Linux

[Steve]

Thought the hardware folks might be interested in this -

=============================

How Linux Could Kill Windows NT

Jesse Berst, Editorial Director ZDNet AnchorDesk 6/23/98


Linux. It's not a serious challenger to Microsoft Windows NT. But it
could be. If three things take place. 

Linux has roughly 5 million users worldwide, compared to about 200
million for all versions of Windows. Lately I've been seeing signs of
momentum. 

Corel is shipping Linux as the operating system on its NetWinder
network computer. Sun Microsystems is backing Linux as an alternative
operating system for its UltraSPARC platform. VARs and system
integrators have begun to use Linux for customer projects. They like
the fact they control the source code, so they can mix and match the
components they need and build custom extensions. 

But these are baby steps. Three things are needed if Linux is to duel
Windows NT for real. 

1. Enterprise-quality technical support. Linux still feels risky to
large corporations, who feel they need support from a single point of
contact, not from a loose alliance of libertarian programmers. It
makes some IT professionals wonder if they could get fired for
choosing Linux. 

Of the three obstacles, this is the easiest one to solve, because it
is largely perception versus reality. Companies such as Caldera and
Red Hat now offer user-friendly commercial versions with nationwide
support.

2. Tier One applications. The leading applications must be available
in Linux versions. The situation is improving but very slowly. Corel
ships WordPerfect for Linux and plans to develop a suite of business
applications. Most other vendors won't do Linux versions until
there's enough demand. And there won't be demand until there are
enough applications. That leaves Linux trapped between a chicken and
an egg. 

3. A standard interface. This issue will prove hardest of all because
it flies in the face of the Linux gestalt. It's not a technical
issue. At least one firm has already built a Win95 clone. Rather it's
the problem of getting the fiercely independent Linuxites to agree to
a single standard. Remember, the core community is made up of Unix
geeks who think graphical interfaces are for sissies. 

Would you like to see the rug pulled out from under Microsoft? Here's
how it could happen. IBM ships and supports Linux. Oracle does Linux
versions of all its products. A consortium of top vendors picks a
standard Linux interface and creates a compatibility logo. 

Possible? Absolutely. Microsoft's long-range strategy would come
crumbling down if it was forced to give away Windows NT. It plans to
upgrade all of us to NT, and charge us twice what it gets for NT. Is
a Linux takeover likely? Give me a break. Of course not. 

Copyright (c) 1998 ZDNet
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