As we all know there are more operating systems (OS) than everyones favorite ”MS Windows”. Most of the operating systems are free to use and customers only have to pay for customer support services if they need them. Of course, thanks to Microsoft’s power and marketing their OS is “ruling” the world. But Free OS are catching up with the “Big Giant” and evaluating the price of a free operating system just proves that Microsoft has to get ready for a fight.

Scientist group from the university of Oviedo (Spain) have calculated the price of one of such free OS’s – LINUX. (InternetNews.com). According to specialists, the price of  ”Linux” kernel version 2.6.30 released in August 9, 2009 would be more than 1bn euro. According to their precise calculations the price would be   1 025 553 430 euro. It would take about 1000 programming specialists and about 14 years of work. According to the calculations of Oviedo university scientists ”Linux” has spent averagely 82,5m euros a year  to update and improve OS’s kernel in a  2005 – 2007 period. The scientists have calculated the price from the lines of code, hourly pay rates and other criteria.

As you can see to create an OS from absolute zero is very expensive and time consuming. Maybe that is why we do not have an amazing operating Microsoft is promising us with every new release of “Windows”.

Linux Penguin

Linux Penguin