exchange server again

From: felmon (noone_at_nowhere.edu)
Date: 10/30/04 

Date: Sat, 30 Oct 2004 01:06:20 -0400

greets!

some weeks ago I posted requesting information about the implications for
a Linux user like myself of my college's decision to move people to
Microsoft Exchange Server.

the IT fellow here made some claims which, though it's pointless in a way,
I would like to rebut. I would welcome some sources and ideas.

he claimed:

(a) it is too expensive supporting Unix (they use some variant of this, I
believe Compaq) because of how much competent staff cost while you can get
competent Windows people relatively easily.

(I know this is an argument that Ballmer has made in some recent
communication.)

(b) many colleges and universities are moving away from Unix (and linux)
toward the Microsoft stuff.

(this runs totally against things I've been hearing but wish I had some
sources and statistics though I know hard statistics are elusive.)

please forgive: I know this is a kind of advocacy question and I will post
separately there (no follow-ups to this group), but I thought here I might
have a higher ratio of sober and informative replies. after I pick your
brains I'll go into the zoo and hope for some reasonable replies.

I see no chance of stopping the move but I would like to have something
more than hunches to utter the next time the IT guy makes these claims if
only for my own understanding.

Felmon