Comments on: Novell is Feeding the Shills-for-Hire from IDC

By: JohnD

JohnD — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 17:26:35 +0000

While I hate statistics and firmly believe they can be manipulated to support any position – in this I’d question how much influence Novell could exert over respondent’s answers. They are either using Linux or they aren’t. Even if you work the survey to focus on those who are already using Linux or have plans too – the end result is that it’s in the enterprise and they have plans to use more of it. While it’s unclear which side will lose more Unix or Windows – it seems Linux will do better. I also think any attempt to spin this as a plus for M$ would be quite a stretch. Let’s be honest you’ve been using RH fiscal numbers in an attempt to prove various points – yet it’s unclear how much of RH revenue is driven by supporting Windows based solutions.
Aren’t well all guilty of spin?

By: Roy Schestowitz

Roy Schestowitz — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 17:16:12 +0000

John,

Yes, that’s because Novell paid for it. As the headline and subheadline suggest, IDC doesn’t exactly do independent studies. It produces compliments for a cheque.

By: JohnD

JohnD — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 17:13:23 +0000

I just found the IDC link on my own and I’m confused at your position on the survey. From what I can see it’s showing that Linux has great potential to come out of the downturn in a better position than before – how is that bad? I also did not see evidence promoting Novell and/or M$ over anyone else – in fact RedHat is mentioned.
I’m not trying to debate IDC’s ethics, or lack there of, I just see the survey as positive for Linux in general.