Linux vs Windows
Linux Vs Windows
1. Why has Microsoft been so successful with Windows?
Windows has been successful with Windows for a number of reasons such as below: * Dominant Operating System/Large Installation Base: Windows was first launched in 1983, and has been the most dominant Operating System with a huge market share and installation base. * Enormous plethora of GUIs: Microsoft windows provide a range of features from a step-by-step user interface for novice users to powerful interfaces for the computer professionals. It provides GUI for almost all features. * High marketing and R&D budget: Microsoft invested heavily in Marketing and R&D. They provide regular updates to both their operating systems and applications. * Contracts with OEM: Around 80% of Microsoft’s revenue of its client segment is generated through the pre-installation of Windows operating systems on PCs, for which the OEMs pay Microsoft a licensing fee depending on the version of windows. * Other Windows compatible applications and software: Microsoft offered Microsoft Office and other software application, taken care of by a dedicated product segment called “Information Worker”. They also invest specialized division to support ISVs (Individual Software Vendors) to ensure the compatibility of externally written applications with their latest operating systems. * Server and Tools Division: This division of Microsoft produced the server version of windows like Windows Server 2008 R2 and development tools like Microsoft Visual Studio, a web application framework. * Significant switching cost from Windows: The high switching costs of OS from windows also protects windows as the enterprises and customers using Windows operating systems. * Piracy has pluses: Piracy of windows indirectly helps windows build a larger customer base and also compensate of the ‘free operating system’ segment of Linux, which helps it sustain better in the market and yield more
1. Why has Microsoft been so successful with Windows?
Windows has been successful with Windows for a number of reasons such as below: * Dominant Operating System/Large Installation Base: Windows was first launched in 1983, and has been the most dominant Operating System with a huge market share and installation base. * Enormous plethora of GUIs: Microsoft windows provide a range of features from a step-by-step user interface for novice users to powerful interfaces for the computer professionals. It provides GUI for almost all features. * High marketing and R&D budget: Microsoft invested heavily in Marketing and R&D. They provide regular updates to both their operating systems and applications. * Contracts with OEM: Around 80% of Microsoft’s revenue of its client segment is generated through the pre-installation of Windows operating systems on PCs, for which the OEMs pay Microsoft a licensing fee depending on the version of windows. * Other Windows compatible applications and software: Microsoft offered Microsoft Office and other software application, taken care of by a dedicated product segment called “Information Worker”. They also invest specialized division to support ISVs (Individual Software Vendors) to ensure the compatibility of externally written applications with their latest operating systems. * Server and Tools Division: This division of Microsoft produced the server version of windows like Windows Server 2008 R2 and development tools like Microsoft Visual Studio, a web application framework. * Significant switching cost from Windows: The high switching costs of OS from windows also protects windows as the enterprises and customers using Windows operating systems. * Piracy has pluses: Piracy of windows indirectly helps windows build a larger customer base and also compensate of the ‘free operating system’ segment of Linux, which helps it sustain better in the market and yield more
References: * Microsoft vs. Open Source: Who Will Win? By Sean Silverthorne, 2005 http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/4834.html * Linux Inc. – Bloomberg Businessweek Magazine, 2005 http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2005-01-30/linux-inc-dot