“Compaq last week admitted that Linux needs to establish
more enterprise deployments and must gain additional software
vendor support if it is to become more than a niche operating
system. The firm is a major backer of Linux across Intel and
Alpha-based systems.“
“We’re definitely at the stage where we need reference sites,”
said Judy Chavis, Compaq’s Linux/Unix product marketing manager.
“Otherwise we’ll be in danger of losing all this momentum and it
becomes one of those ‘just for geeks’ things.”
“Chavis said that the Linux 2.4 kernel, Linux 64 project and a
larger skills base would help Linux to prosper. She added that
Compaq expects to report some significant deals over the next six
months, including a worldwide e-commerce site that will use Linux
for Internet infrastructure services. “The e-commerce site’s
decision was based on cost and the internal skills base, and it
felt that Linux was ultimately more reliable than Windows,” Chavis
said.”