NT's on tap
Windows NT finding its way into survey respondents' organizations
It seems Microsoft's Windows NT has already nestled itself into our
readers' corporate computing environments. Or at least NT is in those who
responded to SunWorld Online's March reader survey, where we asked readers
about their plans or their companies' plans for Windows NT. Respondents
report use Solaris 2 (50 percent) or Novell NetWare (30 percent) on most of
their servers and Microsoft Windows and Windows 95 (74 percent) or Solaris
2 (24 percent) on their desktops.
(Note that since the survey was placed on a public Web page, the survey
participants were a self-selected lot. The results, therefore, are not
scientific.)
A significant chunk (45 percent) of the 324 respondents say NT is already
in production in their departments now. 27 percent are in the evaluation or
testing phase, and 12 percent are considering evaluation. Meanwhile, 15
percent have no NT plans. Beyond the departmental level, 52 percent tell us
that their entire organization has NT currently in production while 22
percent are in the evaluation and testing stage. 10 percent and 12 percent
are considering an evaluation or have no plans for NT, respectively.
How exactly are these departments using NT? On the server operating system
front, most use NT as a file server (48 percent) or as a general-purpose
file and application server (45 percent). This is closely followed by use
as a database server (35 percent) and as a server of shrink-wrapped
applications (34 percent). As a desktop operating system, 46 percent use NT
for programming like custom software development or for general purposes
such as personal productivity (46 percent). Interestingly, 25 percent have
no plans to use NT as a desktop OS, while another 26 use it as a technical
desktop for CAD and other engineering functions.
Those who have plans for NT as a server OS or a desktop OS think its role
will mostly be in serving Windows clients (66 percent). 39 percent see it
anchoring new projects, and 35 percent believe it will replace NetWare
servers. 23 percent even envision it replacing Unix servers. But this of
course is not the universal belief -- 60 don't think NT will supplant Unix.
They feel NT will be most popular in small shops (79 percent), but will
also be widely used in large organizations (65 percent). Its use will soar
in commercial settings (77 percent) and as a personal productivity desktop
(55 percent). However, it's a toss up when it comes to NT's prominence in
technical sites. 42 percent don't believe it will take off in this space,
while another 43 think it will. Another point of contention is the
existence of multiple versions of Unix. 60 percent see the availability of
multiple versions as a weakness of Unix, and 37 think multiple versions are
one of Unix's strengths. At least one thing is fairly certain: 69 percent
don't consider NT "open."
Who is the most likely candidate to hurt NT over time? 45 percent say
Novell, while Intel (42 percent) and Digital (25 percent) will help NT in
the future.--Carolyn W.C. Wong
SunWorld Online March 1996 Reader Survey Results
Tell us about your plans for Windows NT
Number of respondents: 324
as of 3:00 p.m. on March 28, 1996
1. Does your department use NT now?
No, and no plans to either: 14.6%
Considering an evaluation: 11.8%
Evaluation/test under way: 27.4%
In production now: 45.2%
I don't know: 0.9%
2. Does your organization (beyond your department) use NT now?
No, and no plans to either: 12.1%
Considering an evaluation: 10.2%
Evaluation/test under way: 22.0%
In production now: 51.9%
I don't know: 3.7%
3. What are your department's likely uses of Windows NT? (select all that
apply)
As a server operating system
No plans to use NT as a server: 20.4%
File server: 48.1%
Server of shrink-wrapped applications: 34.4%
Server of custom applications: 30.3%
General-purpose file & application server: 45.2%
Database server: 35.0%
Retail POS server: 2.5%
Other server: 25.8%
As a desktop operating system
No plans: 25.3%
Technical desktop (CAD, engineering, etc.): 26.3%
Scientific (Research, number-crunching): 14.6%
Financial (Trading, analysis): 11.0%
Graphics (Animation, graphic arts): 15.3%
Programming (Custom software development): 46.1%
General purpose (Personal productivity): 45.8%
Other: 3.2%
4. If you answered something other than "No plans" to the above two
questions, please answer the following: What role will NT take in your
organization? (select all that apply)
Replace NetWare server: 35.2%
Replace Vines server: 5.5%
Replace Unix server: 23.3%
Serve Windows clients: 65.6%
Extend/replace proprietary computer: 19.4%
Anchor new project: 39.1%
5. Offer your opinions on the following statements:
Windows NT will supplant Unix
Agree: 21.4%
Disagree: 59.7%
Don't know: 18.8%
Windows NT will be popular in small shops
Agree: 79.2%
Disagree: 10.4%
Don't know: 10.4%
Windows NT will be popular in large organizations
Agree: 65.0%
Disagree: 17.4%
Don't know: 17.7%
Windows NT will be popular in commercial settings
Agree: 77.0%
Disagree: 10.2%
Don't know: 12.8%
Windows NT will be popular in technical sites
Agree: 43.4%
Disagree: 41.5%
Don't know: 15.2%
Windows NT will be popular as a personal productivity desktop
Agree: 54.6%
Disagree: 29.7%
Don't know: 15.7%
Availability of multiple versions of Unix is a strength to Unix
Agree: 37.0%
Disagree: 53.2%
Don't know: 9.8%
Availability of multiple versions of Unix is a weakness to Unix
Agree: 60.2%
Disagree: 30.6%
Don't know: 9.2%
Windows NT fits the definition of the term "open"
