[H-GEN] Windows to *nix

[Robert Brockway]

On Fri, 22 Sep 2006, David Jericho wrote:

> There is not a single group ware software package for the Unix world 
> that comes close to Exchange. Those who will suggest their is, do not 
> understand the power present in Exchange. Sometimes there is no

Apparently I don't.  What features does MS-Exchange[1] have that are 
lacking in the alternatives?

[1] Gosh I dislike it when companies co-opt common words.  You'll 
generally hear me refer to MS-Windows rather than just Windows.

> Disk, processor and RAM is cheap. If you are at the level where you are 
> limited by those factors, you are not running a SME or a home operation. 
> Get over it. Disk, processing power, and RAM is cheap. Really. Repeat 
> after me...

It seems to me that the implied argument here is that disk, processing 
power and ram are cheap so it is ok to throw more resources as a problem 
than to make a more efficient algorithm (in your applicatiom, OS, etc). 
I've never liked this argument for a couple of reasons:

1.  It is a false assumption in some situations.  Sometimes the demand on 
the computing resources really is near the limits of the hardware.  A less 
efficient algorithm means reduced performance.

The budget doesn't always extend to purchasing more hardware.

2.  The argument presumes there is no where else to spend the money. 
This is always false.  There are always other places money can be used.

In a business this could mean high salaries to retain top employees, 
better non-computer resources in the work place, or even higher profits to 
shareholders.

Thus I find it is important to optimise the computer system until such 
time as deminishing returns mean it is unreasonably expensive to do so.

If squeezing the last 10% of the speed could take 90% of the effort then 
the first 90% of optimisation would only take 10% of the effort.  The 
first 90% of the optimisation is a good deal.

Anthony Irwin wrote:
>> You don't have that control in Windows you have to have the graphical 
>> environment you can't choose to strip it down to the level that you can 
>> on a *nix system.
>
> Rubbish. I suggest you go investigate the Windows world much closer. 
> Information like that is simply false, and belies a greater 
> misunderstanding of the paradigm.

Can MS-Windows be run in a production environment without any GUI?  I did 
not think this was possible.  I would be most interested to hear if it can 
be done.  If it cannot be done then Anthony's assertion is correct.

Thanks to the GUI running in ring 0 on an IA32 system it does reduce 
system stability.

Similarly I think the number of services and processes than cannot be 
disabled in an MS-Windows system is much larger than in *nix in general.

As always if hard data to the contrary can be presented I will stand 
corrected.

> Get over cost. Something is worth exactly what you are prepared to pay 
> for it out of your total resource pool. No more, no less. If you value 
> your time at $0, then sure, free software is nearly always the winning 
> answer.

I believe this is a straw-man argument.  I doubt anyone would disagree 
that time has no value.

Cost is only one aspect of OSS and to consider it without considering the 
other ways in which OSS is beneficial is to misrepresent the true costs 
and benefits, IMHO.

> In my personal life, when buying toys or doing hobbies, I place an 
> arbitrary value of $50 per hour on my personal time. If it takes me more 
> than an hour to save $50, then I just fork over that $50. In my 
> professional life, problem solving is valued at a far higher rate, 
> because it'll most probably consume my time, some of my staff members 
> time, and not to mention other users time.

It seems to me that much of this post is based on the assumption that 
using OSS will inherently take more time to perform tasks.  This has not 
been my experience but if it has been your experience then you may well 
find commercial software a better alternative.

Do you still use OSS software much these days David?  Much of this 
post seems to have been about perceived negative aspects of OSS so I 
suspect not.

Cheers,

Rob

-- 
Robert Brockway B.Sc.        Phone:          +1-905-821-2327
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