[K12OSN] interesting bit from Novell on MS vs. Linux

[Huck]

  Dear Valued Customer,

You may have seen a letter from Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft, which 
was sent to all Windows customers in an attempt to slow the flood of 
migration to Linux. Novell would like to make you aware that the points 
made by Mr. Ballmer in that letter include only those statements in its 
paid studies that reflect most positively on Microsoft when comparing 
their products to Linux.

We'd like to share some additional facts with you that will shed some 
light on the bigger picture.

*Total Cost of Ownership*

Mr. Ballmer quotes selectively from Windows-favorable comments in a 
Yankee Group report ("Linux, UNIX and Windows TCO Comparison"). However 
— that's not the whole story. That same report also states the following:

    * "...corporate customers report Linux provides businesses with
      excellent performance, reliability, ease of use and security. Yes,
      Linux is a viable alternative to UNIX and Windows. In addition,
      Linux is the most serious competition to Microsoft's dominance in
      the server operating system market to date."
    * "The ability to modify and customize the Linux source code affords
      customers the most intriguing possibilities for custom application
      development. This ability stands in stark contrast to the closed
      or proprietary nature of the Windows operating system.
    * "In summary, the Yankee Group's TCO survey found that Linux does
      offer compelling cost savings, economies of scale and technical
      advantages, as many a satisfied user will attest."

*Security*

Mr. Ballmer brings up the issue of security, which understandably is 
much on his mind. He cites Microsoft's recent investments in security 
research, process improvements, and customer education, and boasts of 
Microsoft's structured software engineering process that is designed to 
make software more secure.

The truth is, Open Source uses a structured process, but it is 
definitely different from the one Microsoft utilizes. And to tell the 
truth, it seems to be working much better.

Evans Data Corporation, in their Linux Development Survey dated Summer, 
2004 shows:

    * Ninety two percent of survey respondents indicated that their
      Linux systems have never been infected with a virus Fewer than 7%
      said that they'd been the victims of three of more hacker intrusions.
    * On the other hand, the process Microsoft utilizes clearly has been
      inadequate at protecting its customers from costly malicious attacks.

For example, two weeks ago Microsoft released a mammoth patch pack to 
address more than 20 vulnerabilities, most of them critical. Several of 
them, in Excel, Internet Explorer, and Exchange, could enable mass 
automated worm attacks.

In a story that appeared in Computer Business Review Online 
<http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=AE15DF7E-7717-445A-80B3-E9882011F0F0>, 
Drew Copley, senior research engineer at eEye Digital Security Inc, said 
that it took Microsoft 71 days to patch the Zip problem after being 
notified, but another vulnerability, a less-severe privilege escalation 
problem in Windows, took the firm 408 days to issue a patch for, though 
it was "stealth-patched" in XP SP2.

"They can do better than that in my opinion. Even when they are fast 
there are often variants out by the time the patch comes out," he said. 
"I think that's a very important criticism to make."

*Indemnification*

Mr. Ballmer claims that it is rare for open source software to provide 
customers with any indemnification at all. The Novell® Linux 
Indemnification Program has been in place for quite some time. It offers 
indemnification for copyright infringement claims made by third parties 
against registered Novell customers. Novell has also placed its 
considerable patent portfolio squarely behind its customers, to defend 
against those who might assert patents against open source products 
marketed, sold or supported by Novell.

For more information on the indemnification program, see 
http://www.novell.com/licensing/indemnity/ Read Novell's patent policy 
here: http://www.novell.com/company/policies/patent/

*Bottom Line*

Linux can deliver a lower TCO, it is arguably more secure than Windows, 
and the combination of Novell's patent policies and the indemnification 
program offers for its open source products provides protection for 
customers who wish to make the leap to Linux. We invite you to read the 
full reports for yourself, and see why Linux is gaining more and more 
fans every day.

Linux is the fastest growing operating system, used from desktops to the 
most demanding data centers. According to IDC reports, Linux enjoyed 
year-to-year growth of nearly 50% in 2003. By 2007, they estimate that 
30% of all servers will run Linux, and they project a 44% compound 
annual growth rate in Linux desktops.

According to an Information Week survey, Linux is now the dominant 
manifestation of open source. Nearly 70 percent of 420 
business-technology professionals surveyed already use the operating 
system. Three-quarters of those using Linux on some of their companies' 
servers chose it for its performance capabilities and reliability.

If the world were as Microsoft states, Linux would not be the world's 
fastest growing operating system, ISVs would not be writing to it in 
ever increasing numbers, partners would not be looking to sell it, and 
Microsoft would not have put a revenue caution related to Linux in their 
latest SEC filing. These, however, are the true facts.

This information and much more is available on our website at 
http://www.novell.com/linux/truth. We encourage you to examine the facts 
in their entirety and see if Linux is right for you and your business.

Sincerely,
Jack Messman
Ronald W. Hovsepian