BUSINESSWEEK ONLINE : JANUARY 24, 2000 ISSUE
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Windows vs. the World How four major operating systems for corporate computing stack up against each other WINDOWS 2000 (Microsoft) WHAT'S NEW Improvements in reliability and the ability to manage computer networks less expensively. Handles some of the more demanding computing jobs, such as managing major Web sites. STRENGTHS It is inexpensive. Used with servers based on Intel microprocessors, it's about one-third as expensive as Unix-based combos from the likes of Sun. WEAKNESSES It still can't run on the most powerful servers, and many computer systems administrators don't trust it for complex computing tasks. SERVER MARKET SHARE 38.3% in 1998. SOLARIS 8 (Sun Microsystems) WHAT'S NEW Solaris handles servers with as many as 64 microprocessors--compared with 32 for Windows 2000. Also, eight computers can be clustered together to work as one, compared with four for Windows 2000. STRENGTHS Solaris has emerged as the server operating system of choice for large Web sites. It's super-reliable and handles the most demanding tasks. WEAKNESSES It is more expensive than Windows 2000 systems, though Sun is now pushing Solaris for use on Intel machines for the lower end of the market. MARKET SHARE Total Unix was 18.8% in 1998. NETWARE 5.1 (Novell) WHAT'S NEW Novell's directory software now runs on Windows 2000, Solaris, and Linux servers as well as NetWare, making it easier for companies to manage complex networks. STRENGTHS The directory software for keeping track of computers, programs, and people on a network has proved vital to companies such as Ford and Wal-Mart, and this update keeps it ahead. WEAKNESSES NetWare is primarily a networking system--not able to run general applications such as databases or accounting. MARKET SHARE 22.8% in 1998. RED HAT LINUX 6.1 (Red Hat Software) WHAT'S NEW It's easier to install than it used to be. Also, customers can now cluster up to eight servers--which means better reliability. STRENGTHS Red Hat taps into tens of thousands of volunteer programmers who help out with improvements to the open-source Linux operating system. Plus, Red Hat's server package is nearly free: $149. WEAKNESSES Linux is good for serving up Web pages, but it isn't as effective as Windows 2000 at handling more complex jobs. MARKET SHARE Total Linux was 15.8% in 1998. DATA: INTERNATIONAL DATA CORP. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ BACK TO TOP					RELATED ITEMS Is Windows Ready to Run E-Business? TABLE: Windows vs. the World The Long March of Windows 2000 INTERACT E-Mail to Business Week Online

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