Linux can be a wonderful, cost-effective operating system that can save most small businesses a lot of money in licensing costs AND consulting costs as well. It's my feeling that a staffed IT department is more necessary in a Windows-based server environment than a Linux based environement because Linux is much more stable and trouble-free.

For instance, compare a Linux machine acting as a mail server in a small business organization vs. Exchange Server running on Windows 200 Server. With a Linux machine configured with, say, Postfix and Cucipop it's a fair statement to say that the machine will run for about a year or two before it needs even a reboot. If you were to install Fedora (the offshoot from Redhat) you can configure it to get its own patches automatically. With Exchange Server, there needs to be patches applied, the system itself will likely require attention throughout a given year, and the licensing costs are significant. Either way, most people will need professional help to install the Operating System and the Mail Server software. Why not choose an OS that is stable, trouble-free, and FREE. There was an earlier post that said that the installation of Linux is neither free nor easy. I beg to differ. I have installed dozens of Linux machines and I have never paid a dime for any software related to Linux. I don't even pay for the media, because I do FTP installs. It's also a trouble-free installation. You can literally walk away from it.

In all, I can't see how a small company wouldn't want to use this superior operating system.