Date: Mon, 26 Apr 1999 10:11:54 -0700 (PDT) From: Nicole Harrington <nicole@nmhtech.com> To: freebsd-advocacy@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: Encanto Networks chooses FreeBSD over Linux Message-ID: <XFMail.990426101154.nicole@nmhtech.com> In-Reply-To: <372473C6.DA4EA120@excite.com>
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On 26-Apr-99 My Secret Spies Reported That Dean Lombardo wrote: >=20 > Just found the URL: >=20 > http://www.investors.com/web_edition/today/viewcomptech.html >=20 > It asks for a user name and password, but guest/guest seems to work... >:-) >=20 Below =3D full text version for lazy folks like myself ;> Pretty cool! Nicole ------------------- Windows Foes Pose A Threat: Ex-Novell CEO=20 Date: 4/26/99=20 Author: Michael Tarsala=20 Bob Frankenberg is a pretty good authority when it comes to alternatives to Microsoft Corp. operating systems.=20 As chief executive of Microsoft rival Novell Inc., Frankenberg did battle w= ith Bill Gates, his well-known counterpart at the software titan. In the early 1990s, Frankenberg peddled an alternative to Microsoft's DOS operating software ca= lled DR DOS, which was dropped in 1995. Orem, Utah-based Novell still dukes it o= ut with Microsoft for other types of operating software sales to large busines= ses.=20 In 1997, Frankenberg moved on to the chief executive slot at privately held Encanto Networks Inc. in Santa Clara, Calif. The start-up offers electronic-commerce services and software for small businesses, as well as computers that don't= use Microsoft's operating software.=20 Frankenberg says Microsoft faces a new and serious challenge from two varia= nts of the Unix operating system. One is Linux, and the other is similar softwa= re called FreeBSD. Both can be found on the Web for little to no cost.=20 Encanto recently adopted FreeBSD for its machines. He says other companies could soon join suit. He spoke with Investor's Business Daily recently abou= t the threats Linux and FreeBSD pose to Microsoft.=20 IBD:=20 Linux is now the fastest-growing server operating system. Why did you choos= e relatively unknown FreeBSD?=20 Frankenberg:=20 We did a very careful evaluation. The reason we went with FreeBSD is that a= lot of work had been done to maximize transaction-processing performance. This = can improve the speed of accessing Web pages. We found there was a 2- 1 or 3-1 improvement over Linux.=20 Linux, on the other hand, performs better for individual use. In general, i= f I'm a user of a desktop computer - instead of a network user - I'll get a faster response time on Linux than FreeBSD. We needed better network performance.=20 IBD:=20 Why are so-called ''open-source'' Unix operating systems a hot technology topic?=20 Frankenberg:=20 The open-source movement is a very healthy one. It's a response to the kind= of dominance Microsoft has had.=20 IBD:=20 Why would a customer use open-source Unix instead of a Microsoft operating system?=20 Frankenberg:=20 At the low end, Microsoft will be making an announcement soon about embedde= d NT (Windows operating systems for small and hand-held computers). But at the l= ow end, the cost of the NT license and how much memory and disk pace) it consu= mes add dramatically to the cost of the system. Our computers are not using NT = for those reasons.=20 IBD:=20 Is the growth of open-source Unix surprising?=20 Frankenberg:=20 It's not surprising. One of things we see is Linux as a replacement for NT = on the desktop. The underpinnings are aimed at doing that. Both Linux and Free= BSD are more reliable than Windows NT. Our customers don't care about the operating system. Operating systems are inherently ugly and complicated. That's why w= e hide them. We did work to make sure end users wouldn't have to worry about an operating system.=20 IBD:=20 How can open-source Unix change Microsoft's business?=20 Frankenberg:=20 It will force Microsoft to continue to innovate, and I think that's healthy= . In recent years, Microsoft has done little to improve its operating systems. Microsoft hasn't had to do anything but collect checks.=20 You may recall from the depths of ancient history that Novell old) DR DOS. = It eventually lost to Microsoft's DOS. But one thing DR DOS did was keep Micro= soft honest. It forced them to continue to innovate DOS and Windows.=20 IBD:=20 Microsoft would take issue with you stating the company hasn't upgraded its operating systems.=20 Frankenberg:=20 Announcements are one thing. Delivering innovations are another. Can you te= ll me the advantage and innovation in Windows 98 over Windows 95?=20 IBD:=20 How much can open-source Unix erode Microsoft's market share?=20 Frankenberg:=20 If Linux and FreeBSD together got 5% share, it would be an incredible accomplishment. Microsoft thinks any share to anybody is unacceptable. It w= ould be great if the little guys got a little bit of share.=20 But it wouldn't harm Microsoft hardly at all, given how fast the market is growing. There's incredible momentum behind the Microsoft solutions. It's n= ot the benefits of the Microsoft operating system, but what's written to run on them. Do a comparison of what runs on Windows and what runs on Unix of any kind. There= 's so much more for Microsoft. The comparison is so lopsided that it's almost hard to measure.=20 IBD:=20 How has support from IBM Corp. and other hardware makers helped Linux gain acceptance?=20 Frankenberg:=20 I think there's a difference in making it available as an option and making= it your mainstream operating system. That's not to belittle what's happened. T= he next hurdle open operating systems have in becoming mainstream is getting more software bundled with the operating system and more software packages that rival the ones that are available on Windows.=20 > Dean >=20 >=20 > "Carlos C. Tapang" wrote: >=20 >> Subject: Encanto Networks chooses FreeBSD over Linux >> Date: Sun, 25 Apr 1999 17:53:41 -0700 >> From: "Carlos C. Tapang" <ctapang@aracnet.com> >> To: <freebsd-current@freebsd.org>, <freebsd-stable@freebsd.org> >>=20 >> Just came across an interesting article in Investor's Business Daily (Ap= ril >> 26th issue) in the Computers and Technology section. The title is "Windo= ws >> Foes Pose A Threat: Ex-Novell CEO". In it Bob Frankenberg cites the reas= on >> why his company chose FreeBSD over Linux: they did a very careful evalua= tion >> and "found that there was a 2-1 or 3-1 improvement over Linux". "... A l= ot >> of work had been done to maximize transaction-processing performance." B= ut >> "Linux, on the other hand, performs better for individual use" because o= f >> "better network performance". >>=20 >> Hmm, are we finally getting good press coverage? I am sure this did not >> happen by accident. There must be an effort going on to get this kind of >> press coverage. Good job, guys. >>=20 >> Carlos C. Tapang >> http://www.genericwindows.com >>=20 >> To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org >> with "unsubscribe freebsd-current" in the body of the message >=20 >=20 > To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org > with "unsubscribe freebsd-advocacy" in the body of the message |\ __ /| (`\ =20 | o_o |__ ) ) =20 // \\ =20 nicole@nmhtech.com | http://www.webweaver.net/ webmistress@dangermouse.org | http://www.dangermouse.org -------------------------(((---(((----------------------- =20 - Powered by Coka Cola and FreeBSD - - Strong enough for a man - But made for a Woman - =20 - I'm not ADD - I'm just Multithreaded - - Microsoft: What bug would you like today? - ---------------------------------------------------------- SYSADMIN(1) Sysadmin is the keeper of all things computer, is generally harangued, must= be=20 supplied with caffeine, chocolate, and sushi in order to function=20 properly, cannot be exposed to direct sunlight, and must not be allowed to = have a life. 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