Hard Facts: May 5, 2002

>> Linux is increasingly getting the thumbs-up in the marketplace, but acceptance of the opensource operating system is being hindered by a perceived lack of applications and qualms about its viability.

A significant,and growing,percentage of solution providers believe these two factors are holding back Linux, according to the March CRN Solution Provider Survey. Respondents citing a lack of applications as a significant impediment jumped to 64 percent in March from 53 percent in December.

The news is not all bad, however. Factors such as certification and training are perceived to be less of an impediment to Linux's broad acceptance.

And some solution providers disagree that customer skepticism and lack of applications are a problem.

"Two years ago, we had to sell the idea of Linux to our customers, but now businesses are coming to us," said Anthony Awtrey, vice president at I.D.E.A.L. Technology, a Linux solution provider in Melbourne, Fla. "We are growing faster than we can handle. This is more a perception issue than a reality issue, and solution providers need to do a better job of educating themselves, and their customers, as to the wide range of Linux-based solutions that are available."

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