Linux integration

[Ixthusdan]

You ought to consider linux integration. Microsoft will continue to boondoggle its operating system, and they have no concern for real experience with it. (In other words, they do not care!) Linux integration can still be proprietary and does no have to be open-sourced. Whether you like it or not, if you only write for Microsoft, you tie yourself and your customers to them.

[sspielbusch]

I know where you're coming from, but unfortunately it's not an easy conversion. To make it worthwhile for a niche product like this, Linux would need to get at least 25% of the business OS market.

[Ixthusdan]

I understand what you mean. Unix/Linux is a different animal. I also know that your understanding must approach the desktop market as opposed to the server market. Windows is not anywhere in the server market, where Unix derivatives rule.

At any rate, I think that, given the Redmond propensity to ignore customers and produce inferior product, and their business tactic of using leverage to maintain product numbers rather than an actual product demand, you would be wise to keep Linux in your plans.

It is certainly not an instant track, but future plans are always good for any business. Many of us in IT think that Linux is tomorrow, and there is plenty of money to be made from specialty software and service. The Unix derivative server is the best; a Linux desktop is just as stable.