“About two years ago, IBM realized it had fallen in the very
market responsible for its initial success–the powerful server
computers that lie at the heart of corporate networks….”
“It wasn’t part of the initial plan, but an unexpected force
arrived to inject energy into IBM’s server overhaul: Linux. The
operating system, though not the easy road to riches many start-ups
had hoped, has shaken Microsoft out of its leisurely assault on
Unix….”
“As Goethe said, boldness has a magic to it,” Eunice said. “The
fact that they took this wild, completely committed swing at
Linux–I think that’s very appealing to people. It says IBM is
moving back to innovation. You can’t buy that kind of positive
feeling. Now it’s Sun that’s on the defensive about Linux.”