MS again

[Jared]

The Wall Street Journal story is the best I've seen
for a non-tech news source, however, they seem to
have bought Microsoft's TCO argument also. I am no
fan of MS marketing strategies, but I am a fan of
fighting fairly. No need to fight FUD with FUD.
Thus you will not find me saying or implying anything
negative about MS, unless I back it up with some solid
evidence.

I will say this, though. The closing paragraph from the WSJ:

> Earlier this month, Microsoft released a survey that it commissioned from
> tech researcher IDC that compared the total cost of running a Linux server
> to a Windows 2000 server over five years for five common tasks. It found
> Windows was 10% or more cheaper in four of the five applications, due to
> better software tools for maintaining and fixing problems. Microsoft says
> that the initial purchase is usually only 5% of the total cost of owning
> and maintaining a program, with most of the costs tied to the computer
> technicians who install and keep it running.

should cause any serious writer to refer to the letter from
Peru, wherein this TCO argument of Microsoft is exposed in a
clearheaded and objective manner:

http://pimientolinux.com/peru2ms/villanueva_to_ms.html

If anyone gets a chance to influence a media writer's opinion
about Linux vs. Microsoft, there is no better place to
point them, than to this letter by a Peruvian senator.

This letter inspired me to quit my job and attempt to
make a living working primarily with open source software.

-Jared