NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: DAVE KEARNS ON WINDOWS NETWORKING TIPS 09/01/04 Today's focus: Was Microsoft's ad really misleading?
Dear [EMAIL PROTECTED], In this issue: * Microsoft's Linux comparison ad taken to task * Links related to Windows Networking Tips * Featured reader resource _______________________________________________________________ This newsletter is sponsored by Oracle An Economist Intelligence Unit White Paper: From Grid to Great? Grid computing is breaking out. Familiar mostly to academics, government groups, and scientific researchers, this technology that links together the power of diverse computers to create powerful, fast and flexible systems is beginning to catch on in the corporate world. Included in this white paper, results and interviews from a global survey among Sr Executives, click to download now http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=78727 _______________________________________________________________ IS SECURITY RIPE FOR OUTSOURCING? Security demands for online applications such as e-commerce and Web services are prompting more corporate customers to hand off security functions - such as intrusion detection and firewalls - to outside service providers. Find out if security should be outsourced in this Network World article: http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=78250 _______________________________________________________________ Today's focus: Was Microsoft's ad really misleading? By Dave Kearns By now you've probably heard that the British Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) called Microsoft on the carpet over its "Get the Facts" advertising campaign touting the advantages of using Windows servers over Linux hosts. Specifically, the ASA found one ad, in which Microsoft claimed Linux was more expensive in the long run, to be misleading. "Same old, same old," I can hear you saying. Isn't all advertising (and marketing) playing fast and loose with "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth"? Maybe. But what those with an ax to grind about Windows don't tell you is that Redmond submitted this ad to the ASA before running it - and it was approved. Only after the fact - and only after Microsoft had already stopped running the ad - were objections raised. The ad in question compared file and print services of a Windows server running on an Intel platform with that of a Linux host running on an IBM mainframe. Now anyone who thinks an IBM z900 mainframe is comparable hardware to a PC server utilizing two 900-MHz Intel Xeon CPUs certainly doesn't deserve to be involved in any enterprise's IT operation. But the ASA held that readers could be confused. While the ad's comparison of the cost per megabit per second of the two platforms was accurate, the ASA felt that Microsoft should have gone out of its way to indicate that an IBM mainframe costs considerably more than a Dell (or HP) server. Well, duh! The fact is that IBM is heavily advertising to businesses that running Linux on their z900 mainframes is a good way to structure their IT facilities. No mention in those ads, of course, that price-performance-wise any old Pentium 3-based computer is better. But I haven't heard about the ASA calling IBM to task. There are reasons why having Linux hosts on your network is a good thing. There are also reasons why having Microsoft servers on your network is a good thing. The nebulous concept of total cost of ownership should be far down the list when comparing the pros and cons. Microsoft's ad was outrageous, it's true. The claim was based on dubious findings. But was anyone really confused? I sincerely hope not. In fact, I'll go one step farther: if there's anyone in your IT organization who claims this ad confused them, why are they still in your organization? _______________________________________________________________ To contact: Dave Kearns Dave Kearns is a writer and consultant in Silicon Valley. He's written a number of books including the (sadly) now out of print "Peter Norton's Complete Guide to Networks." His musings can be found at Virtual Quill <http://www.vquill.com/>. Kearns is the author of three Network World Newsletters: Windows Networking Tips, Novell NetWare Tips, and Identity Management. Comments about these newsletters should be sent to him at these respective addresses: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. Kearns provides content services to network vendors: books, manuals, white papers, lectures and seminars, marketing, technical marketing and support documents. Virtual Quill provides "words to sell by..." Find out more by e-mail at <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> _______________________________________________________________ This newsletter is sponsored by Oracle An Economist Intelligence Unit White Paper: From Grid to Great? Grid computing is breaking out. Familiar mostly to academics, government groups, and scientific researchers, this technology that links together the power of diverse computers to create powerful, fast and flexible systems is beginning to catch on in the corporate world. Included in this white paper, results and interviews from a global survey among Sr Executives, click to download now http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=78726 _______________________________________________________________ ARCHIVE LINKS Breaking Windows networking news from Network World, updated daily: http://www.nwfusion.com/topics/win2000.html Archive of the Windows Networking Tips newsletter: http://www.nwfusion.com/newsletters/nt/index.html _______________________________________________________________ FEATURED READER RESOURCE NW FUSION PARTNERS' SITES NOW AVAILABLE Network World Fusion Partners is a collaborative effort between Network World and sponsoring Partner companies. Each microsite contains best-of-breed information as well as custom content not found anywhere else, including a custom email newsletter and special offers. It is current, top-of-mind information that is readily accessible and bundled into one comprehensive package.. 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