OSDL hires analyst Stacey Quandt [LWN.net]

[This article was contributed by Joe 'Zonker' Brockmeier]

The Open Source Development Labs (OSDL) have been on a bit of a high-profile hiring spree this year. First OSDL managed to sign Linus Torvalds to their roster, then followed quickly with kernel maintainer Andrew Morton. Now OSDL is bringing on open source analyst Stacey Quandt as Principal Analyst.

Quandt has worked for Giga Information Group, where she started Giga's Open Source Research program, and for Forrester after Giga was acquired by Forrester. As an analyst that specializes in open source, Quandt has been widely quoted in the tech press and she has been a longtime proponent of Linux and open source -- even on the desktop, judging by this quote from a June story on Ximian on Newsfactor: "The desktop is Microsoft's last stand for near dominance, which will gradually erode with greater awareness of the maturity of Linux desktop offerings."

Unlike many analysts, Quandt has not been willing to parrot the party line that Microsoft solutions are cheaper. After IDC released a study last year saying that Windows 2000 was more cost-effective, Quandt questioned the numbers cited by IDC according to this article in PC World:

...the acquisition costs for hardware and software that IDC cites are suspect, according to Stacey Quandt, an analyst with Giga Information Group. She said Windows systems would seem to account for more than 10 percent of the total cost due to ongoing licensing fees.

Quandt is also one of the analysts who refused to take SCO's word that Linux contains misappropriated intellectual property at face value. While Laura DiDio of the Yankee Group and several other analysts bought SCO's line, Quandt called for SCO to show its cards, and refused to sign SCO's NDA, calling the offer a publicity stunt.

We wanted to ask Quandt about her new role with OSDL, but she was unavailable to answer questions for this story, as she's on the Linux Lunacy cruise. Nelson Pratt, Director of Marketing, was available. Pratt says that Quandt's job will be working with research firms doing work on Linux:

Our members have consistently cited the lack of extensive Linux ROI, TCO and Migration Cost research as a problem for them. Several existing research companies are starting to address this, and many are interested in having OSDL participate in some way. Stacey's research background makes her the right person to represent OSDL in its work with industry research firms. Original research is also a possibility in the future depending on our members' needs.

The release also notes that Quandt will be principal speaker for OSDL at conferences and tradeshows. Pratt declined to comment on any other Linux luminaries that may be joining OSDL in the near future.

to post comments

But does that weaken her voice?

Posted Sep 18, 2003 15:26 UTC (Thu) by knobunc (guest, #4678) [Link] (1 responses)

It is great that the Open Source community has a full-time paid voice...

But does being on the salary of the OSDN weaken her voice by making her a "paid voice"? I realize that analysts are usually paid for their opinions, but this seems a little blatant.

-ben

But does that weaken her voice?

Posted Sep 18, 2003 21:09 UTC (Thu) by hlinder (guest, #4204) [Link]

Just to be nitpicky, OSD_L_