[TriLUG] Great article for Linux consultants - lots of great quotes

[Jim Ray]

I really enjoyed that article and remember when they got in trouble with
licenses.  Mr. Ball mentions thin client yet doesn't disclose what
server-side software he uses.  I surely would like to know.  He makes a
lot of business sense regarding re-use of existing hardware as thin
clients and not having to travel all around the plant troubleshooting
workstations because applications are server-based.  Cool stuff.  Way
cool stuff.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jon Carnes [mailto:jonc at nc.rr.com] 
> Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2003 10:19 PM
> To: Trilug at trilug.org
> Subject: [TriLUG] Great article for Linux consultants - lots 
> of great quotes
> 
> 
> Rockin' on without Microsoft
> 
> http://news.com.com/2008-1082_3-5065859.html?tag=lh
> 
> ===
> "It's so funny--in three and half years, we went from being 
> these idiots that were thinking emotionally rather than 
> businesslike...to now we're smart and talking to tech guys. I 
> know I saved $80,000 right away by going to open source, and 
> each time something like (Windows) XP comes along, I save 
> even more money because I don't have to buy new equipment to 
> run the software."
> 
> ===
> "It's like working in Windows. One of the analysts said it 
> costs $1,250 per person to change over to open source. It 
> wasn't anywhere near that for us. I'm reluctant to give 
> actual numbers. I can give any number I want to support my 
> position, and so can the other guy. But I'll tell you, I'm 
> not paying any per-seat license. I'm not buying any new computers."
> 
> ===
> But there's a real argument now about total cost of 
> ownership, once you start adding up service, support, etc.
> 
> "What support? I'm not making calls to Red Hat; I don't need 
> to. I think that's propaganda...What about the cost of 
> dealing with a virus? We don't have 'em. How about when we do 
> have a problem, you don't have to send some guy to a corner 
> of the building to find out what's going on--he never leaves 
> his desk, because everything's server-based. There's no doubt 
> that what I'm doing is cheaper to operate. The analyst guys 
> can say whatever they want."
> 
> ===
> "It shows how ridiculous it is that I can get press because I 
> switched to OpenOffice. And the reason why is because the 
> myth has been built so big that you can't survive without 
> Microsoft, so that somebody who does get by without Microsoft 
> is a story. "
> 
> "It's just software. You have to figure out what you need to 
> do within your organization and then get the right stuff for 
> that. And we're not a backwards organization. We're 
> progressive; we've won communications and design awards...The 
> fact that I'm not sending my e-mail through Outlook doesn't 
> hinder us. It's just kind of funny."
> 
> ===
> All the quotes are from Sterling Ball, CEO of Ernie Ball, the 
> world's leading maker of premium guitar strings.
> 
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