Amazon: Linux saved us millions

Jerry Feldman gaf at blu.org
Thu Nov 1 15:17:36 EST 2001


David,
That's an easy answer. Windows is not an Operating System. So if you 
run Windows you can not be in the operating system business. Just so 
simple :-)
On 1 Nov 2001, at 15:11, David Kramer wrote:

> 
> Amazon.com says they cut their technoloy expenses by 25%, about $20
> million, largely by switching to Linux:
> 
> http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0%2C4586%2C5098989%2C00.html
> 
> 
> There's some really funny sections in this.  My favorite is:
> 
> <QUOTE>
> But there are hidden costs to Linux, Microsoft argues. "I think a lot of
> customers are lured by the apparent low price of Linux," said Doug  Miller,
> director of competitive strategy for Microsoft's Windows division. "They
> don't have a real issue with Linux, but it ends up costing them in the
> long run."
> 
> With Linux, customers "end up being in the operating systems business,"
> managing software updates and security patches while making sure the
> multitude of software packages don't conflict with each other," Miller
> said. "That's the job of a software vendor like Microsoft."
> </QUOTE>
> 
> OK, raise your hand if you've never had a DLL conflict on your Windows
> box.   OK, now raise your other hand if you've never had a service pack do
> more damage than good, or had to install one service pack before
> installing another service pack or software. (sound of crickets in the
> background)
> 
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Jerry Feldman <gaf at blu.org>
Associate Director
Boston Linux and Unix user group
http://www.blu.org



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