“Doubts about Linux’s status as a mainstream technology keep
fading. Three of the world’s largest computer makers said last week
that they’re stepping up efforts to sell products based on the
open-source operating system.”
“Dell Computer CEO Michael Dell says his company’s Linux server
sales are expected to increase as more businesses move key
applications to the Web, where Linux is making its biggest inroads.
He predicts that by 2003, 27% of the servers Dell sells will have
Linux preinstalled. In the second quarter of this year, 10% of
Dell’s server sales were Linux systems, up from 4% a year ago.
Open-source software, Dell says, “makes much more sense than the
proprietary model” thanks to its low cost and flexible development
environment.”
“Meanwhile, Hewlett-Packard, which has been quiet on the Linux
front until now, views the operating system as a strategic
technology, says Joel Birnbaum, the company’s chief scientist.
Linux could become the operating system of choice for many computer
users within 10 years, Birnbaum says, predicting that it will play
a major role in running smart appliances.”