All things considered, it's a recipe for revolt (MIS Magazine) [LWN.net]

MIS Magazine examines the effect that Microsoft's version 6 licensing is having on their user base. "For users, the time will inevitably come when they either succumb or jump to alternative suppliers. US Giga Group analyst Julie Giera told CNET in May 2002 that of the third intending not to sign to version 6.0 licensing, 80 per cent are installing Linux somewhere in their organisation. However, Kablau says he does not believe the alternatives are a significant threat." Thanks to Con Zymaris.

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Trade press is a key factor

Posted Aug 30, 2002 13:30 UTC (Fri) by sphealey (guest, #1028) [Link]

Sad as it may seem in 2002, the IT field is still shaped in large part by the trade press. PC Magazine no longer has the influence it once did (and Byte is of course gone), but CIO, Information Week, and Computerworld still wield a great deal of influence, as does the WSJ in the executive suite.

So far, these publications are still for the most part toeing the Microsoft line, with an article here and there about discontent with Licensing 6.0 and implementation of Linux. If the readership of these publications convinces the editors that Linux really is moving into, and Microsoft moving out, of the enterprise, the balance could tip very fast. Microsoft could find itself on the downside of the media coverage curve it rode so successfully in the 90s.

But - I am not at all sure that will happen. Microsoft probably buys 100,000 times as much trade press inches as all the Linux vendors put together, after all.

sPh

Trade press is a key factor ... not

Posted Aug 30, 2002 15:35 UTC (Fri) by rogmon (guest, #3502) [Link]

The company I work in has been in a Linux/MS war for the last couple of years and never once have I heard "trade press" raised as a reason for any sort of decision making. Its always cost that determines the call. And we argue about the cost of conversion, the cost of training, the cost of licensing, the cost of security breaches ... and on and on and on. The slide to Linux is driven by the perception that it ultimately allows IT to do more for less than sticking with MS. As much as I would like to picture the IT guys as mindless drones (especially when they don't agree with me), they do act rationally and their arguments are sound. Over time, Linux and their perception of its value over sticking with MS will determine how fast they switch.

When will you stop beating your wife...?

Posted Sep 5, 2002 9:49 UTC (Thu) by leonbrooks (guest, #1494) [Link]

will determine how fast they switch.

I notice that the option of whether they switch at all is not open to discussion. (-: