“IBM, the world’s largest computer company, on Tuesday said it
would spend more than $1bn next year on backing the Linux operating
system – Microsoft’s chief competitor in operating systems.”
“Lou Gerstner, chief executive of IBM, made the announcement at
the eBusiness Conference in New York. He also said Shell
International Exploration would use a Linux-based IBM supercomputer
that would be the world’s largest such system….”
“Mr. Gerstner said IBM was stepping up its Linux support as part
of the company’s focus on open systems not tied to proprietary
technologies. He criticised Microsoft, Sun Microsystems and EMC,
the storage systems company, as being the last computer companies
with proprietary technologies.”