Re: Future of linux...

[Rick Stevens <rstevens vitalstream com>]

Otto Haliburton wrote:
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: redhat-install-list-admin redhat com [mailto:redhat-install-
> > list-admin redhat com] On Behalf Of Leonard Sherman
> > Sent: Saturday, September 06, 2003 12:40 AM
> > To: redhat-install-list redhat com
> > Subject: Re: Future of linux...
> >
> >
> >
> > Rick Stevens wrote:
> >
> >
> > > Angel Gabriel wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > > Imagine this sales pitch between MS, and Linux.
> > > >
> > > > MS Guy to director of finance in big company:
> > > > Yes, we have a team of 60 developers activly working on our office
> >
> > suite
> >
> > > > Linux Guy to same:
> > > > We activly have 20k people devloping OUR office suite
> > > >
> > > > MS Guy to director:
> > > > We have a support service that is very low cost, and out telephone
> >
> > staff
> >
> > > > are specially trained to answer and question
> > > >
> > > > Linux Guy:
> > > > Our support is free, from the people that actually write our
> >
> > software,
> >
> > > > not from people that are trained to answer support queries
> > > >
> > > > MS Guy:
> > > > Our software is avalible in most retail outlets
> > > >
> > > > Linux Guy:
> > > > Out software os avalible anywhere with a net connection
> > > >
> > > > MS Guy:
> > > > FINE, go get linux then!!!
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > If only this happened in every major industry, linux would take
> >
> > over!
> >
> > > Uh, yes and no.  Part of doing business is "knowing who to blame".
> > >
> > > One reason Linux finds it difficult to penetrate the desktop is
> >
> > because
> >
> > > the responsible parties at the purchasing company don't have "one
> >
> > place"
> >
> > > to go if there is a problem with the software.  They have to rely on
> > > forums such as this.  RedHat, SuSE, and several others do have tech
> > > support for enterprise clients, but if the problem is an inherent
> >
> > bug in
> >
> > > the code, they also must depend on forums or (possibly) the authors
> >
> > of
> >
> > > the code.
> >
> > But the only reason you need tech support from Microsoft is because
> > their proprietary software is hidden from the public. With open source
> > software you can examine the source code and dicover and fix any bugs
> > yourself. I have never needed support with any software, I've always
> > figured everything out myself.

The VAST majority of "enterprise" clients do not wish to analyze what's
wrong, nor do they have the resources to debug the code even if the
source is available.  That's not what they want they're in business to
do.  They want to call the vendor and get an answer or a fix.

Keep in mind that WE like digging through source and figuring out
problems, but that's OUR mindset--not theirs.  They just want the job
done or the problem fixed.  End of story.
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- Rick Stevens, Senior Systems Engineer     rstevens vitalstream com -
- VitalStream, Inc.                       http://www.vitalstream.com -
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