Well, I’ve seen this many times, Microsoft saying that their $200-$500 Operating system is cheaper than the $0.00 Linux. Their reasoning is because “Everyone uses Windows, You have to spend time to learn Linux, and if you’re in a Business environment, that time is lost money. Also Linux Administrators are more expensive in business.”
I have to go, What if you already have workers that have learned Linux, or if your people know Windows XP, but not Vista or 7, because Vista and 7 are quite different than Windows XP. Or they currently use Microsoft Office 2003, but not 2007, or 2010, you would have to spend time training workers to use the new office suite.
In the end, you can upgrade to Linux with OpenOffice, or Microsoft Windows with Microsoft Office, and often a paid Antivirus Suite. Both ways you will have to spend about the same amount of time training your workers, so why not go for the free ones instead?
I’ve been hearing of a few businesses that are doing that, My Mom’s home company, Filbert Publishing, almost exclusively uses Linux, just a copy of Windows 7 in a Virtual Machine to run some website design software.
Oh and here are a few articles you may find interesting.
Microsoft HPC claim: Windows is cheaper than Linux
Switching to Linux picks up steam
Ten Reasons to Dump Windows and Use Linux
Large, Medium, and Small Companies Switching to Linux
Have a good day 🙂