FairfaxIT: Linux heading for the corporate desktop

Dec 04, 2001, 11:02 (30 Talkback[s])

[ Thanks to Phillip Brown for this link. ]

"Linux applications seem to be proliferating on the rebel operating system but are they ready for prime-time business? With more than 6 million free downloads so far, Sun's Star Office is the closest rival on Linux to Microsoft's Office on Windows. But server application vendors are rushing to the platform with database packages, email and accounting systems, plus a host of others.

Why is Linux attracting so much interest when it has possibly far fewer features than any of its commercial rivals? For customers, there are no server licence fees or client access licensing a huge reduction in up-front costs. For independent software vendors, there's the avoidance of direct competition from operating system and database vendors their former partners which are increasingly becoming their biggest rivals.

IBM is busy partnering up with these independent software companies, training their sales channels to exploit the Linux opportunity. One of these is the Computer Associates subsidiary AccPac. This move by IBM is a challenge to Microsoft, which recently acquired CA's competitor Great Plains Software."

Complete Story

Related Stories:

• LinuxPlanet: Editor's Note: Is Ximian Practicing Appeasement or Practicality? (Dec 03, 2001)
• DesktopLinux.com: Waiting for Linux, Waiting for Godot(Nov 30, 2001)
• DesktopLinux.com: Linux not ready for prime time on the Desktop(Nov 27, 2001)
• SiliconValley.internet.com: Linux: Not Just For Servers Anymore(Nov 19, 2001)
• Dell: Clarifying Dell and Linux: An open letter to our Linux customers (Nov 19, 2001)
• LinuxGazette: Battle for the Desktop: Why Linux Isn't Winning(Nov 09, 2001)
• LinuxWorld.com: IBM's (now) not-so-secret Linux strategy(Nov 07, 2001)
• Network World: True believers still see Linux on the desktop (Nov 01, 2001)
• Anandtech: What's Holding Linux Back?(Oct 25, 2001)
• LinuxPlanet: .comment: The Plateau(Oct 20, 2001)