[SC.LUG] What makes Linux great?

[Greg Bolshaw]

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Michael Surkan wrote:
| I am a program manager at Microsoft doing some research around how we
| can improve our operating systems. My goal is to help us identify
| capabilities, improvements, and features that Microsoft should be
| focusing on to help our customers over the next 5 years or so.

Firstly a few observations...

| Subject: "What makes Linux great?"
Is that your own personal opinion, or that of the Linux community?

| "Produced By Microsoft Exchange V6.5.7122.0"
What mail system are you using? Is that Exchange 2004? Haven't you only
just released Exchange 2003?


Problem 1 - Pointless software upgrades:
Why should I really consider upgrading other than the fact you'll
discontinue support for the previous product 12 months down the line?
There's no *real* difference between product releases, other than cosmetics.

Problem 2 - Operating system architecture:
Very few things in Linux require the system to be rebooted. Why on earth
does Windows *still* need rebooting everytime a piece of software is
installed or a security patch is installed? Which brings me on to my
next point...

Problem 3 - Security:
Can you honestly say that Microsoft take security seriously? The terms
"Advanced Server" and "Enterprise Edition" suggest that they uses tried
and tested technology. Can you explain why whenever a security
vulnerability is found in Windows XP, it also affects your
"mission-critical" server product? What are the actually differences
between Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 other than the cutback of
themes, introduction of administrative wizards, and increase of memory cap?

Problem 4 - Stability:
How often to you reboot your desktop machine? My Linux laptop currently
has 38 days uptime. Why should I have to reboot every couple of days?

Now obviously there are plenty more problems with Windows. Try Linux for
6 months, see for yourself.

| If you would be willing to take a survey I have put together, please
| write me at lnq at microsoft.com.

Sure, if you can send it in a non-Microsoft format, i.e. Rich text.

- --
Greg Bolshaw LPIC
Consultant
Linux Technologies
http://www.linuxtechnologies.co.uk


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