ZDNet: UnitedLinux: Standardizing Linux

“In 1954 two lesser American auto manufacturers combined forces
in the hope of creating one competitive company. The merger of Nash
and Hudson to form American Motors may have extended the longevity
of the combined entity, but it didn’t fundamentally change the
competitive landscape.

“UnitedLinux, the high-tech version of American Motors, has at
least one thing going for it: It’s an attempt to begin addressing
an old problem with Linux–the inconsistencies between
distributions. Without this technical goal, the joint project of
Turbolinux and Caldera International in the United States,
Conectiva in Brazil, and SuSE in Germany, would barely be of
interest.

“It’s important to bear in mind that UnitedLinux is purely an
enterprise play. While the new UnitedLinux distribution will be
their in-common product targeted at you folks, the four companies
will continue to maintain their own product lines for other
markets. Since the Linux enterprise marketplace is dominated by Red
Hat, you really have to wonder how big a ripple this will make in
the pond…”

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