Star UNIX's True Competition: Linux?
Linked by Eugenia Loli-Queru on Mon 26th May 2003 23:36 UTC
General Unix Linux only has a small percentage of the computing market, however Microsoft already considers it a major competition as the open source OS steals the hearts of many users. Following the hard numbers though, Microsoft also increases its market share on both server and desktop space with time. The only logical explanation is that Linux steals quite a market share from the traditional UNIX providers (SCO, Sun, SGI, HP, IBM). But only Sun seems to truly be in a real Linux trouble, as it is the one with a resistance to Linux integration to its full product range.
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{ >Apple is also a Unix vendor, yet its existence isn't threatened by Open Source software.

Apple is NOT a traditional Unix vendor. Apple just now emerges in the server market, their main strategy is completely workstation-oriented, therefore it has nothing to do with the market of the big 5. Linux can't compete in the workstation/destkop arena yet, therefore, for now, Apple is not part of the "endagered species" as the other Unix vendors are. }

Apple also sells to a very limited audience, it is a niche market as I have stated before Apple has its customer base, Linux has its customer base. Even after their slight emergence in the Server market I have yet to see any substantial flocking to a Mac server such as the Xserve or any of their other products. The server market is littered with Linux, Windows and some UNIX variants, it is hard to win any customers in that Area. Mac will continue to be popular among Mac fans and you may see some people buy into the hype and switch but you wont see them go in droves and you wont see Apple gain really significant marketshare in any arena.

{ >That "Linux hype" is a media creation. I guess most IT reporters know about other free *nix.

Yes, they know about BSD. But most of them STILL prefer Linux. Why? Because it SELLS. This is what the hype is all about,. }

Linux is more popular because of Ease of Use and system design. People like automated installation and do not wish to sit around and have to figure out a text installer, they want something idiot proof and some Linux distributions offer it. BSD has its strong points and has its advantages but the disadvantages outweigh its advantages.