Last week we released the newest version of Microsoft Exchange Server system to manufacturing… it was a nice to see how Microsoft R&D teams (which is one of the biggest in the world) rehearse and develop a system which was requested by customers who were using and about to use the last version.

What many people don’t believe is that in a product development cycle, research is an important portion. Take an example, of the Linux distributions – we can always download the “FREE” software without anybody’s intervention and also get a GNU license. But have you thought that even if you have the product free, who is going to develop the new additions which we always need. For an example – a security loop-hole fix or a new Printer driver….

If I got the download from the Red Hat site, I may need to pay to get the support. Then I will be able to download the fix for the security loop-hole (do remember Linux also got security loop-holes). But if the distribution which I download isn’t got any registered trade-mark of a company, then it’s a shame to use your valuable time and bandwidth download. B’coz there isn’t any R&D team backing you-up for the support.

It’s just like you buy a Merc S Series and then you figure out there is no spare-parts available :)

But the “hard-core” extremes got few myths for the general public – one of them is Linux distributions are “free”.

What actually carries is that you get a free Operating System from the web – but you do not have support. If you don’t believe it do a small research of the top enterprises in our country.