Windows: Are You Open To Alternatives?

Wall Street is buzzing about Dell’s latest earnings warning. But instead of worrying about plummeting PC prices and razor-thin margins, the channel should increasingly focus on software and higher-margin services.

One interesting option comes from Novell, which today introduced the Open Workgroup Suite. The suite–positioned as a low-cost alternative to Windows Server, Exchange Server, Windows XP and Office–includes a rental option that costs $80 per use per year.

This subscription-based model certainly costs less than licensing Microsoft’s operating systems, e-mail platform and Office suite. But more interestingly, it allows VARs to maintain ongoing relationships with small businesses that need service providers to manage their entire IT infrastructure.

We’re not suggesting that small businesses are ready to dump Microsoft. But on the other hand, there’s no denying growing interest in open source and subscription-based software services.