Mailbag: Is Microsoft cheaper than Linux?

The second Linux newsletter last week, “Is Microsoft cheaper than Linux?” focused on another Linux vs. Windows study, this one conducted by the Yankee Group. It surveyed 1,000 users, and found most saying that a move from Windows to Linux would be cost-prohibitive, due to support and implementation costs. However, it was also reported that the study was conducted in conjunction with Sunbelt Software, a Microsoft partner. The sample audience for the survey was also taken from Sunbelt’s “Win2Knews” newsletter.

The second Linux newsletter last week, “Is Microsoft cheaper than Linux?” focused on another Linux vs. Windows study, this one conducted by the Yankee Group. It surveyed 1,000 users, and found most saying that a move from Windows to Linux would be cost-prohibitive, due to support and implementation costs.

However, it was also reported that the study was conducted in conjunction with Sunbelt Software, a Microsoft partner. The sample audience for the survey was also taken from Sunbelt’s “Win2Knews” newsletter.

In the spirit of the campaign season, a few readers responded to the Yankee report with some political analogies:

“I am glad you stay on top of such chicanery as the latest ‘objective’ Microsoft survey of its faithful on their opinion of Linux. This is equivalent to asking a Republican congregation of its opinion about John Kerry. Or Democrats about Dick Cheney. The survey is such a non-starter for credibility,” wrote one reader.

“The methodology used by Sunbelt for the Yankee Group would be like surveying only Republican contributors in Texas about the Presidential race and claiming that 80% of Americans support Bush,” wrote another.

Another reader said the study did not address other factors with Microsoft.

“All this discussion about relative costs misses an important point: when you use Microsoft products you are tied in to a monopoly [that] constantly revs software and forces you to upgrade when you don’t need to for the benefit of their cash flow … To me, it’s a no-brainer – why do business with a convicted monopolist when you don’t have to?”

Another correspondent had a different take, saying that there is some truth to the Yankee research, whether or not there was bias in the study.

“To conclude that a new Linux installation or a migration from Windows to Linux would cost 3 to 4 times more than a Windows upgrade should be no surprise,” he writes. “Imagine the cost comparison if the existing machines ran Linux – how many times more would it cost to replace them with Windows? These studies simply point out two well-known facts: 1. Windows is entrenched; 2. Change is not cheap.”

Correction: In the second Linux newsletter of last week, the second paragraph should have read that the Yankee Group found a full switch from “Windows to Linux” would be cost-prohibitive.