Linux TCO: Less Than Half The Cost of Windows

ggruschow writes "Linux Today reports 'The cost of running Linux is roughly 40% that of Microsoft Windows, and only 14% that of Sun Microsystem's Solaris, according to a new study which examined the actual costs of running various operating systems over three years.'"

Solid Unbiased Reporting...

[mythosaz]

It's a good thing the source was Linux Today. That way we know we can trust the results to not be skewed in anyone's favor.

HRm...

[B00yah]

According to this article, only 27% of the Linux servers studied used purchased copies of their Distribution...So the majority of the costs are based on the server admin's cost, which averages $71,xxx a year...my question is, where are this jobs as linux admins for $71k/ year? Who were they talking to about this, or did they just make it up?

Other factors

[flamingdog]

If you could put a price on both sanity and your precious, precious soul, then I'm sure linux would come out ahead even further.

Re:Duh

[bsharitt]

They probably didn't factor in the cost of a janitor to clean up after that penguin.

Re:Solid Unbiased Reporting...

[NickV]

Whoa, whoa, whoa... so the study was hosted at IBM?

Phew, [ibm.com] thankfully [cnn.com] IBM [ibm.com] clearly [com.com] has [cnet.com] no [com.com] alterior [ibm.com] motives [eweek.com] here [idg.net].

Re:Boeing 747 TCO: Less than half the cost of Shut

[Memetic]

So you are saying:

747 = Linux = suitable for mass usage (i.e. transporting millions of passengers every week.) now an established part of every day life.

Shuttle = Windows = tempramental, specialist technology,costs millions of $ per use and is only operable by an elite highly trained few.

Er... ok if you say so, not the ususal argumnent I have heard from either side of the lin/win battle, but I'm all for free speech...

Re:The study

[nolife]

Or the potential cost in manpower to support a BSA audit.

Re:Duh

[dohcvtec]

They probably didn't factor in the cost of a janitor to clean up after that penguin...

... or a janitor to clean up after the Windows monkeys.

Re:first?

[rmadmin]

How many admins do you know that actually do "other" productive work when they aren't working on the servers? Unless you count fscking around on the internet, chat rooms, and /. as 'other productive' work. :-D Maybe the Windows admins just spend 'several times' as much time screwing around. :-D

*note: This is supposed to be a joke

Re:first?

[landaker]

Ummm yeah but most windows technicians are just some guy with MSCE obtained through a very complex test of patting your head and rubbing your belly AT THE SAME TIME!!!!

Oh, you hadn't heard? They recently split the test into two parts that you take on two separate occasions; in fact, they've even went as far as to make the rule that you can't take both tests in the same day (presumably to eliminate cheating and things like that).

So actually, all you really have to do is be able to rub your belly one day, have the rest of the day off to recover, and then pat your head on next time you come in to test.

Re:The study

[GauteL]

You mean like pressing "File" and Choosing "Print"? I've trouble remembering that ALL the time. Somehow pressing "File" and choosing "Print" is easier under Windows.

(Administration is of course an entirely different issue).

Its also free for Pirates!

[mekkab]

Not only can Pirates get Windows XP (with a haxxored activation ID) but they can additionally get Office XP for an additional 0 dollars and 0 cents!

Our source was Lee T. Hacksor, a 13 yr-old who claims to have "0wn3d" XP for a little over a year now.

Re:Microsoft says so, too!

[PD]

Obviously you've never tried and failed to deploy various third party software like Nimda, Klez, or Code Red on Linux. By comparison, Windows machines practically install themselves!

Re:first?

[Anonymous Coward]

Brian Reagan says there is - I bought two boxen of donuts.

He also says the plural of moose is moosen. I saw a flock of moosen! There are many of 'em! Many much moosen! Out in the woods! In the woodes - in the woodsen! The meese wanten the food - the food is the eatenisen! The meese want the fooden in the woodingenisn. And the fooden the woodenisim!

Brian, Brian.. you're an imbecile.

Imbesullen!

What, you speakin' German, Brian?

German-Jermaine! Jermaine Jackson! Jackson Five-TITO!

Brian, what the hell are you talkin' about?

I dunno. Dunno, really.

Typical MS admin tripe....

[gsfprez]

i recently asked my new admin (at a new job) if i could bring in my iBook and use it.

"No. No personal machines on the network."

"Oh, any reason? Other than just policy?"

"Well, they are mostly concerned with viruses and stuff, we can't control your personal computer's virus protection. But its mostly a policy thing."

"Oh, its okay, its an iBook - running Mac OS X."

"There are plenty of viruses out there for the Mac and Linux too, not just windows."

"Really? Name one virus on Mac and the ssh hole doesn't count."

Its been 3 days now. He's started calling me at home late at night, breathing heavy... mumbling something about burning down the building and his stapler...

Re:Not exactly fair comparisons

[Dstrct0]

I think if they were gonna compare apples to apples the should've grabbed a couple of G4s

Re:first?

[0x0d0a]

Can you...Change passwords with pwd?

Dear God, I hope not.

In other news

[stud9920]

Today a Microsoft spokesman introduced a new concept : RTCO, Really Total Cost of Ownership, while promptly adding that Windows' RTCO is far below Linux'