I agree with the sentiment but this is probably not the case as a sysadmin hardly has any say in this usually. (I've been a sysadmin at software companies for 10 years.)
I've worked in the field as a professional since around that time and as an amateur since 1995.
Things Linux did better at that time:
- installation experience, os: installation of a "pre-installed" Windows laptop could take up to 4 hours before you had finished completely.
- installation experience, additional software: I was good at removing Windows spyware and adware back when that was a local problem. Never had any Linux user with that it problem.
- driver issues: 50/50, since around that time hardware would mostly "just work" unlike Windows were one would typically, again at that time, have to hunt around the Internet or dive for the cd. Reason why Linux don't win hands down was because if something wasn't supported it would often be a dead end until next distro release, sometimes longer.
- end user support, other ux issues: the same, which means Linux probably win with a comfortable margin since Windows had the benefit of everyone "knowing it" and still didn't come out way ahead.
- in addition Linux typically is faster, even to this day, which is a huge issue with some users.
You might have noted I wrote in many areas, not all.
For users who earn their livelihood with Autocad and Photoshop I'll have a hard time recommending Linux. Same goes for people who have tried Linux for a few weeks and still don't like it. It might be preference or it might be stubbornness, I don't care.
But blanket statements like the one I replied to:
> As well as cutting 98% of your workforce as no office employee knows how to work on anything different.
is just plain wrong. The fails here are mostly related to other issues, not dumb users. (I really don't like that idea that all users are so stupid they cannot change adapt.)
I'm certainly not going to object to you having that view, but if that's how you see it then it's not a very interesting discussion is it? Would be like discussing whether the Beatles were better than the Rolling Stones "in many ways".
For what it's worth, I believe you are very wrong. But I understand and kind of appreciate this view, largely because it keeps me employed.
this. I think most office workers couldn't care less if they run Windows. But they know those Excel hotkeys as well as any Vim hacker knows the escape key.
As a vim to excel user I’ve always wanted to create an addon that maps vim hotkeys to excel. My only fear is that I’d get too used to it and not be able to use any machine that I sit down at.
The actual friction will come from Windows sysadmins with no other practical skills.