LYNUXWORKS CHALLENGES FINDINGS OF MICROSOFT SPONSORED RESEARCH COMPARING PROJECT DEVELOPMENT COSTS OF WINDOWS VS. LINUX

LYNUXWORKS CHALLENGES FINDINGS OF MICROSOFT SPONSORED RESEARCH

(PRWEB) August 4, 2003 -- Earlier this month, Embedded Market Forecasters issued a Microsoft-funded research report that claimed development projects using Microsoft Windows embedded operating system (OS) platforms, namely Windows CE .NET and Windows XP Embedded, were completed 43 percent faster and at an average 68 percent lower cost when compared to similar projects using an embedded Linux OS. The report was based on data received via survey from 100 manufacturers, 50 of which used Windows embedded platforms and 50 of which used embedded Linux platforms on development projects ranging from consumer electronics to set-top boxes to network gateways, among others.

LynuxWorks Viewpoint on the Research Findings
The reports findings are, at best, incomplete because they fail to take into consideration other critical factors that impact the product design process," said Bob Morris, vice president, sales and marketing of LynuxWorks. For instance, while the report claims that Linux projects take more time and money, it does not analyse and compare these projects according to their size and complexity, two factors that significantly affect time-to-market and overall cost. In fact, the findings in this report run completely counter to what weve found working with our customers, year-in and year-out, developing Linux-based products. Despite Microsofts resistance, CELF (Consumer Electronics Linux Forum), ELC (Embedded Linux Consortium) and other Linux-based initiatives demonstrate that Linux is taking hold as a viable, open-source alternative to Windows-based platforms, and rightly so as Linux has proven to be a robust software solution for developers."

A more beneficial and educational study for the embedded industry would be an unbiased examination of how open-source and proprietary operating systems can best meet developers needs," said Dr. Inder Singh, CEO of LynuxWorks and chairman of the Embedded Linux Consortium. For instance, a truly thoughtful analysis of real-world design scenarios using a Linux and Windows embedded OS would compare factors like reliability, robustness, hardware support and availability of drivers and tools, all of which are factors that keep developers up at night. It would also evaluate projects of the same size and scope to provide a realistic assessment."

Its clear that Linux and Windows will continue to coexist, along with other open source and proprietary OSs, to provide users with a range of low or no cost solutions for their embedded design projects," Dr. Singh adds. LynuxWorks has been developing embedded operating systems and tools for 15 years and our experience has taught us that flexibility and availability of applications are what customers demand. This is why LynuxWorks offers developers a complete range of open source and proprietary embedded products in both real-time and non-real-time versions. We are the only company in the industry to take this unique approach."

About LynuxWorks
LynuxWorks is a world leader in the embedded software market, providing operating systems, software development products and consulting services for the worlds most successful communications, aerospace/defence, and consumer products companies. Established in 1988, the company is a technology leader in the real-time operating systems (RTOS) industry, and a founding member of the Embedded Linux Consortium (ELC). LynuxWorks headquarters are located in San Jose, California.

For more information, please visit: http://www.lynuxworks.com.

LynuxWorks is a trademark and LynxOS and BlueCat are registered trademarks of LynuxWorks, Inc. Other brand or product names are registered trademarks or trademarks of the respective holders. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.

Gerry Winckler, LynuxWorks, France, Immeuble le Florilege, 2 Allee de la Fresnerie, 78330 Fontenay-Le Fleury, FRANCE
Tel: +33 1 30 85 06 00
Email: gwinckler@lnxw.com

Allan Edwards, Neesham Public Relations, Tel: +44 (0) 1442 879222, Email: allane@neesham.co.uk