Most mid-size enterprises are not interested in using Linux, the seemingly fast-growing alternative to Microsoft operating systems.
According to a recent study by Info-Tech Research Group, London, Ontario, a technology research firm, just 10% of surveyed mid-size enterprises plan to evaluate Linux within the next three years and only a portion of these will actually adopt it.
"Just 27% of mid-size companies currently have Linux installed, and almost half of the respondents said they have no interest in Linux. The Linux advance into this market has stalled," says Frank Koelsch, executive vice president of Info-Tech Research Group. "Microsoft still dominates this market and is the clear leader for mid-sized companies."
The study highlighted the divide that is occurring between large companies that are increasingly embracing open source and smaller companies that remain Microsoft-centric. Of the companies that did not already have Linux installed, 48% have no interest whatsoever, and a further 15% are not sure.
The findings and trend analysis are included in Info-Tech Research Group's annual "IT Priorities 2005" report, which is based 1,400 companies responding. The study focused on mid-size enterprises in the U.S., Canada and the UK.
