Why Linux over Unix/Windows??

[DaveWolles]

Hi,
I already posted something related to this, but i'll formulated it a bit more general now.

I'm currently doing research for a company about the possibility to change from Windows 2000 to Linux (that's how I start conversations on this board :p)

Apart from the costs involved with this migration, there is also the part of convincing the big chief that Linux is in fact the better solution.

So, basically my general question is 'what makes Linux so special that a company would abandon Windows?'

Some related issues:
If Linux is so much better, why aren't more companies switching?
Why would Dell abandon the support for Linux and go in close partnership with Microsoft?
If Linux is so 'treatening' for Microsoft, then why is Microsoft concentrating on getting ready to go into close combat with Unix instead (could Longhorn be a breakthrough)?

Linux is a relative new OS, especially compared to the ancient Unix. So isn't it a bit too soon for a company to risk changing to a system that is still in it's 'early' development?

If someone can answer part of these issues that would be already great
:D
Of course, this could easily result in a debate comparable with the tiresome 'Unix vs Windows'-one. But if someone has some hard facts (bosses like numbers and graphics, you see ;)), please post some links

Thanks :)

[Exempt]

Im still a Linux newb, but I can try and answer some of your questions...


Some related issues:
If Linux is so much better, why aren't more companies switching?


Possibly the fact that it is harder to learn, theyd have to spend more money on training... But with the money they save from Linux compared to Windows, they're still ahead of the game...


Why would Dell abandon the support for Linux and go in close partnership with Microsoft?



One word, money... No secret Microsoft has it... Dells not exactly known for their great systems anyways, anyone who runs Linux knows this and chances are theyre not going to be buying a Dell anyways...


If Linux is so 'treatening' for Microsoft, then why is Microsoft concentrating on getting ready to go into close combat with Unix instead (could Longhorn be a breakthrough)?

Because there is a larger presence of Unix servers than Linux I assume... And as u mentioned its older and has more respect since its survived so long, if they can compete with Unix, Linux shouldnt be too big a problem for them...

Just my guesses though... I only know a little bit about Linux...

[DaveWolles]

Hi,
thanks for the reply. i'm a linux newbie as well, so no fear about that matter ;)

the things you mentioned are all probably 100% correct. the hard part is to have proof.
Linux is most likely cheaper than Windows in the long run, but it's not easy (if at all!) to find solid proof of this. you know it, i know it, but the man in the big office doesn't know anything about computers and only looks at the figures.
What i'm doing now is looking for references from other companies that already made the big step and what their conclusions are.

If you happen to come across some of these, let me know :) as long as it contains numbers, like percentages or graphics (like the total cost of ownership) it's very very usefull to me :)

Thanks!

[Nanoy]

Depends on what you use windows for, if its just for office, web browsing, sening mails, ect, it would take like 30 mins to learn Linux.

Aside from linux being basically free, its rarely targeted by viruses.

And people say its more secure, it probably is, but I don't know much about that :).

[hard candy]

Take a look at the article in this thread,
thread (http://www.justlinux.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=122391)