Linux TCO Factors, Apr 14, 2004

Linux, the open source operating system, is often associated with a lower total cost of ownership (TCO) than its proprietary rivals.

Interestingly, however, research group Meta had taken the position that Linux had the same TCO as Windows. A new alert from the company revises if not reverses this position, stating that, in Meta's opinion, Linux TCO can indeed be driven down 10 to 40 percent.

Ask a group of corporate IT leaders whether they'd rather stick their arms into a box of tarantulas or allow open source software (OSS) on their networks, and odds are most would start rolling up their sleeves.

In this security-conscious era, getting IT or business leaders to consider using OSS can be a tough sell. One of the main reasons is a perceived lack of control - or a throat to choke to put it another way. If you purchase packaged software, you know who's responsible. If you're using Microsoft Outlook and some knucklehead exploits a hole to distribute a virus to your user base, all eyes turn to Redmond for a patch. But if you're using Evolution and a similar problem occurs, to whom do you turn for a remedy? (See Myth #4 for the answer.)

The University of Nebraska considers leaving Windows and Intel environment for cheaper Linux-ready Lotus