Agree: 12.6%
Disagree: 68.9%
I don't know: 6.6%
I don't care: 12.6%
6. In time, which of the following will NT hurt most?
Apple: 8.5%
Banyan: 3.5%
Digital: 0.0%
Fujitsu: 0.0%
HP: 0.3%
IBM: 4.7%
Intel: 2.5%
Novell: 45.3%
SCO: 6.3%
SGI: 1.3%
Sun Microsystems: 15.8%
None of the above: 5.4%
I don't know: 6.3%
7. In time, which of the following will NT help most?
Apple: 1.3%
Banyan: 0.3%
Digital: 24.9%
Fujitsu: 0.0%
HP: 1.0%
IBM: 2.6%
Intel: 41.9%
Novell: 2.6%
SCO: 0.3%
SGI: 0.6%
Sun Microsystems: 3.2%
None of the above: 9.3%
I don't know: 12.1%
8. Which OS are you using...
...on most of your servers?
Solaris 1/SunOS 4.1.x: 27.8%
Solaris 2: 50.0%
HP-UX: 8.5%
AIX: 9.5%
IRIX: 4.9%
Digital Unix: 2.6%
Windows NT: 25.5%
Novell NetWare: 29.7%
Other: 5.9%
...on most of your desktops?
Solaris 1/SunOS 4.1.x: 16.9%
Solaris 2: 23.5%
HP-UX: 4.7%
AIX: 3.8%
IRIX: 3.4%
Digital Unix: 0.9%
MS Windows & Win 95: 73.7%
DOS (with no Windows): 6.9%
Windows NT: 16.9%
OS/2: 4.1%
Macintosh: 16.3%
Other: 5.6%
9. Which best describes your job title?
Systems administration: 30.4%
Programmer: 17.4%
Network administrator: 6.5%
Database administrator: 1.9%
Webmaster: 1.6%
Consultant: 7.5%
Systems integrator: 12.1%
Other technical professional: 10.6%
Other manager: 6.5%
Student: 2.5%
Other: 3.1%
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NT's on tap
Windows NT finding its way into survey respondents' organizations
It seems Microsoft's Windows NT has already nestled itself into our
readers' corporate computing environments. Or at least NT is in those who
responded to SunWorld Online's March reader survey, where we asked readers
about their plans or their companies' plans for Windows NT. Respondents
report use Solaris 2 (50 percent) or Novell NetWare (30 percent) on most of
their servers and Microsoft Windows and Windows 95 (74 percent) or Solaris
2 (24 percent) on their desktops.
(Note that since the survey was placed on a public Web page, the survey
participants were a self-selected lot. The results, therefore, are not
scientific.)
A significant chunk (45 percent) of the 324 respondents say NT is already
in production in their departments now. 27 percent are in the evaluation or
testing phase, and 12 percent are considering evaluation. Meanwhile, 15
percent have no NT plans. Beyond the departmental level, 52 percent tell us
that their entire organization has NT currently in production while 22
percent are in the evaluation and testing stage. 10 percent and 12 percent
are considering an evaluation or have no plans for NT, respectively.
How exactly are these departments using NT? On the server operating system
front, most use NT as a file server (48 percent) or as a general-purpose
file and application server (45 percent). This is closely followed by use
as a database server (35 percent) and as a server of shrink-wrapped
applications (34 percent). As a desktop operating system, 46 percent use NT
for programming like custom software development or for general purposes
such as personal productivity (46 percent). Interestingly, 25 percent have
no plans to use NT as a desktop OS, while another 26 use it as a technical
desktop for CAD and other engineering functions.
Those who have plans for NT as a server OS or a desktop OS think its role
will mostly be in serving Windows clients (66 percent). 39 percent see it
anchoring new projects, and 35 percent believe it will replace NetWare
servers. 23 percent even envision it replacing Unix servers. But this of
course is not the universal belief -- 60 don't think NT will supplant Unix.
They feel NT will be most popular in small shops (79 percent), but will
also be widely used in large organizations (65 percent). Its use will soar
in commercial settings (77 percent) and as a personal productivity desktop
(55 percent). However, it's a toss up when it comes to NT's prominence in
technical sites. 42 percent don't believe it will take off in this space,
while another 43 think it will. Another point of contention is the
existence of multiple versions of Unix. 60 percent see the availability of
multiple versions as a weakness of Unix, and 37 think multiple versions are
one of Unix's strengths. At least one thing is fairly certain: 69 percent
don't consider NT "open."
