phil hunt wrote:

Have most end users even used Linux? I contend that for many tasks
-- examples being browsing the web, reading email and Usenet, doing
word processing, Linux-based systems do the job perfectly well,
without the issues of cost, insecurity and vendor lock-in associated
with Microsoft.

Linux is a great OS. I really prefer Unix (Solaris/Linux) to a Windows
platform.

But I think a lot of the caution amongst business in using Linux is the
view of it being "hacker software" with no one "in charge". Business
needs someone always available to help solve OS problems and the view
is that isn't there with Linux. Asking a newsgroup isn't the same as
having MS available a telephone call away. Not certain what Linux
tech support actually is though.

MS is trashed by many a programmer, but I think they do make reasonably
good products (although their concepts of system security seem almost
a non-concern at times). It's plenty good enough for most users.

Attribute it to my increasing anti-European attitudes, but I think the
Euro move away from MS is primarily intended to undercut US economic
power. It's one of the "quiet agenda items" on the EU plate IMHO,
although God knows MS's licensing and ownership demands can be infuriating!


SMH