Linux vs. Microsoft TCO Comparison

three full refresh lifecycles, stretching over a period of 5-10 years. Therefore rather than anupgrade versus migration, you contrast costs of an upgrade-upgrade-upgrade versusmigration-upgrade-upgrade process.Usability IssuesAnother factor which many correspondents raised on the release of the first version of thisdocument, was the relative usability of Microsoft platforms and Linux. Our research intothe topic found a study 11 undertaken by industry analysts Relevantive. According to a PCWorld 12 article on the study:"The researchers studied how easily two groups of users could performtasks using the different operating systems. One group consisted of 60users between 25 and 55 with computer skills but no prior experiencewith Linux or Windows XP. They tested the pre-configured open sourcesoftware according to various criteria, such as the ease of creating andadministrating new and existing files, copying CDs, and performingsome basic office tasks, such as composing a text and sending an e-mail."Also, the study calculated that the time difference to undertake these sets of activitiesbetween the two platforms, only differed by on 8%. Finally, the report concluded with:"80 percent of the Linux users believed that they needed only one weekto become as competent with the new system as with their existing(presumably Windows -- Ed) one"According to the report therefore, average Windows users should be in a position todisplay competence and equivalent comfort with Linux after perhaps a week's usage. Suchfactors should be costed by any firm looking to migrate across from Windows to Linuxdesktops.11 http://www.relevantive.de/Linux_e.html12 http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,111871,00.aspAll text material Copyright © 2002, 2004 Cybersource® Pty. Ltd. (http://www.cybersource.com.au/).All trademarks are the property of their respective trademark holders. Document Build: 291 Page 14 of 44