Slashdot | Users Reject MS Independent Study Claims

OK. Here's my take on it: You want to set up a server for your small company. You have DSL and a LAN. You want a web page, email server with spam filters, mailing list for customers and another for staff. Additionally, you want a file server internally and an extranet for your remote users. You have 10 employees. With Windows: MS Windows 2003 Server: $1,199 (Server + 10 licenses) OR MS Windows 2003 Small Business Edition with 5 licenses PLUS 5 more: $1,499 + $489 Norton Antivirus Corporate: (10-pack) $913 Norton AntiSpam: With Linux: Your choice of Linux distros: FREE LAMP system for web, extranet, etc: FREE SpamAssassin: FREE Clam Antivitus: FREE Installation: Windows: 2 days at $100/hr x 8 hrs = $1600 Linux: 2 days at $100/hr x 8 hrs = $1600 Suggested Routine Maintenance: Windows: 1-3 hours on-site every 2 weeks: $100-300 Linux: Scripted, cronjob, and remote maintenance: 3 hrs setup ($300) plus 1 hour every month for a checkup: $100 Emergency Repairs: Windows: At least 2 hours on-site, typically 3-4 hours at $100/hr - Typically 1-3 times a year. Linux: Typically 1-2 hours remote or on-site, minimum 1 hour.- typically once or less a year. Major Software Upgrades: Windows: 4+ hours, on-site Linux: 2-4 hours on-site Security: Windows: Requires firewall plus a (usually commercial) antivirus solution. Encrypted remote access costs more. Susceptable to virii from workstations. Linux: Built-in firewall, free encryption utilities, antivirus available (Linux is very resistant to virii), more agressive security tools available and free. Workstations: Windows: $199 per user, plus Norton Antivirus. Approx. 1-2 hrs per user setup time. Requires: Fairly new PC. Linux: FREE OS. Approx 2 hours initial setup (NIS/YP), plus 5 minutes automated install per user (thin client, boot-to-CD). Requires: Almost any PC with CDROM and LAN. Do the math. Linux sometimes takes a little longer to set up custom stuff (there is a LOT more of ir and there are a LOT more choices), but it requires MUCH less maintenance and licensing fees.