Interesting, right after Ballmer & Co. warn "asian governments" that they're taking legal risks by using Linux, we hear this from the WSJ. I guess Intel takes a different view than MSFT.
--QS
Intel Pushes Use of Linux
On PCs in China, India
By DON CLARK
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
November 24, 2004; Page C16
SAN FRANCISCO -- Intel Corp. is taking steps to help the spread of the Linux operating system on personal computers in China and India.
The big chip maker is offering free software, documentation and other resources to help distributors in those countries assemble and sell PCs with Linux, which is increasingly in demand in government, education and business there. The Intel Quick Start Kit for Linux, as it is called, has features to help distributors install Linux and software that works with it, including programs called drivers that are needed to work with accessory components, such as printers, Intel said.
Intel has long encouraged the use of Linux, in part because it runs on Intel microprocessor chips and spurs demand for them. That strategy, which has in the past mainly focused on hardware such as servers, cell phones and TV set-top boxes, illustrates the ways Intel sometimes diverges from working with partner Microsoft Corp. and its Windows operating system.
The Intel kit now supports desktop versions of Linux from Red Hat Inc., Novell Inc. and Red Flag Linux Software Co., and in the future will support a version from China Standard Software Co., Intel said. At the moment, PC assemblers must use motherboards built by Intel, but in the future the kit will support boards from other manufacturers, said Intel spokesman Robert Manetta.
None of the individual elements in the kit are particularly novel, but Intel hopes the combination should make it easier for PC assemblers who aren't technically sophisticated to use Linux. "This just puts all the pieces together," Mr. Manetta said.
Write to Don Clark at don.clark@wsj.com |
