[plug] the best tool for the job (was: 64 bit machines)

[Ben Jensz]

Simon Scott wrote:

>The best OS/word processor/lawn management tool on the market is the one which 
>best solves the client's requirements in terms of functionality, TCO and 
>scope for future requirements. 
>
Personally I don't believe that the "TCO" argument is the thing that 
people should be focusing on myself at all.  At the moment there seems 
to be a fixation on TCO and thats what Microsoft is trying to make 
everyone believe that Windows is cheaper than Linux on.

Personally from a business point of view, I reckon that ROI is something 
that people should be thinking about more than TCO.  What if a solution 
from Vendor A had a higher TCO than a solution from Vendor B, but the 
solution from Vendor A gave you a higher and quicker ROI?  In that the 
solution from Vendor A might have cost more, but was more suited to the 
task, provided greater functionality and provided a better product 
and/or service to your customers.

For instance a comparison in that scenario would be Microsoft Frontpage 
vs Macromedia Dreamweaver for a web development company.  Sure, 
Frontpage might have a lower TCO than Dreamweaver, but Dreamweaver gives 
you more functionality and the end result of web pages that you are 
producing for clients would be far superior.  So happy clients = 
returning clients and word of mouth from those happy clients to gain 
more clients, so the return on that more expensive investment is higher 
than the cheaper option.

Of course, thats not always the case.  A more expensive option might not 
achieve a better ROI than a cheaper option.  So really IMHO, if you're 
only pushing a TCO argument, you're not addressing what really matters 
from a business point of view, and thats ROI.


/ Ben