NEWS
Linux provider Cybersource has updated its two-year-old study comparing the total cost of ownership (TCO) when using Microsoft's products against open-source solutions - only to find that Linux is still cheaper.
The study comes after a wave of similar "independent" studies that have been commissioned by Microsoft or its partners and indicate that proprietary software is cheaper than open-source solutions. Microsoft has been actively marketing the results of these studies as part of its "Get The Facts" campaign.
Con Zymaris, Cybersource's chief executive, said that although the company is identified as a Linux solution provider, it has "made a great effort to prepare a balanced and open analysis".
"The prices used for the study, along with research methodology, vendor specifications, cost calculator tabulations and final results are all included, so that these results can be verified by others. Which is more than we can say for any of the TCO reports that Microsoft touts in its current carpet-bombing anti-Linux advertising campaign," said Zymaris.
According to the latest study, entitled Linux vs. Windows TCO Comparison: The Final Numbers Are In, for a company with 250 users, Linux solutions will cost between 27 per cent and 36 per cent less than Microsoft's products over a three year period.
The numbers are based on hardware, software, networking, staffing, consultancy fees, internet access, desktop productivity applications, training and miscellaneous system costs. In its updated report, which was first published in April 2002, Cybersource has also included a comparison with paid-for solutions from Red Hat.
In an effort to gain further credibility, Cybersource says it gave Microsoft a 'head start' by ignoring the costs of dealing with viruses and any costs associated with downtime resulting from reboots and crashes. Additionally, the company said it has tripled the budget for external Linux consultants because one of Microsoft's arguments is that open source requires an "increased reliance" on them.
Zymaris said that organisations and many governments are investigating the Linux option and it hopes the study will make the decision easier.
"The final numbers are startling. We've given Microsoft every head start possible but Linux's cost advantage is simply too great for most organisations to ignore," concluded Zymaris.
The full report is available in PDF format from the Cybersource website.
Munir Kotadia writes for ZDNet Australia.
Comments
There are 11 comments. Join the discussion
1. Jamie Bishop
It's a shame they didn't take usability and user satisfaction into account. If you could put a price on these everyone would know the results and there would be no need for these kind of pointless reports.
2. anonymous
Next time, try using the bulk licensing prices (Microsoft Open License) and incorporated CAL's to work out the prices.
Or does that swing the report in the favour of Microsoft so can't be shown?
3. anonymous
How can a study in this case ever be independent. Eather it is done on behalf of M$ or Linux or Unix.
seems that whoever backs the study will be the cheepest option.
Simple solution is to use both and not care!
4. Goten Xiao
The results will point one way, yes - but I doubt the report was COMMISIONED by the Linux community. All of the Microsoft reports were *PAID* for by Microsoft themselves.
And even using bulk licensing, I doubt Microsoft would gain a lead. Especially if you factor in downtime costs, repairs, viruses and the like.
5. anonymous
Just assuming the figures are right....or thereabouts....all the companies in the "get the facts" campaign....are we to
1. Trust their judgement
2. Assume they're M$ flunkies
3. Or assume they really can't count?
If I were 7-11's Keith Morrow, I'd be wondering what people were thinking of my management/accounting capabilities
6. Janet Harvey
Surely it all depends on salesmen making presentations to Councils, Universities and Colleges. They just buy so much, and train everyone on their software, so everyone else is forced to use it, or lose their jobs.
Have a look at British Computer society sales of ECDL; and EDEXEL exam board selling crazy exam subjects whilst they are unable to moderate existing exams with any fairness.
7. Niall Bole
The only truly unbiased study possible would be a straight Windows-Linux comparison run by Apple.
And look, see the pig flying across the face of the blue moon?
8. reb
and i wouldn't trust a comparison run by apple either! they play with microsoft.
no, i think the only way to get a fair comparison, is to get 250 independent companies, from different locations around the world, to try both for 1 year, and then ask them for the results.
and all overseen by the swiss government (they are fully declared neutral (well as regards war)).
9. Dingletec
These TCO studies are very odd. With experienced IT workers, the price of Linux and the office apps that come with it are zero. I haven't seen anything that the commercial vendors offer that would compel me to buy their products. I touch our Linux workstations maybe once a year, so admin costs are very low. By comparison, Windows is a nightmare. We can barely keep up with updates, virus definitions, MS Office bugs, worms, and general instability. Fortunately, my responsibilities are for the growing Linux/Mac population on my network.
Also, with Linux, workstations can consist of retired Windows systems or bulk purchased no OS PIII systems currently going for about $60 each.
They always print TCO articles concerning vendors. Reality is quite different, we do it ourselves. We can put together between 4 and 10 Linux systems for the price of one low end Windows system. And we can upgrade as frequently as we like, all based on my motivation, not our budget.
Pretty much all Linux admins I know do it themselves. Until people have seen how easy Linux is to Admin and distribute compared to Window, there will continue to be silly articles like this
10. Alan Matic
These studies are absolutely useless. How is a study of however many companies going to tell me anything about what is best for my business?
There are countless businesses out there using linux. There are countless businesses out there using Windows. There are countless businesses out there using Mac OS.
The reason that these companies run these operating systems is because they work best for THEM and have the best TCO for THEM.
These debates are useless.
11. Todd Cunningham
It would be nice if you could put a cost on user satisfaction. That's the reason that I prefer Linux. It's been so nice not having to deal with spyware and viruses this last year.