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Microsoft Announces MS-Linux

M.S. Leaks writes:

Microsoft Announces MS-Linux

The flexible “grassroots” operating system, now with the quality
and enterprise-level service and support customers expect from
Microsoft

REDMOND, Wash., April 1 /PRNewswire/ — Microsoft Corp. today
announced the forthcoming release of MS-Linux(R), a new version of
the well-known Linux(R) operating system designed for the
enterprise.

“Prior to the development of MS-Linux, enterprise customers
wouldn’t dream of deploying mission-critical applications on an
unsupported operating system,” said Jim Allchin, senior vice
president of Microsoft’s personal and business systems group. “All
that has now changed.”

Maximum compatibility and performance
While other versions of Linux offer a variety of immature and
largely incompatible windowing environments, MS-Linux includes an
implementation of the familiar Microsoft(R) Windows(R) desktop,
minimizing corporate training costs and allowing the hundreds of
millions of Windows users worldwide to be productive right
away.

MS-Linux provides a complete implementation of the Win32(R) API,
enabling many of the thousands of applications written for the
Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT(R), and Windows 2000
operating systems to run unchanged on MS-Linux. Microsoft will
offer support for future releases of the Microsoft Office suite of
productivity applications and the BackOffice family of server
products running on MS-Linux. In addition, many existing MS-DOS(R)
and SCO Unix programs will run on MS-Linux without modification.
Benchmark tests performed by independent laboratories have shown
that MS-Linux is the world’s fastest Windows file server.

A groundswell of support from industry
A number of leading development tool vendors will announce support
for MS-Linux, including Bristol Technology Inc., Compuware Corp.,
Cygnus Solutions, Fujitsu Microelectronics Inc., Intel Corp.,
Metrowerks Inc., Rational Software Corp., Sybase Inc., and Tower
Technology.

“The new Linux distribution from Microsoft gives the operating
system the credibility it needs to gain a foothold in organizations
where it has never gone before,” said Jon Hall, Executive Director
of Linux International, a non-profit Linux advocacy organization.
Microsoft will become a corporate member of Linux International,
and will make a substantial donation of funds and equipment to the
organization. “Linux International looks forward to working with
Microsoft for the benefit of current and future Linux users,” added
Hall.

According to VA Research President and CEO Larry Augustin, “VA
Research is delighted that Microsoft is entering the fast-growing
market for computers powered by Linux.” VA Research has announced
plans to bundle MS-Linux and selected Microsoft Office and
BackOffice products with its powerful server, workstation, and
laptop computers. VA Research has also agreed to make Microsoft its
exclusive supplier of Linux-based operating systems going forward.
“Having the Office and BackOffice suites running on computers from
VA Research will give us a huge advantage in the marketplace,” said
Augustin.

Microsoft has engaged well-known author and programmer Eric S.
Raymond to advise the company on certain intellectual property
issues related to Linux. Raymond’s paper “The Cathedral of the
Bizarre” was a key factor in Microsoft’s decision to develop a
Linux product. “While Microsoft will not immediately release the
source code for its version of Linux, the company has promised to
do so eventually,” said Raymond. “That’s good enough for me.”

“The Linux community and Microsoft are a great fit,” says Linus
Torvalds, creator of Linux. “After all, we both have the same goal,
which is total world domination.”

Separately, Microsoft has announced the opening of a new
recruiting center in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
“Microsoft is always looking for talented individuals to join our
team,” said Mike Murray, Microsoft’s vice president of human
resources and administration. “We often recruit in communities that
are expected to have significant numbers of folks looking for work
in the near future.”

Pricing and availability
Microsoft expects to release English and international versions of
MS-Linux Version 3.1 for Intel- and RISC-based computers on or
before April 1, 2000. Pricing has not been announced.

About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader
in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range
of products and services, each designed with the mission of making
it easier and more enjoyable to take advantage of people using
personal computers every day.

Microsoft, Windows, Windows NT, Win32, BackOffice, MS-Linux, and
Linux are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft
Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. Other product
and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective
owners.

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