PC Windows Linux
With Full Arsenal of Apps $1,820 $900 http://www.cio.com/archive/030104/open.html
Motif Window Standard yes yes
OS Tools Standard proprietary yes
Command Line Standard proprietary yes
Software Installation Standard proprietary proprietary + some standards
User tied to a single PC yes no Windows can be configured differently but this presents serious hurdles.
Windows App Compatibility yes yes http://osdir.com/Article5060.phtml
Linux App Compatibility maybe yes
Windows 95,98,ME Market Share 21% http://www.itfacts.biz/index.php?id=P2719
Linux Market Share 3% http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_05/b3918001_mz001.htm?campaign_id=nws_insdr_jan21&link_position=link1
Apple Market Share 3% http://www.itfacts.biz/index.php?id=P675
Free version adoption no >50% http://www.serverwatch.com/news/article.php/3498161
Security fixes 1 week 1,2 days
New viruses daily less frequent
Links
PC Market Share 1974-2004 http://www.pegasus3d.com/total_share.html