Windows and Linux TCO: Make Your Own Comparison

[JMaguire]

In an article about Windows/Linux TCO, the author states:

"When it comes to choosing between Windows and Linux for an enterprise, there are seemingly endless studies one can turn to about the total cost of ownership for either operating system. Yet one thing needs to be remembered, no matter which way you’re migrating: the human cost."

Here's the article:

http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/ent...le.php/3700276

What do you think? Is one OS cheaper in terms of staff?

[ua549]

Long, long ago before I retired in 1998, I was a non-employee director for several large IT installations worldwide that ran Windows servers and desktops, HP-UX servers, Solaris workstations and FreeBSD based firewalls, proxy servers and routers. entry level was a BA/BS, Masters preferred and 1 year of real hands on experience. An entry level Windows person cost 1/2 to 1/3 less than an equivalent *nix person. We had an excellent pay scale so we had the pick of available candidates.

The real issue and the reason for so much varied hardware was interoperability with our customers and suppliers. That is a semi-hidden cost in the argument in the sense that if your biggest customer requires <fill in the OS and software> compatibility you must have it or lose a customer.

I forgot to mention we had a single PDP11 machine that was used on a NASA contract for a wiring harness. It had to be maintained along with someone with the skill set to run it. Spares had to be produced using the exact methods on the same equipment as the original part that was qualified for space flight. That is why the Space Shuttle still uses x86 processors.