Linux software industry

The news about Linux isn't all about relational databases and servers. The open source operating system is coming to a desktop near you. Consider these recent announcements:

* Caldera Systems Inc. has promised its latest Linux distribution, which includes a Windows-like interface and WordPerfect for Linux, will make installing the notoriously tough operating system as "seamless and fearless as possible";

* Corel Corp. has promised an easy-install Linux for the desktop, accompanied by a WordPerfect Office suite for Linux, by the end of the year. Early next year, Linux versions of CorelDraw 9 and PhotoPaint 9 will appear;

* Dell Computer Corp. will install Red Hat Linux on its OptiPlex desktop PCs later this year, in addition to putting it on servers and workstations.

With so many companies rushing to give Linux back office applications, observers wonder if adoption of the OS by business could generate demand for it on the desktop as well.

Analysts are cautious, said Sandra Potter, senior analyst for Linux at the Aberdeen Group of Boston. She felt Caldera's new release is important because it's a major force among distributors.

Unix-based companies could take advantage their in-house expertise by putting Linux on their desktops, she said. WordPerfect for Linux is well regarded, she noted, and CorelDraw is popular among businesses.

But, she added, "I think we're six to nine months from being able to tell how quickly the adoption curve on the desktop will move."

William Peterson, a Linux analyst with International Data Corp. of Framingham, Mass., is more skeptical. The decision by major hardware manufacturers to put Linux on desktops will create interest, he said, but for now interest is limited mainly to developers, programmers and home users. That's because Microsoft Office is the overwhelming choice on the business desktop, and that means using Windows.

With the release this month of OpenLinux 2.2, Caldera is trying to ease installation fears by giving users the choice of a Windows-like graphical interface. There's no reason for the user to go to a system prompt for any administrative tasks, said Caldera CEO Ransom Love.

More than half of the people evaluating Linux today don't come from a Unix background and don't want to type commands, he said.

The distribution includes a package of PowerQuest Corp.'s Partition Magic, allowing a "non-destructive" install on a Windows system. If the user doesn't like Linux, it can be taken out. Also included is a graphical boot manager.

To help installation across Windows PCs in the enterprise, OpenLinux now has a preconfigured DHCP client for TCP/IP connections so users won't have to touch their existing intranet and Internet settings. It also comes with WordPerfect 8.0, StarOffice 5 suite, which reads Microsoft Office97 files, and Netscape Communicator and a Novell NetWare client.

"If you're in a Windows environment we can easily configure the partition to come up and be integrated with the (Linux) file system so you can drag and drop," said Love, "and with StarOffice you can pull in all your Word, Excel and PowerPoint files, work on them in Linux and save them out to the Windows partition."

It's still early for details on Corel's desktop Linux project.

According to Linux spokesperson Judy O'Brien, the company hasn't made decisions yet on whether users will be able to download applications free on the Web ("we're leaning in that direction") in addition to buying them in stores.

She did say Corel is considering adapting the Debian Linux distribution, which is put together by volunteers and supervised by a non-profit organization.

Debian leaves the programmers' comments in the software, which could help an advanced user. Corel won't touch the kernel, but will polish the installation procedure and interface.

"We don't feel a lot of larger corporations are ready yet (for Linux on the desktop)," she said. "In the long term, yes. But we feel the opportunities first are smaller companies who are looking for a cost- effective alternative. Once we've proven ourselves in that space we think a lot of corporations will then start taking a look at Linux as a viable alternative on the desktop."

Meanwhile, the Linux community is buzzing with rumours that Microsoft is porting Office to Linux.

"It's an April Fool's joke," said IDC's Peterson. Microsoft effectively has bet its future success on Windows 2000, he said, and Office is their best product.

"There is no marketable reason at this point in time for them to port to Linux. The installed base isn't there.

"The potential installed base, while huge, would co-opt the operating system side of (Microsoft's) house. That makes no sense."

But watch out if the U.S. Department of Justice breaks up Microsoft, he added.

COPYRIGHT 1999 Plesman Publications
COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale Group