Re: [Nolug] Linux has gained a new supporter

On Tue, 5 Aug 2008, Chris Jones wrote:

> http://arstechnica.com/journals/linux.ars/2008/08/05/ibm-targets-microsoft-with-desktop-linux-initiative
>
> Not exactly a completely new supporter, IBM has invested in Linux for
> quite a while, but now it's almost as if they're really banking on the
> future of Linux and helping it launch a full out war against
> microsoft.

I think this is good news, and IBM has done great things for Linux. But
make no mistake, IBM is the whore of the industry... they will jump into
bed with anyone and everyone if it helps them sell more computers and
software. And they are big and powerful enough to not care what anyone
thinks. Lou Gerstner brought IBM back to prominence in the 90s by
concentrating less on moving hardware out of the warehouse, and more on
moving money into the bank, through whatever means (services, software, as
well as hardware). It worked.

Calling Lotus software "open" is a bit of a stretch... Notes is a beast,
is very expensive and very proprietary. However Symphony is a free office
suite that competes with MS Office and OpenOffice. It's not bad, but
doesn't get a lot of attention. I think this partnership is intended to
give more exposure to Symphony, and in turn, the revenue-generating Notes.
(I've heard MS Sharepoint is stealing Notes customers by the millions).

But hey, if it's gives us more choice on the desktop, that's definitely a
good thing. I may have to give Symphony another test drive.

ray

-- 
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Ray DeJean  				       	 http://www.r-a-y.org
Systems Engineer                    Southeastern Louisiana University
IBM Certified Specialist  	      AIX Administration, AIX Support
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