Microsoft arguments against Linux are bollocks

David M Williams
Monday, 28 April 2008 07:05

Opinion and Analysis

Microsoft PR threw down the gauntlet; “see how Windows Server 2008 stacks up versus Linux,” they say. There’s a “Get the Facts” URL being promoted with claims of direct comparisons between the two operating systems. Anyone reading the headlines alone could be fooled into thinking there’s substance to be found.

The URL is www.Microsoft.com/getthefacts which in turn redirects to the Windows Server 2008 subsite. I went into detail on one case study found on this site last week which promised the exciting tale where a major Australian entertainment company – Video Ezy – pitched Windows vs Linux head to head and Windows came out trumps.

However, reading the case study revealed no such comparison took place. The organisation were interested in evaluating the open source route but – and the case study is explicit, this is not just fanciful imagination on my part – one of the team members steered the company away because they spoke of bad experiences with Linux in a previous job.

Mind you, the bad experience was dubious; in essence a Windows shop acquired a smaller company which ran Linux. By rolling out their existing standard operating platform they cut costs. Really, the operating system used was irrelevant; it’s a no brainer that you will gain efficiency and reduce costs by having a standard platform over all your sites.

In the end, to my mind, the solution implemented did not meet the high goals the company had in mind. Disappointingly, it’s most likely budget constraints were the cause – and if an open source solution had been chosen there could have been more bang for buck.

It was a very weak case study. Perhaps it had merits if it were touted as “Microsoft designs solution for Video Ezy” but it was not; it was pitched as a direct battle between the two operating systems, with Microsoft winning. This just was not the case.

Now, don’t get me wrong here; I critiqued the Microsoft case study but that should in no way be taken as a criticism of the company itself – I’m certainly a Video Ezy customer – and definitely not of any individual involved. My point was that it was an abysmal example of a case study pushed by Microsoft showing that it outshines Linux.

You don’t have to look hard on the Microsoft site to see more nonsensical headlines. Listed on the front page of that site right now is this headline:

“Why are customers choosing Windows Server 2008 over Linux
HiChina Web Solutions
Using Windows Server 2008, we will be able to increase overall reliability by 20 percent. With that capability, we can host more customer Web sites than we could previously.”

Can this be taken on face value? What do you think? Please read on.

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