With all the recent attention around Linux as an operating system, it's important to step back from the hype and look at the reality. First, it's worth noting that Linux is a UNIX-like operating system. Linux fundamentally relies on 30-year-old operating system technology and architecture. Linux was not designed from the ground-up to support symmetrical multiprocessing (SMP), graphical user interfaces (GUI), asynchronous I/O, fine-grained security model, and many other important characteristics of a modern operating system. These architectural limitations mean that as customers look for a platform to cost effectively deploy scalable, secure, and robust applications, Linux simply cannot deliver on the hype.

The Linux operating system is not suitable for mainstream usage by business or home users. Today with Windows 2003-2008, customers can be confident in delivering applications that are scalable, secure, and reliable - yet cost effective to deploy and manage. Linux clearly has a long way to go to be competitive with Windows Servers. With the release of the Windows 2008 operating system, Microsoft extends the technical superiority of the platform even further ensuring that customers can deliver the next generation applications to solve their business challenges...

GET THE FACTS ON WINDOWS AND LINUX
Many components of Linux needed to match the functionality of Windows Server must be sought out, downloaded, and integrated separately from those distributed in packaged versions of the product. This adds to the customer’s total cost of ownership with Linux. In addition, Microsoft .NET development platform delivers 25% lower development and support costs than J2EE/Linux.  Please follow this link to see why many hosting companies are partnetring with Microsoft to deliver world-class services.