Second source, not open source, is the key

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Yes, efficient.

You wrote:
... no such thing as Linux lock in.

Sun makes a good case that it's already happened with Red Hat. Remember that companies make a profit on the proprietary software they build on top of open source. That's the way a pure software open source company stays alive.

The following is a quote from an interesting ZDNet discussion of the issue. There are flaws in some of Mr. Berlind's arguments. For example, the supposed prompt crisis response in Linux is the result of the availability of the right volunteers to fix the problem. And he doesn't think about the fact that the crisis might be directed at the proprietary parts of a package.
Anyway, worth reading.

http://techupdate.zdnet.com/techupdate/stories/main/Sun_Red_Hat_gird_for_traditional_OS_battle.html

Schwartz claims that the lack of binary compatibility between Red Hat and SuSE Linux (the only credible enterprise-ready distributions) is causing enterprises to lose interest in the "L" part of LAMP. Instead, suggests Schwartz, given Red Hat's market share and the fact that it's the first pick when other enterprise vendors like Dell and Oracle choose to support Linux, the acronym might well be changed to RAMP ("R" for Red Hat).

Schwartz's characterization of the Linux market is fair. According to IDC, Red Hat is the dominant supplier of Linux, coming in with more than 60 percent share of the market.


You also wrote:
They can't all be great products and none of them answers ALL your problems. This is why 70% of all IT depts are mixed.

True once. However, as the basics of what IT provides become more and more defined, any vendor will provide maybe not the best but an acceptable solution.
Companies will be looking for a vendor able to do it all, or almost all, and cheap.

That's an opportunity for Microsoft, but also leaves them threatened a bit by open source.

At least until patents bring down open source. And then, because open source has killed other potential competition, there'll be nothing left but Microsoft.
And Bill and Steve will thank open source for its assistance. Maybe throw a party for Linus Torvalds.

Posted by: Anton Philidor   Posted on: 06/16/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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