoted to Windows training. If you have a problem and you’re too busy to read, talk to your co-worker at the next desk. They’re probably running Windows too.Where Linux Makes Sense
IT managers agree that Linux works well in the web server arena. This positive track record has earned Linux opportunities in other areas of the enterprise, including: - Financial institutions where empoyees perform specialized tasks.
- Third world countries, where multi-national companies seek to control startup costs.
- Environments that are considering an upgrade from older Unix machines. Many times, a Linux box will do the job at a lower cost with minimal re-training for existing Unix administrators.
- Highly specialized applications, like the $100 Laptop
Of course, this is the technology industry, so everything written here could change!
Linux vs. Windows: One Day It Won’t Matter
If we in the IT industry write web-based applications, written to strict standards of quality and interoperability, nobody will care what operating system runs on the desktop. And that’s the way it should be. Everything of importance will run inside a standard Web browser.Even better: Imagine running your most critical applications on your PC, laptop, and PDA and having them look the same no matter where you run the app? Imagine sitting on a plane, realizing you forgot an important task back at the office, and then completing that task from a browser-equipped LCD right in front of you? If you’re using web-based apps, this is part of your reality. One day.