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Linux Business IBM

IBM Launches Linux Desktop in India 285

Posted by Hemos from the getting-coverage dept.
kanad writes "Who says that Linux on desktop is dead. Well maybe in the developed markets where people are using windows since last 10 years and are used to it. But in nascent markets it maynot be the case. From this story at Times of India , IBM is launching a linux based desktop model (A30) for about US$ 850. The specifications of the A30 is available from zdnet india site although the price mentioned is about US$ 1100. IBM CEO recently visited India generating news and smoke about big blue taking some serious linux initiative in India. Here is a more practical story on Linux in India"
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IBM Launches Linux Desktop in India More

IBM Launches Linux Desktop in India

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  • fr1st post (Score:5, Insightful)

    by IamTheRealMike ( 537420 ) on Monday June 02, 2003 @07:44AM (#6094833)
    I'll read the article in a moment. Until then, what do you mean Desktop Linux is dead in the developed world? What I see is people desperate to use it, but held back by lack of ease-of-use, compatability and too much inertia. I don't see people saying "oh, who cares, getting done over by Redmond isn't so bad".

    Hmph.

    • Re:fr1st post (Score:5, Insightful)

      by pkunzipper ( 652520 ) on Monday June 02, 2003 @07:53AM (#6094902)
      Agreed. It's not dead. I am not around too many people willing to experiment with Linux (Learn), but I took the initiative myself after having spent the last 6 months reading about Microsoft's DRM initiatives and related materials. Even on TV IBM is advertising Linux (and some UNIX) use. Good move, as is the India initative. If Alternative systems are going to be successful, growing large outside of the US will be a big step (like building an army) prior to returning to the US, which at that point may be falling behind in software technologies (not likely, but DRM is a luddite move). If I'm going to invest $1000 in a box, just like $10,000 (or whatever) in a car, I'm going to use it to its fullest potectial, and maitain the freedom to modify it as I see fit without having to pay $100 a pop for "licences"
      • >to modify it as I see fit without having to pay $100 a pop for "licences"

        If only there was a way to get Microsoft warez without paying for them. Like maybe not getting it in a pretty box with documentation and support, but just getting a burned CD with 'Windows 2000 Pro' written in magic marker on it.

        Then we could compare the software on their merits and not on a cost / benefit ratio.

        Naw, that would never happen.

        -:-

        I wonder, in the US where piracy is considered the least, what the number of unpaid

    • Re:fr1st post (Score:5, Interesting)

      by TopShelf ( 92521 ) on Monday June 02, 2003 @09:14AM (#6095465) Homepage Journal
      On the contrary, I think those people that are "desperate" to use Linux on the desktop have the technical skills such that ease-of-use isn't really an issue. And for most people (I assume you're talking about general computer users), they don't see themselves as getting "done over by Redmond". For them, Windows is what they use at work, so it's the easiest to use at home. The movement towards desktop Linux isn't coming from the user base, but rather the administrative one.

      • Re:fr1st post (Score:2, Interesting)

        by aonaran ( 15651 )
        The problem as I see it (and I am a Linux desktop user) is that certain technologies that people want to use really are more difficult on Linux.
        Take DVD burning for example. I bought a DVD burner for 2 main reasons, #1 as a backup drive (I thought about tape, but decided it was better for me to use DVD as it takes less space and has other functions) and #2 to make copys of my expensive originals of both software and dvd-video so that I don't have to worry about scratches ruining a $100+ set.

        While DVD-video

  • IBM's reply to SCO? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by pe1rxq ( 141710 ) on Monday June 02, 2003 @07:48AM (#6094864) Homepage Journal
    Could we see this as the first real reply to the SCO case? Something like: 'Up yours SCO!' or more like: 'Lalalalalah Can't hear you!' ??

    Jeroen

  • What linux release? (Score:5, Interesting)

    by dTb ( 304368 ) on Monday June 02, 2003 @07:49AM (#6094870)
    The articles don't state what company has put together the desktop software, just that the hardware is from IBM. Is this another partnership for Red Hat or have IBM rolled their own?

