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Originally Posted by David M
Why are not half the homes and businesses in the USA running Linux?
Why is Linux not a serious competitor to Microsoft?
Why don't we see people debating whether to buy a Linux or Microsoft OS?
Why is Linux languishing as a viable alternative to Microsoft?
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Linux is a VERY serious competitor to Microsoft, so much so that they are spending millions of dollars on
PR/advertising/spin/FUD to counter the threat. The thing is that Linux is not competing in the low-margin desktop space, but rather in the lucrative server market. Many companies debate whether to go Linux or Microsoft -- for their servers, not their workstations. I'd say that it's a fair estimate to say that half of the servers in the US are running some derivative of Linux.
The reason, of course, is cost; Windows Server 2003 costs thousands of dollars per license, and companies often have to buy multiple licenses. Linux, on the other hand, is very cheap comparatively. Microsoft has been attacking Linux's Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), which involves man-hours dedicated to administration and training, the hardware, etc., but they haven't been very successful.