[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> Bob,
>
> It's great hearing from you. I'm sorry that I wasn't able to answer your
> note earlier. I just returned from meetings in Seattle and haven't been
> able to read my mail for a day or so. Let me address your questions
Thanks for replying. I can appreciate how busy you are.
>
> >1) I am the head of the Central New Hampshire Linux User's Group.
> >We would like to have speakers give a perspective on systems software.
> >I am a Linux "enthusiast" trying to sell Linux to the NH state government.
> >I believe we Linux people need an objective reality check.
> >Would you, or someone else there, be willing to speak?
>
> Although I'm tethered to IDC's Framingham, MA office, I actually
> work out of a home office in Sarasota, FL. I'm in Mass about
> once every 3 or so weeks. If your meeting lines up with one of
> those visits, I would be happy to come up to present to your group.
> I will also waive the usual speaking honorarium. (You wouldn't
> believe what IDC charges for me to speak at conferences.)
Thanks from all of us for that. Since we don't even charge dues,
that is a relief. Since Linux has grown so much in NH, we now have
the NH group (meets 4 times / yr), plus regional groups, each of which
meets once a month. So there is at least one NH Linux meeting / week.
So whenever it is convenient for you, there will be Linux meeting in NH.
I am CCing the NH organizers mailing list, so they are aware.
>
> >2) I just saw a conference announcement which said that
> >"26% of federal installations have reported use of the Linux" ...
> >I would like to put quotes like this in a paper I wrote,
> >called "Linux in Business and government". I give the sources of
> >my facts at the end, which would include IDCs address, and how to
> >buy complete reports from you. Is this a reasonable request?
>
> I believe that the statistics may not be as useful as you may think.
>
> Here's the most recent server operating environment data that
> we've published.
>
> Worldwide Paid or Revenue Shipments of Server Operating Environments, 1999
> 1999
> Windows NT 38%
> Linux 24%
> NetWare 19%
> Unix 15%
> Other NOS 3%
> Total SOE Shipments 5.4 million
> Source: IDC, 2000
>
> This came from a "Server Operating Environments Market Forecast
> and Analysis 2000-2004", June 2000, IDC # 22347. Please point
> people to www.idc.com or to report sales at 800 343-4935.
We will do so. Thank you for the information. One aspect of this which
has been discussed on the lists, is that most Linux boxes aren't ordered
with Linux installed. Of the 8-10 Linux boxes I know of in the NH state
government, only one was ordered to have Linux installed. Even it
didn't have Linux on it when it arrived, but I did tell Dell it was going
to have Linux installed after it arrived. Do any of your numbers take
this into account?
>
> IDC conducts many demand-side studies (e.g. surveys) every year.
> In 1999, IDC conducted over 300,000 end-user surveys. The
> study which looked at use of operating environments was conducted
> in 1998 and had over 1500 North American respondents. Twenty-
> six percent of the respondents from federal government organizations
> said that that had Linux installed. This can not be generalized to
> say that 26% of federal systems are running Linux. Nor can it
> be generalized to say that the Linux software mentioned was used
> for some production purpose. The only thing that can be said is
> that 26% of the survey respondents from federal government
> organizations have at least one Linux-based system installed.
We knew this didn't mean that 26% of US government installations
were using Linux, especially two years ago. But it also means that
26% of the bosses knew they had Linux. Do your surveys indicate
how far Linux goes before the bosses find out?
>
> I'd be happy to chat with you when convenient.
>
> Dan Kusnetzky, VP system software
> International Data Corporation
> Tel: 941 928-5257 Fax: 941 927-8700
>
Thanks again,
Bob Sparks
Never attribute to malice, that which can be explained by stupidity.
Never attribute to stupidity, that which can be explained by lack of
information.