  • Via has much better offerings... (Score:5, Interesting)

    by jkrise ( 535370 ) on Monday June 02, 2003 @07:50AM (#6094873) Journal
    E-Sys has launched Linux PCs in India some 2 months ago - priced from $200 onwards (no monitor). The highest model comes in at about $300 which includes a financial accouting package as well.

    LUGs are very active in India - and the recent drives by MS thru NASSCOM (like the BSA) is forcing lots of folks to switch over. Every day, new firms spring up offering Linux support for Home PCs as well as business segments.

  • What Linux needs (Score:5, Insightful)

    by OmniVector ( 569062 ) <se e m y h o mepage> on Monday June 02, 2003 @07:51AM (#6094895) Homepage
    I think the first step we'll see in Linux becoming big on the desktop (in a general work area) is overseas governments. Eventually it may spread to the schools of those overseas countries. After that has happened, other countries will follow because the infrastructure is already there to switch since another country has put in the time and effort to make an enmass switch. Eventually it might get some usage in the large scale due to students using it at home after trying it at school. This is a *BIG* deal if we can get just one government to start the dominos.

    • Re:What Linux needs (Score:2, Interesting)

      by mjmalone ( 677326 )
      Why does it have to be an oversea's government? Let's "start the dominos" right here... I dont think the US Government has that super a relationsihp with M$ anyways.

      • Re:What Linux needs (Score:4, Insightful)

        by OmniVector ( 569062 ) <se e m y h o mepage> on Monday June 02, 2003 @08:06AM (#6095011) Homepage
        because the piracy scene in US companies and governments isn't neary as bad as many overseas countries. not to mention US is a fairly rich country, so the average piracy even amongst citizens isn't as bad. other governments, particularly ones like germany where they have their own linux distro (suse).

        I believe that too many people in power today in the US (managers, government officials, etc) think that if you don't have to pay for it, then it must be: a) too good to be true, b) there has to be a catch, or c) you get what you pay for and many of us on slashdot know that just isn't true.

        • Re:What Linux needs (Score:2, Interesting)

          by mjmalone ( 677326 )
          Well, I work for the government and we (people in my office) certainly support the use of linux on desktops. However, security is a major concern, and rightly so. We have solved this problem with a very restrictive firewall, this can be a nuisance, but I think it's worth it.

          In fact, I think the only hesitation on the part of the IT staff here on allowing users to migrate to linux is security. Argue all you want, but a default install of a commercial linux distro is much more likely to be cracked than a

          • Re:What Linux needs (Score:5, Informative)

            by OmniVector ( 569062 ) <se e m y h o mepage> on Monday June 02, 2003 @08:40AM (#6095244) Homepage
            check out the grsecurity [grsecurity.net] patch for the linux kernel. bundle that with some restrictive iptable rules and i guarantee you'll have a more secure machine than a locked windows box.

            The grsecurity patch has a slew of options on masking processes, and it can restrict process execution based on file permissions, stack execution, port creation based on user privledges on the kernel level, and file i/o on the kernel level. all in all, i think this kernel patch puts linux on par with some of the more anal distros like openbsd (although i can't say linux encrypts things as much as openbsd :)

          • Re:What Linux needs (Score:3, Interesting)

            by tsa ( 15680 )
            Security is always a concern regardless of the OS in question. And I agree with you on the default install thing, but I hope you realize that your IT folks are paid to make a non-default optimal solution to your specific needs ;-)

    • Re: What Linux needs (Score:5, Interesting)

      by Black Parrot ( 19622 ) on Monday June 02, 2003 @07:55AM (#6094928)


      > I think the first step we'll see in Linux becoming big on the desktop (in a general work area) is overseas governments. Eventually it may spread to the schools of those overseas countries. After that has happened, other countries will follow.

      What about all the CS & EE students back home who use it at the university and get used to having a big pile of free, powerful, and stable apps, and demand the same thing on their desktop both at work and at home after they graduate?

      • They use cygwin [cygwin.com]
        • But Cygwin is so slooooow!

          Doesn't NT's "terminal" still run in some bastardised 16-bit emulation mode!? For whatever reason, there's some really insane bottlenecks going on there.

