Rockin’ on without Microsoft |CNET.com
Sterling Ball of Ernie Ball Strings on dumping the MSFT suite of products:
I don’t think there’s any such thing as free software. I think there’s a cost in implementing all of it. How much of a cost depends on whom you talk to. Microsoft and some analysts will tell you about all the support calls and service problems. That’s hysterical. Have they worked in my office? I can find out how many calls my guys have made to Red Hat, but I’m pretty sure the answer is none or close to it…It just doesn’t crash as much as Windows. And I don’t have to buy new computers every time they come out with a new release and abandon the old one.
Has Microsoft tried to win you back?
Microsoft is a growing business with $49 billion in the bank. What do they care about me? If they cared about me, they wouldn’t have approached me the way they did in the first place…And I’m glad they didn’t try to get me back. I thank them for opening my eyes, because I’m definitely money ahead now and I’m definitely just as productive, and I don’t have any problems communicating with my customers. So thank you, Microsoft.
Interesting article: he points out some of the gaps in Open Source offerings (payroll software for one), but tells a good story debunking the TCO myths that Open Source needs the same or more care and feeding than the Leading Brand.
I didn’t realize the BSA had such a cozy arrangement, RE court costs.