Myth 3: The 'Research' Is Against Linux
According to leading research studies, Linux is (blah, blah, blah...). Hey, research analysts have to eat, too. That doesn't mean you should buy what they're selling.
Don't Miss:
This cuts both ways; supposedly neutral third-party studies have, at one time or another, biased their findings in favor of pretty much every operating system you care to name, including both Windows and Linux.
As one of Microsoft's own internal communications once asserted (PDF), however, "analysts sell out" -- and clearly, the more lucrative the deal, the easier it is to "sell out."
Don't dismiss this as a bunch of conspiracy-theory hogwash. The case against top-tier research firms accused of accepting payments from IT vendors whose products come out on top in subsequent studies is clear, convincing, and impossible to ignore.
None of this means Linux is inherently superior or inferior to any other operating system. It does mean that seeking out truly impartial, relevant third-party studies dealing with Linux is a tricky and extremely difficult task. It also complicates the process of selling a proposed Linux migration to a company's non-IT decision-makers, as this group is a key target audience for cooked third-party "research" reports.
The best defense against this problem is a good offense: Marshal your evidence to support a move to Linux very carefully. Check your facts -- and your sources -- twice, and then check them again. And when the time comes to make your case, insist that decision-makers who present opposing points of view can defend their sources just as thoroughly.
Go To Step-By-Step: Moving Your Server To Linux
Next Page: Myth 4: Linux Is A Desktop Data Nightmare
Previous 
