Bush's "Fuzzy Math" is rubbing off on Billg(e)

Post #61,324 by jb4 11/6/02 9:21:48 AM 11/6/02 9:23:31 AM Reply	Bush's "Fuzzy Math" is rubbing off on Billg(e) Which, I guess, is another way of saying, when yolu lay down in slime, you get dirty. Courtois claimed that Microsoft has been tracking the total cost of ownership (TCO) in 12 organisations across a range of business sectors, and that in 95 per cent of cases the "TCO was better on the Windows platform". According to my calculator, 95% of 12 is 11.4. So, Mme. Courtois, as proxy for The Autistic One, how did you create 4/10ths of an organization for your screed? (Edit: fixed YAT (yet-another-typo)) jb4 "About the use of language: it is impossible to sharpen a pencil with a blunt axe. It is equally vain to try to do it with ten blunt axes instead. " -- Edsger W.Dijkstra (1930 - 2002) (I wish more managers knew that...) Edited by jb4 Nov. 6, 2002, 09:23:31 AM EST Expand All History
Post #61,331 by drewk 11/6/02 9:56:44 AM Reply	Even if the number are right Even if the TCO for Windows is "usually" lower (to avoid the precise number), there is a hidden implication: Since the TCO of Windows is usually lower, that's what you should use. But (there's always a "but" when it comes to statistical analyses) that means that there are at least some cases where TCO is higher for Windows. The question then, is: What do the cases where the TCO of Windows is higher have in common? Is it based on the industry? The computer-skills level of the staff? The specific programs used? The network effect of dealing with customers/suppliers? The inertia and cost to switch? Considering the fact that Windows already has a 95% share of the business desktop market, the fact that they can only show lower TCO in 95% of the cases is telling. It means that even with all the items mentioned in the previous paragraph, they're only breaking even on the cost to stay or switch. === Microsoft offers them the one thing most business people will pay any price for - the ability to say "we had no choice - everyone's doing it that way." -- [link\|http://z.iwethey.org/forums/render/content/show?contentid=38978\|Andrew Grygus]
Post #61,347 by folkert 11/6/02 10:20:39 AM Reply	The long run total cost of operations [link\|http://www.linuxandmain.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=281\|Why Free Software's Long Run TCO must be lower] I believe Drew you'd like this too... `[link\|mailto:curley95@attbi.com\|greg] - Grand-Master Artist in IT [link\|http://www.iwethey.org/ed_curry/\|REMEMBER ED CURRY!!!] Your friendly Homeland Security Officer reminds: Hold Thumbprint to Screen for 5 seconds, we'll take the imprint, or Just continue to type on your keyboard, and we'll just sample your DNA.`

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