> Folks,
> I am interested in the question of selecting a server platform.
> For example, are these guesses correct:
> unix gets the earliest ports of new server software (are some
> unices more desirable than others)?
Linux is free, 'supported' by an extremely large newsgroup (4
specialized groups, actually). It is undergoing constant improvement
and upgrades, far more than commercial products. See comp.os.linux.*
> unix server software is least prone to crashes
> unix server software has more features
> unix has the most development tools
> Macintosh server software is easiest to install
> Macintosh has the easiest to use development tools
> Windows server hardware is cheapest when disk space is taken into account
Not necessarily. Linux, an increasingly popular unix clone, runs on
the Intel platform. Consequently, the cost of unix hardware is exactly
the same as Windows hardware.
> Windows server software is most crash prone
> the size of the Windows market may cause servers and tools to
> improve significantly by the time Windows95 is out
> Windows has the most development tools
unix has more, but they require more expertise/experience to use.
> What are the important differences? Are there classes of user
> and application for which unix is a must? For whom a Mac or
> Windows is the best choice?
The Mac or Windows would probably be the best choice for someone
unable or unwilling to undergo the unix learning curve. If this is not
a consideration, then unix is almost certainly the best choice.
> Larry Press
-- |- Jim Anderson -| |- anderj@fi.gs.com (read daily) -| |- jander@panix.com (read infrequently) -| |- (212) 902-2406 -|