http://www.fool.com/news/commentary/2006/commentary06111421.htm // snip // So, is it time for Red Hat to roll over and die? Hardly. While there's no doubt that both of these projects will affect Red Hat's results going forward, they are hardly nails in the company's coffin. Paul Cormier, executive VP of engineering, takes a hard line in his company's defense: "There's no question that Linux is a viable part of the enterprise. The two largest proprietary software companies just stood up, and by them saying that Linux is a threat to them, it's obvious that Microsoft and Oracle feel Linux is mainstream in the enterprise." Microsoft would love to have control of Linux and keep it behind Windows from a technical point of view. "Microsoft's strategy for coexisting with Linux is to take a piece of any revenue stream that Linux creates," notes Cormier. // snip // ed Hat's support system has a few advantages over Oracle, too. With support centers on four continents, staffed by a total of 200 certified Red Hat engineers in front-line support, 24/7 staffing is no problem. But unlike many trouble-ticket handlers that put low-paid, minimally trained staff on the first line of support, Red Hat strives to handle every problem on the first call. Rather than escalating up to highly paid level 2 or 3 experts, 97% of all calls to Red Hat support are handled on that first step. Not only do Red Hat staff members know Red Hat products inside and out, but they also receive cross-training in major partner products like Oracle, Sybase, VMWare, and so forth. "When customers come to us they're, looking for a single throat to choke for support, and we try to deliver the goods," said Gray. // snip // Red Hat is probably in for a couple of rough quarters as customers jump on the Oracle and Novell bandwagons, mostly out of curiosity. Then it will be up to those companies to keep their newfound clients. Chances are that a good number will eventually go back to what they already know, not to mention that classy support system. In the meantime, I'm betting that the market will go into a blind panic at the first sign of lower profits, kicking Red Hat into the gutter. That would be our buy-in point, my friends.
