Quoting Brad Bonkoski <bradb59@home.com>:

> They
> choose to deploy Linux based solutions because of the openness and
> ease
> of development, but then turn right around and use M$ within their own
> walls.  Strikes me as odd, but I guess it goes to show the lack of
> Linux's competitiveness with all the "executive" types.  Is it this
> way everywhere?

I've worked for a couple of large companies, and the biggest reason cited for 
not using Linux or other OSS is because upper management doesn't have someone 
to point the blame to.  They feel more secure with a proprietary product 
because there is a dedicated company supporting the product instead of what 
they perceive as a bunch of random teenage hackers with most OSS.  Yes you can 
get support contracts from companies like RedHat, but you have to remember 
that Linux is still a relatively young phenomena in the corporate world.  Most 
people didn't have a clue that it even existed until they heard about 
companies like VA Linux, when their stock price shot up to astronomical levels.
I think that as long as the techies keep pounding away at their managers to 
use better products, then I think we'll make some headway.  If you're in IT 
and you've given up and accepted that you'll have to maintain shoddy and 
expensive software, then you can be certain that management will continue to 
tell you to use shoddy and expensive software.  Remember, the squeaky wheel 
gets the grease.  Keep bitching and whining and hopefully minds in the 
corporate world will eventually change.  Oh, and setup a Linux box on your 
desk to show that you can do practically everything that the NT/2000 box did.  
Exchange server has POP turned on by default so you can use KMail or any other 
POP client to get your "Outlook mail."
~M