ROTFL. I am working as a second level technical support specialist for a
major computer vendor ;^) and I can tell you exactly how long it sometimes
takes to solve "priority 1" problems.
> I receive no support from the Linux camp, how good does it sound to explain
> to management "I posted the problem a week ago, but no response." ? It's
> the guarantee of some sort of support service which management need. ie.
> they can yell at someone else and get a head kicked if nothing happens.
That is exactly what support contracts are good for, but nothing else. I.e.
this is a management problem, not a technical problem. Management problems
can solved by communication.
If I have a real technical problem with Linux, I do not "post" a message
somewhere but contact the maintainer of the affected piece of software
directly. You better do the same when having a problem with commercial
OSes.
If you have Linux machines, you better hire a Linux specialist of
which there are thousands out there. Traditionally, they (we) know who to
talk to about problems. It is not the case that there is an anonymous mass
of people who may or may not solve your problem. And as far as commercial
OSes are concerned, you better hire a specialist for that OS as well. No
big difference.
There is no such thing as a technical guarantee something gets solved, be
it in Linux or other operating systems. With commercial OSes, you just have
a way to legally speed things up (open a prio 1 problem or sth.) or yell
at your vendor.
> Who's going to do that for Linux ?
There's no reason why independant consultants shouldn't sign
service contracts for Linux like the one you wish. YOu may look up
the Consultants-HOWTO to find out. If there isn't any, I'd say there
hasn't been a big business opportunity for a service like that by now,
i.e. no demand.
And last, support for commercial OSes is far from being free. I'm not going
to say you get what you pay for but if you pay me the rate/hr. I normally
get I'd be more than willing to solve you any Linux problem you might
possibly have.