Hans-Christian Andersen
hans.andersen at phulse.com
Mon Jan 14 18:55:58 CST 2013
Yep. Every OS has its ugly beginnings (ie. DOS), but, if memory serves me right, Microsoft didn't start their campaign against Linux until 2004 - albeit when Microsoft started to realise that Linux was a real threat to them and their growth in the server market share. I think Microsoft had assumed that they were in the position to acquire market share from ageing Unix servers and still was in the mindset that Linux was a toy operating system for enthusiasts. But all that changed when some heavy weights started throwing their girth behind Linux - notably IBM - and Microsoft did not (or could not?) appreciate the viral nature of a GPL licensed OS and the growing community behind it (such as myself, that were adamant to break free of a dependence on Microsoft for things even as basic as file servers (Samba) and web servers (Apache)). Even the internet boom was a factor, with the runaway success of the scripting language PHP and easy to deploy platforms such as Wordpress, contributed significantly to the growing dominance of Linux. Well, you could say it was the perfect storm and Linux ended up replacing those ageing UNIX systems and starving Microsoft of the chance to grow significantly. One might also argue that Microsofts exorbitant price for server licenses was the main factor and that's true to an extent, hence why Microsoft was forced to begin their FUD campaign against Linux on the TCO issue. But, it didn't seem to have much of an effect. Linux dominance is only increasing and the areas where Microsoft has a foothold are slowly becoming less relevant - hence why we are seeing Microsoft making radical (and questionable) changes to even their core product, Windows. - Hans On 2013-01-14, at 3:39 PM, "Jim Lawrence" <accessd at shaw.ca> wrote: > Joe average user would totally bulk when they realized they would have to do > hundreds of lines of command prompt code. > > Many years ago when setting up SCO UNIX terminal sites it would take the > better part of a week to get a network site up and running. Most of the > setup scripts were carefully assembled, saved on disks and downloaded onto > the servers of the new sites. Those scripts were extremely valuable and > would take a good tech a numbers of installs to get hang of and to be able > to save these. One set of manuals was over two feet long and required a good > knowledge of most of the contents to be competent. Even then I would watch > many of the best techs crawling through manuals or on the phone, sometimes > for hours, trying to crack some tough network issue...and then there was a > steady stream of addendums and updates coming through the mail. I remember > having an install at home that I would setup, configure, test, reformat and > do it again and again until an install could be done fast and more > effective. I took a month worth of lab training and then I wrote exams to > become a certified SCO Unix installer and reseller. I was one of eight that > passed of the original 25 that started the courses. > > In 1995, I installed my first Microsoft NT (LAN Server) server and two of us > connected over 50 users and multiple printers in one day....no instructions > or manuals, just winged it. TCO was a fact then. > > Linux was like a breathe of fresh air compared to Unix even though the > original versions took a while to get up and running as every Video, Sound > and LAN cards would have to have all their addresses and IRQs manually > entered. For a short-cut it was easier to interrogate the cards on a Windows > box, write down their parameters and re-enter them when starting up Linux. > In those days, users were patient as a site may take the better part of a > week. > > The whole TCO marketing was true. What was not mentioned is that UNIX/Linux > ran faster, more reliably with less resources than any Windows system...and > they still do. > > Today's Linux versions of Servers and Workstations are so much easier to > install so the whole concept of TCO was done a decade ago. Maybe it is time > for Linux to use TCO to market their products. > > Jim > > -----Original Message----- > From: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com > [mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Hans-Christian > Andersen > Sent: Monday, January 14, 2013 1:48 PM > To: Discussion of Hardware and Software issues > Subject: Re: [dba-Tech] PCs are here to stay > > I guess Microsofts anti-Linux "Total Cost of Ownership" marketing campaign > they've been running for years wasn't all that much of a success! > > - Hans > > > On 2013-01-14, at 1:16 PM, "Jim Lawrence" <accessd at shaw.ca> wrote: > >> Good point. >> >> Considering the Linux has been the private preserve of real tech heads, > for >> years, it now so completely dominates the Server market and almost 100 >> percent of the super-computer market. All the growth has happened without >> the help of an advertisers and marketers of any kind. >> >> Microsoft has had the benefit of a huge marketing team. Their costs of >> advertising is millions a day and having hardware manufactures signed to >> contracts that obligates them to install Windows on all their computers > has >> been a very successful formula. Given this scenario I would expect Windows >> to be well ahead. >> >> I am a tech contractor and though much of my now limited work is in > Windows >> PCs, I am also responsible to give my clients all the options that are >> available them, without prejudice. I am not cheering for Microsoft, Apple, >> Google or Linux. I am definitely not part of a Fanboz club, for any > product >> and if one product gives the client what they need at the price they can >> afford, so be it. >> >> As for the Linux growth market, small though it may be, it has shown > growth >> of over 64 percent in nine months...more than any other OS. Below is an >> interesting link: > http://www.zdnet.com/amazons-top-selling-laptop-doesnt-run-windows-or-mac-os >> -it-runs-linux-7000009433/ >> >> As a business person, if I did not take advantage of the vacuum caused by >> Windows 8, I would be seriously remiss. Our jobs are not to sell products >> but to sell solutions whether it is our personal preference or not. >> >> Jim >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com >> [mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Salakhetdinov >> Shamil >> Sent: Monday, January 14, 2013 2:13 AM >> To: Discussion of Hardware and Software issues >> Subject: Re: [dba-Tech] PCs are here to stay >> >> Hi Jim -- >> >> Thank you for your notice. >> >> <<< >> Because of this Linux has seen remarkable growth in adoption. >> But how remarkable that growth is? - percent of Linux vs. Windows 8 >> installed on the new PCs sold worldwide in the fall of the year 2012? >> >> Thank you. >> >> -- Shamil >> >> >> Воскресенье, 13 января 2013, 20:48 -08:00 от "Jim Lawrence" >> <accessd at shaw.ca>: >>> One major factoid in amongst all the hype about the ever expanding Tablet >>> and Smartphone market is the PC market is remaining absolutely stable. >>> >>> Just because its popularity is dropping in comparison to other growing >>> products does not mean it sales are dropping; it is just that other >> products >>> sales are growing and more users are coming to the market. What is >> happening >>> is that PC sales are still in the millions. >>> >>> With Windows basically abandoning the PC, by either demanding users move > to >>> Windows 8 and by stopping the sales of Windows 7, it has left a big > vacuum >>> in Operating Systems. Because of this Linux has seen remarkable growth in >>> adoption. >>> >>> Today, I spoke with a fellow who had the pleasure and took the risk of >>> allowing Ubuntu Linux 12.4, on half his network. He now wants me to have > a >>> talk with two more of his business friends about various Linux options, >>> maybe sometime next week. These sites may seem small but put together > with >>> thousands of non-aligned techs through out the country the impact will be >>> substantial... >>> >>> ...And the truth is, once people step over into the Linux world, find it > is >>> all they need, enjoy the price and the rock-solid stability, they are >>> unlikely to come back for anything less. Windows has done the Linux world > a >>> wonderful service and they deserve a hardy thank you. >>> >>> Jim >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> dba-Tech mailing list >> dba-Tech at databaseadvisors.com >> http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/dba-tech >> Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com > > _______________________________________________ > dba-Tech mailing list > dba-Tech at databaseadvisors.com > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/dba-tech > Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com > > > _______________________________________________ > dba-Tech mailing list > dba-Tech at databaseadvisors.com > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/dba-tech > Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com