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To: dejavu who wrote (111899)	8/15/2000 9:24:53 PM
From: puborectalis	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 120523

Dell Loves Linux Company's CEO embraces open source OS for servers, future desktops. by James Niccolai, IDG News Service August 15, 2000, 5:29 p.m. PT SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA -- Michael Dell, who has built his successful Dell Computer selling Windows PCs, was full of praise Tuesday for the Linux operating system. During his keynote speech to open the LinuxWorld Conference and Expo here, Dell said the open source operating system is growing in popularity among businesses because it's a compelling, low-cost server alternative to costly UNIX platforms from rivals such as Sun Microsystems. "The open-source collaborative development model, I believe, is built to succeed in the Internet age, and it makes more sense than the proprietary model of some of our competitors," he said. In particular, Dell cited cost advantages of Linux over Sun's Solaris platform, as well as the speed with which developers can introduce new features to Linux. He also praised the peer review process of open-source development, in which a loose-knit community of developers works together on Linux code to refine and improve it. Linux Bandwagon Dell is just the latest major hardware vendor to throw its weight behind Linux. Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, and IBM also offer Intel-based Linux servers. The fact that customers can choose Linux servers from a variety of vendors also makes it a compelling choice for businesses, he said. "We believe that Dell and Linux together are a very powerful combination as large and small businesses build out their Internet infrastructure," he said. The Dell chief kept his remarks geared mostly toward the server market, perhaps out of deference to his biggest partner, Microsoft, whose Windows operating system ships on the vast majority of Dell's desktop and notebook computers. He did reveal, however, that the company is in "active discussions" with Eazel, a software company that's developing desktop applications designed to make Linux easier to use. Too Geeky? The use of Linux on desktops is restricted for the most part to computer enthusiasts, in large measure because the operating system is more complicated to install and operate than Windows. Linux has a "significant opportunity" on the desktop, Dell said. He noted that the number of desktop PCs that ship with Linux is "impressive"--close to the number that are sold based on Apple Computer's Macintosh operating system. Linux's share of server OS shipments has grown from 4 percent in the first quarter of 1999 to almost 10 percent in the first quarter of this year, according to figures from IDC. Between 1999 and 2004, the company expects Linux to enjoy a compound annual growth rate of almost 30 percent, he said. During a question session after his speech, Dell fielded a query about his company's ability to provide the same level of Linux services that other companies do. "Customers are voting with their dollars and their feet today," he said. "Is Dell ever going to be a developer of the Linux kernel and OS? No, we're not. But what you'll see Dell do is what we've always been good at"--providing customers with good quality, affordable hardware, he said.