SG Cowen & Co. notes that for the first time since it began tracking Linux in its annual survey, the number of companies planning to become first-time users of the software has fallen -- by half. The report, released June 1, asked approximately 500 corporate tech buyers in North America about their spending plans for the next 12 months. Only 7% of outfits with no Linux servers plan to add some over the next year.

Why? - One reason: The hidden cost of bringing in consultants Some companies that experimented with Linux hoping for big cost savings found that the open-source software wasn't what they expected. "Some of the bloom is coming off," says Cowen analyst Drew Brosseau .

Full ArticlePrashanth RaiTags: Linux