Industry experts clash over Linux and Unix

David Taylor, chairman of Certus, and Eddie Bleasdale, director of NetProject, went head-to-head in a Silicon-hosted debate on the benefits of Linux.

According to Taylor, "IT directors are watching the development of Linux very closely. However, the reality is that many corporates in this country have invested millions, like it or not, within the Microsoft environment and it's almost catch 22. Linux has to prove itself within a live production environment, among the blue chips, before it will take off."

But Bleasdale said companies shouldn't be so hesitant about making the switch, claiming that, in essence, Linux is Unix. "You've got to recognise that Unix has developed with the Internet. Unix is the operating system of choice with the Internet. We're all now talking about how to move into electronic business and we can only move into electronic business if we've got stable, secure, virus-free operating systems that enable us to do business-to-business transactions over the Internet. Linux is the technology, Unix is the technology that will enable us to do that," he said.

You can see the full head-to-head debate in our Enterprise OS channel.