Top Post:
Forwarding for those interested.
-----Forwarded Message-----
> From: Huck <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: K12ltsp <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Subject: [K12OSN] interesting bit from Novell on MS vs. Linux
> Date: Thu, 04 Nov 2004 15:48:40 -0800
>
> Dear Valued Customer,
>
> You may have seen a letter from Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, which
> was sent to all Windows customers in an attempt to slow the flood of
> migration to Linux. Novell would like to make you aware that the points
> made by Mr. Ballmer in that letter include only those statements in its
> paid studies that reflect most positively on Microsoft when comparing
> their products to Linux.
>
> We'd like to share some additional facts with you that will shed some
> light on the bigger picture.
>
> *Total Cost of Ownership*
>
> Mr. Ballmer quotes selectively from Windows-favorable comments in a
> Yankee Group report ("Linux, UNIX and Windows TCO Comparison"). However
> — that's not the whole story. That same report also states the following:
>
> * "...corporate customers report Linux provides businesses with
> excellent performance, reliability, ease of use and security. Yes,
> Linux is a viable alternative to UNIX and Windows. In addition,
> Linux is the most serious competition to Microsoft's dominance in
> the server operating system market to date."
> * "The ability to modify and customize the Linux source code affords
> customers the most intriguing possibilities for custom application
> development. This ability stands in stark contrast to the closed
> or proprietary nature of the Windows operating system.
> * "In summary, the Yankee Group's TCO survey found that Linux does
> offer compelling cost savings, economies of scale and technical
> advantages, as many a satisfied user will attest."
>
> *Security*
>
> Mr. Ballmer brings up the issue of security, which understandably is
> much on his mind. He cites Microsoft's recent investments in security
> research, process improvements, and customer education, and boasts of
> Microsoft's structured software engineering process that is designed to
> make software more secure.
>
> The truth is, Open Source uses a structured process, but it is
> definitely different from the one Microsoft utilizes. And to tell the
> truth, it seems to be working much better.
>
> Evans Data Corporation, in their Linux Development Survey dated Summer,
> 2004 shows:
>
> * Ninety two percent of survey respondents indicated that their
> Linux systems have never been infected with a virus Fewer than 7%
> said that they'd been the victims of three of more hacker intrusions.
> * On the other hand, the process Microsoft utilizes clearly has been
> inadequate at protecting its customers from costly malicious attacks.
>
> For example, two weeks ago Microsoft released a mammoth patch pack to
> address more than 20 vulnerabilities, most of them critical. Several of
> them, in Excel, Internet Explorer, and Exchange, could enable mass
> automated worm attacks.
>
> In a story that appeared in Computer Business Review Online
> <http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=AE15DF7E-7717-445A-80B3-E9882011F0F0>,
>
> Drew Copley, senior research engineer at eEye Digital Security Inc, said
> that it took Microsoft 71 days to patch the Zip problem after being
> notified, but another vulnerability, a less-severe privilege escalation
> problem in Windows, took the firm 408 days to issue a patch for, though
> it was "stealth-patched" in XP SP2.
>
> "They can do better than that in my opinion. Even when they are fast
> there are often variants out by the time the patch comes out," he said.
> "I think that's a very important criticism to make."
>
> *Indemnification*
>
> Mr. Ballmer claims that it is rare for open source software to provide
> customers with any indemnification at all. The Novell® Linux
> Indemnification Program has been in place for quite some time. It offers
> indemnification for copyright infringement claims made by third parties
> against registered Novell customers. Novell has also placed its
> considerable patent portfolio squarely behind its customers, to defend
> against those who might assert patents against open source products
> marketed, sold or supported by Novell.
>
> For more information on the indemnification program, see
> http://www.novell.com/licensing/indemnity/ Read Novell's patent policy
> here: http://www.novell.com/company/policies/patent/
>
> *Bottom Line*
>
> Linux can deliver a lower TCO, it is arguably more secure than Windows,
> and the combination of Novell's patent policies and the indemnification
> program offers for its open source products provides protection for
> customers who wish to make the leap to Linux. We invite you to read the
> full reports for yourself, and see why Linux is gaining more and more
> fans every day.
>
> Linux is the fastest growing operating system, used from desktops to the
> most demanding data centers. According to IDC reports, Linux enjoyed
> year-to-year growth of nearly 50% in 2003. By 2007, they estimate that
> 30% of all servers will run Linux, and they project a 44% compound
> annual growth rate in Linux desktops.
>
> According to an Information Week survey, Linux is now the dominant
> manifestation of open source. Nearly 70 percent of 420
> business-technology professionals surveyed already use the operating
> system. Three-quarters of those using Linux on some of their companies'
> servers chose it for its performance capabilities and reliability.
>
> If the world were as Microsoft states, Linux would not be the world's
> fastest growing operating system, ISVs would not be writing to it in
> ever increasing numbers, partners would not be looking to sell it, and
> Microsoft would not have put a revenue caution related to Linux in their
> latest SEC filing. These, however, are the true facts.
>
> This information and much more is available on our website at
> http://www.novell.com/linux/truth. We encourage you to examine the facts
> in their entirety and see if Linux is right for you and your business.
>
> Sincerely,
> Jack Messman
> Ronald W. Hovsepian
>
--
Sudev Barar
Learning Linux
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