ITinfo: IBM Plans to Use Linux Everywhere

Big Blue Embraces Linux

Microsoft, watch out!

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IBM Plans to Use Linux Everywhere

by Dave Murphy
ISSN 1535-3613

Big Blue today beefed up its plans to embrace Linux on all four of its server designs, improving how well Linux and IBM's AIX operating system work together. IBM (International Business Machines Corporation) will add more of it's own software to on-going efforts of the worldwide Linux development community.

I judge IBM is more careful in its dealings with the general Linux community than Microsoft; however, it's announcement today will definitely put IBM, still a big player in anyones book, right in the face of add-on service sellers Red Hat and Linuxcare.

IBM now has technical support agreements with Red Hat, SuSE, TurboLinux, Caldera Systems, and Linuxcare. But those deals my go by the wayside once IBM realizes how much money there is to be made in the Linux marketplace.

IBM's announcement will be good for all of us in the long run. Linux is an open-source cousin to Unix, and it competes head-to-head with Microsoft Windows NT and Windows 2000. IBM's move also should give Microsoft second thoughts. Techies like news that announces viable competition to Microsoft's technical monopoly.

I see it in much more personal terms. Both Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer are getting older. They've made their marks, and Gates at least, has made plans to deliver his vast earnings to charity. Windows 2000 is way behind schedule, and Office 2000 is a technical bust. What's next for Microsoft? I'm betting that the company takes a strong tack and we see true competition in the operating system world within the year and competitive applications from the likes of Corel next year.

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References

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updated January 10, 2000
http://dgl.com/itinfo/2000/it000110.html