Sun's strategy is unique - and incompatible with IBM's

We are a large institution with lots, lots of servers.

Some years back we looked a lot at Linux as a migration strategy from Solaris. We did so because we wanted the benefits of Linux:

1) Runs on commodity hardware

2) Open source

3) Free

4) Performanant

And what happened? Sun literally took away all of the above reasons for us to look away from Solaris and look to Linux. We never made the transition and haven't regretted. For a big corporation like ours Solaris is arguable a stronger server OS than Linux. It is just a lot stronger in all the disciplines that really matter to large shops. Not that Linux is bad in any way. Absolutely love it for my laptop. Solaris is really lousy as a desktop OS compared to Linux.

Sun also started to open source their software stack. Suddenly we could get things like a real MS Office alternative or a industry-grade Application Server (full stack) as F/OSS. In addition they advanced their innovation in areas that really matter to shops like ours: CMT, DTrace, Solaris zones, ZFS, etc.

Area by area they opened up, including hardware, so that customers would have a true choice. Lock by lock removed. "We want you to choose us not because you are locked into our proprietary software/hardware, but because we have the best solution". Compete on solutions, not on lock-ins. Give the customer an exit if he wants. Set him free. What a daring strategy !

Culture-wise most (if not all Sun employees) began blogging. Honest blogs. Enthustiastic blogs. Blogs passionate about technology and solving real-world problems rather than marketing. Blogs that admitted to errors.

Yes, we have spent a large sum with Sun over the past years (also very recently) but we wouldn't really have a major problem if they folded. Why? Because they have provided us with choice and openness. This is unique. !!

Yes, I'm biased. I must admit I've bought the whole story they are trying to sell me.

All of this will go with the IBM take-over. IBM is the anti-thesis of the above.

Too bad the world was not ready for Sun's strategy.