Who is the most likely candidate to hurt NT over time? 45 percent say
Novell, while Intel (42 percent) and Digital (25 percent) will help NT in
the future.--Carolyn W.C. Wong
SunWorld Online March 1996 Reader Survey Results
Tell us about your plans for Windows NT
Number of respondents: 324
as of 3:00 p.m. on March 28, 1996
1. Does your department use NT now?
No, and no plans to either: 14.6%
Considering an evaluation: 11.8%
Evaluation/test under way: 27.4%
In production now: 45.2%
I don't know: 0.9%
2. Does your organization (beyond your department) use NT now?
No, and no plans to either: 12.1%
Considering an evaluation: 10.2%
Evaluation/test under way: 22.0%
In production now: 51.9%
I don't know: 3.7%
3. What are your department's likely uses of Windows NT? (select all that
apply)
As a server operating system
No plans to use NT as a server: 20.4%
File server: 48.1%
Server of shrink-wrapped applications: 34.4%
Server of custom applications: 30.3%
General-purpose file & application server: 45.2%
Database server: 35.0%
Retail POS server: 2.5%
Other server: 25.8%
As a desktop operating system
No plans: 25.3%
Technical desktop (CAD, engineering, etc.): 26.3%
Scientific (Research, number-crunching): 14.6%
Financial (Trading, analysis): 11.0%
Graphics (Animation, graphic arts): 15.3%
Programming (Custom software development): 46.1%
General purpose (Personal productivity): 45.8%
Other: 3.2%
4. If you answered something other than "No plans" to the above two
questions, please answer the following: What role will NT take in your
organization? (select all that apply)
Replace NetWare server: 35.2%
Replace Vines server: 5.5%
Replace Unix server: 23.3%
Serve Windows clients: 65.6%
Extend/replace proprietary computer: 19.4%
Anchor new project: 39.1%
5. Offer your opinions on the following statements:
Windows NT will supplant Unix
Agree: 21.4%
Disagree: 59.7%
Don't know: 18.8%
Windows NT will be popular in small shops
Agree: 79.2%
Disagree: 10.4%
Don't know: 10.4%
Windows NT will be popular in large organizations
Agree: 65.0%
Disagree: 17.4%
Don't know: 17.7%
Windows NT will be popular in commercial settings
Agree: 77.0%
Disagree: 10.2%
Don't know: 12.8%
Windows NT will be popular in technical sites
Agree: 43.4%
Disagree: 41.5%
Don't know: 15.2%
Windows NT will be popular as a personal productivity desktop
Agree: 54.6%
Disagree: 29.7%
Don't know: 15.7%
Availability of multiple versions of Unix is a strength to Unix
Agree: 37.0%
Disagree: 53.2%
Don't know: 9.8%
Availability of multiple versions of Unix is a weakness to Unix
Agree: 60.2%
Disagree: 30.6%
Don't know: 9.2%
Windows NT fits the definition of the term "open"
Agree: 12.6%
Disagree: 68.9%
I don't know: 6.6%
I don't care: 12.6%
6. In time, which of the following will NT hurt most?
Apple: 8.5%
Banyan: 3.5%
Digital: 0.0%
Fujitsu: 0.0%
HP: 0.3%
IBM: 4.7%
Intel: 2.5%
Novell: 45.3%
SCO: 6.3%
SGI: 1.3%
Sun Microsystems: 15.8%
None of the above: 5.4%
I don't know: 6.3%
7. In time, which of the following will NT help most?
Apple: 1.3%
Banyan: 0.3%
Digital: 24.9%
Fujitsu: 0.0%
HP: 1.0%
IBM: 2.6%
Intel: 41.9%
Novell: 2.6%
SCO: 0.3%
SGI: 0.6%
Sun Microsystems: 3.2%
None of the above: 9.3%
I don't know: 12.1%
8. Which OS are you using...
...on most of your servers?
Solaris 1/SunOS 4.1.x: 27.8%
Solaris 2: 50.0%
HP-UX: 8.5%
AIX: 9.5%
IRIX: 4.9%
Digital Unix: 2.6%
Windows NT: 25.5%
Novell NetWare: 29.7%
Other: 5.9%
...on most of your desktops?
Solaris 1/SunOS 4.1.x: 16.9%
Solaris 2: 23.5%
HP-UX: 4.7%
AIX: 3.8%
IRIX: 3.4%
Digital Unix: 0.9%
MS Windows & Win 95: 73.7%
DOS (with no Windows): 6.9%
Windows NT: 16.9%
OS/2: 4.1%
Macintosh: 16.3%
Other: 5.6%
9. Which best describes your job title?
Systems administration: 30.4%
Programmer: 17.4%
Network administrator: 6.5%
Database administrator: 1.9%
Webmaster: 1.6%
Consultant: 7.5%
Systems integrator: 12.1%
Other technical professional: 10.6%
Other manager: 6.5%
Student: 2.5%
Other: 3.1%
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--There are no incurable ills | There are no believable Gods There are no unkillable thrills | There are no unreachable goals There are no unbeatable odds | There are no unsaveable souls . . Osbourne e-mail tbyars@cris.com
----------------------------- tbyars@cris.com --------------------------------
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