DiDio is no stranger to the Linux and open-source community at large. The Yankee Group analyst has come under fire on several occasions for her perceived anti-Linux stance.
She's copped a lot of flack and has been accused of skewing research results to portray a negative light on open-source platforms like Linux, and accusations range from bribery to DiDio being disingenuous about her methodology.
DiDio was one of the more vocal analysts to comment on and during the SCO vs IBM court case. Her quotes conjured up a cronyism link -- apparently, her bias stems from being a longtime acquaintance of Ray Noorda, the man behind the Canopy Group, SCO's largest investor.
So it comes as no surprise when the latest salvo was fired -- DiDio was severely criticised after a survey by the Yankee Group gave Microsoft's Windows Server 2003 a higher rating over Linux.
The majority of small and medium businesses surveyed found Windows Server 2003's quality, performance and reliability equal to or better than Linux. The conclusions were based on responses from 509 companies from various industries in North America including healthcare, academia, financial services, legal and government.
Windows better than Linux equals flawed research. This was the sentiment amongst some open-source software advocates and it's clear DiDio felt the wrath of Linux fanatics when she told ZDNet UK: "There's an extremist fringe of Linux loonies who hang out on forums and are disrespectful and threatening because you disagree with them ... that can hurt the Linux community."
But what's really scary is DiDio's work has put her personal safety at risk. "I've had these nut jobs calling me [at home] at 11 o'clock at night," she said.
Why do people behave in this manner? Are they driven by passion or some form of ulterior motive?
I can understand where DiDio is coming from. Having been in her shoes [no death threats yet], if an article has so much of a hint of negativity against Linux, the wave of criticism from this faction will know no bounds. Any attempt to reason with them has proven challenging in the past.
The Yankee Group data highlighted one very promising and positive point -- more than 50 percent of companies said they plan to install Linux in parallel with, or in addition to, existing Windows operating systems. Unfortunately, there was more focus on the "Windows beats Linux" aspects of the study, which by the way wasn't funded by Microsoft.
Hopefully, in time, the fanatical nature of some Linux followers will be replaced by proper and robust debate based on benchmarks rather than emotional outbursts. It's time to let the facts, not the heart, do the talking.
Fran Foo is ZDNet Australia managing editor.
I must admit that I agree with Laura DiDio on the fact that outbursts will hurt the OSS community. People do not like fanatics. In fact if someone is as p****ionate about something as some of the OSS community are, then most people would consider it an unhealthy obsession.
I have been a Microsoft User since I started in computers almost 15 years ago. I have many friends who use and endorse Open source applications and operating systems over Microsoft products. Although I agree with them on most things in regards to Linux, if I do decide to disagree with them it can almost become a bashing match. I have never defended Microsoft as p****ionately as my friends defend Linux. In fact I accept the flaws that Microsoft has and praise other products when I find them to be better, but my friends cannot do that. This total lack of open mindedness from these people makes me reluctant to explore the idea of implementing open source apps due to the fact that if I find that I'm not happy with it I will be told that I am incompetent by my friends.
In this case it is only my friends and I can accept the ridicule I receive from them. Out in the real world though, I believe that people will not receive the hostility that is shown by the OSS community towards other platforms well and that it will make people hesitant to implement these platforms. Not many employers would like to employ someone to oversee their networks that will jump down their throats if he/she suggests by that Linux is not as user friendly as his/hers old operating system.