| Special report: Reactions to Microsoft's new software licensing policy |
by DesktopLinux.com staff (updated 'related links' on July 30, 2002)
Microsoft has announced a new (and controversial) software licensing program which goes into effect August 1, 2002. As the deadline nears, customers are faced with the choice of signing up for a fee-based software upgrade subscription service now, or paying heftier prices later. Before companies can even qualify for the new program, called 'Software Assurance', they must be on what Microsoft considers the 'current' version of the product. Companies running older software, such as Windows NT or 95, reportedly will be required to ante up for two years of the new Software Assurance program in order to be covered moving forward.
This strategy has been interpreted in some quarters as a move to intimidate corporate and institutional users into paying fees for upgrades before they are ready, thereby locking up budgets before they have any firm indication of future product features, capabilities, or availability.
Microsoft has, on the other hand, defended the program as a measure to help streamline the license process and 'help assure compliance'. In fact, the policy sent to businesses suggests that signing up before the deadline will 'save more that 45%' over pricing offered after July 31, 2002.
Partly as a response to Microsoft's new, more aggressive, licensing policy, governments and institutions worldwide have begun implementing legislation or programs geared to the adoption of Linux and other open source software as an alternative to Microsoft's Windows and Office products. Various agencies and institutions in the countries of Peru, Germany, China, France, India, Singapore, and Taiwan have announced their selection of Linux in government systems -- and the list keeps growing.
In the United States, the Pentagon has been looking to open source for Department of Defense projects. The Air Force is working with Linux already. Other US government agencies reportedly using Linux include the Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the Department of Energy (DOE). The Boston Globe reports, for example, that more than 75 IBM government customers are using Linux 'today . . . to save costs, consolidate workloads, and increase efficiency'.
Some recent indicators suggest Microsoft is backing away from enforcing this program for educators. For example, USAToday reported that some school districts have been offered the option of paying an annual fee based on the number of computers capable of running Microsoft software, instead of having to endure an audit. Along similar lines, USAToday also reported that other previously scheduled implementations of subscription-based upgrades have been extended as their deadlines approached.
If ZDNet's report that 'less than two-thirds' of corporate users are currently buying into Microsoft's new licensing program is accurate, the potential impact on the growing adoption of Linux-based software and systems is enormous.
A list of references for further background reading is provided below.
Please vote in our poll!
In order to gauge responses and reactions to Microsoft's new licensing strategy, DesktopLinux is conducting a survey of organizations and enterprises. Questions focus on alternatives to Microsoft's products and the likelihood of using Linux and certain cross-platform productivity tools. Survey participants are offered the chance to win a copy of the Ximian Desktop Professional Edition by entering in a free drawing, as an inducement take part in the survey.
Twenty copies of Ximian Desktop Professional Edition will be furnished to all winners by Ximian, based on a random drawing of poll-participants who request to be included in the drawing. Prize value is $59.95. The survey closes on June 23, 2002 at midnight PST.
References
Here are two Microsoft documents that are intended to help its customers decide what to do: a description of Microsoft's new Volume Licensing program; and a decision matrix flowchart . . . And here is a collection of articles for further reading, from around the web . . . Updated July 30, 2002
Talk back! Do you have comments on this story? talkback here
(Click here for further information)
|
|
|
Approaching the Linux Desktop
The purpose of this paper is to help organizations evaluate the Linux desktop against their own enterprise needs and discover what benefits the Linux desktop might bring to their organizations.
Migrating To Linux: Application Challenges and Solutions
Several solutions exist to help organizations migrate in an orderly fashion from Windows to Linux desktops. This paper establishes the characteristics of an ideal cross-platform solution and reviews these alternatives in light of this ideal standard. The paper takes a closer look at the pros and cons of various solutions and outlines the business benefits that can be achieved.
Linux Advantages: Publicly Available Information on Linux Software
This paper offers a brief summary of readily-available Linux information to help businesses sort out this widely misunderstood operating system.
Top 5 Strategies for Managing Linux
Despite continuous evolution in the manageability of Linux, a 2006 survey cited manageability concerns as a top reason why organizations are hesitating to adopt Linux. Levanta believes Linux can be as manageable, if not more so, than other operating systems by following key strategies. These strategic recommendations were developed from experiences in numerous customer environments, both large and small.
Why Choose Novell for Linux?
This paper outlines the benefits of switching to the Linux platform and choosing Novell as a high-performance, enterprise solution.
Enterprise Linux Selection Guide
Considering moving your enterprise to the Linux operating system? Since there are so many similar versions, choosing the right one can be tough. This paper offers a clear process to help you make an informed decision and get the features, support, and cost that are right for your business and technical needs.
Overcoming Challenges in Managing Linux
Levanta has created a new administration model with innovative technology that breaks down the barriers to making the most of Linux systems. This paper will provide an in-depth look at the workings of Levanta’s product, the first Linux appliance of its kind.
SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 for Retail Businesses
Discover why major retailers have switched to SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop in the back office. SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 is a low-cost desktop that offers a complete set of productivity applications and interoperates seamlessly with the other Windows, Macintosh and UNIX desktops in your store.
Moving to a Linux Desktop
Migrating from Windows to Linux on the desktop can be a substantial undertaking because it has the potential for touching -- and perhaps disrupting -- every user in your organization. Unlike a data center (server and infrastructure) migration that is largely transparent to users, the cultural and administrative transitions and environment readiness required to support a Linux desktop migration are extensive.
Seven Good Reasons to Exchange Exchange
This paper describes seven compelling reasons why you should switch from Exchange to Scalix.
|
|
|
|
|
news feed