          • Re: What Linux needs (Score:2, Informative)

            by theCoder ( 23772 )
            Only if you run command.exe instead of cmd.exe. Or, you could be like me and when you have the misfortune of being on a Windows PC, run bash.exe. Cygwin (at least the command line stuff) has never been slow(er than the rest of the PC) for me.

      • Re: What Linux needs (Score:2, Interesting)

        by mjmalone ( 677326 )
        What about the CS & EE students who use Windows, and software developed for the Windows operating system. Large companies like M$ are not that stupid, they realize the market has potential and therefore market directly it and offer giant price breaks. I go to Virginia Tech, Microsoft publishes ads in our newspaper that say things such as "Buy Windows XP NOW in your book store for $20! Once you graduate you will have to pay HUNDREDS!"
        • When you start offering that kind of discount, you lose a lot of the advantage you have as near-monopoly. MS can't sell to everyone at that kind of price. If the "free as in speech" model offers "free as in beer" software for many users, there has to be real compatibility / support services / security / etc advantages to keep customers with proprietary software.

          • Re: What Linux needs (Score:3, Insightful)

            by mjmalone ( 677326 )
            The idea isnt that they are going to continue offering such a discount. The idea is rather that they will hook you young, as a college student, when you are learning how to use the software that you will use as a professional. Once you get used to say, using MathCAD in Windows XP you are going to want to stick with it, and in order to do so when you graduate you are going to have to shell out a few grand.

            • The nice thing is that this won't work, because $20 is a bigger deal to a poor uni student than $100 (or whatever Windows currently ships at, or will ship at) is to a university graduate with a well-paid job. And after all, $20 is still more than $0. When adjusted for a student's budget, M$ discounts really aren't discounts at all.

              • Re: What Linux needs (Score:2, Informative)

                by mjmalone ( 677326 )
                Actually, it DOES work. $100 for the full suit of Matlab applications, for example, is MUCH less expensive than the $5000 or so [mathworks.com] you would have to pay to buy a commercial licence. Also, schools require students to purchase software like this. In order to be in Engineering at Virginia Tech, for example, students must have Inventor, Matlab, Windows XP, Acrobat, CAD and a whole host of other software. The package costs about $900, but commercial licenses for similar software would be well over $100,000.

                • Actually, it DOES work. $100 for the full suit of Matlab applications, for example, is MUCH less expensive than the $5000 or so you would have to pay to buy a commercial licence. Also, schools require students to purchase software like this. In order to be in Engineering at Virginia Tech, for example, students must have Inventor, Matlab, Windows XP, Acrobat, CAD and a whole host of other software. The package costs about $900, but commercial licenses for similar software would be well over $100,000.

                  And

                  • Umnh...
                    When I went to school, financial aid would have been for food, clothing, books, and tuition. Not that I got much. Well, I least I didn't end up in hock, and I did manage to graduate after 6 years or so. But working sure slows you down.

                    $900 more? Sorry. I was lucky the weeks I could afford a milkshake. And I spent a lot of weeks living on soy-bean and sea-weed soup. (Ugh! I *didn't know how to fix them, or have time to do it right if I had known.)

                    And I live in the US. You know. The wealthy


                • > Actually, it DOES work. $100 for the full suit of Matlab applications, for example, is MUCH less expensive than the $5000 or so you would have to pay to buy a commercial licence.

                  And of course I've been in a university bookstore and saw Matlab for Linux sporting the sam $100 price tag.

                  But you seem to be missing the bigger point. This isn't going to expand the desktop for Microsoft, because Microsoft already 0wns the desktop. The same cannot be said for Linux.

                • Mmm... another reason not to study in the U.S. :)

                  My uni runs Redmond on most departments, but the School of Computing uses Linux exclusively, and it's a requirement to learn it, and for a good reason. As a double-degree student with BBA being one of the diplomas I will hopefully get, I will most likely make damn sure not to employ anybody without academic or professional experience with a POSIX operating system.

                  Sensibly, the school does not require anyone to buy any software licenses. In fact, it is not

    • This Article [com.com] in ZDnet India shows what the President of India thinks of the whole thing. But Unfortunately the President (like the Queen of England )is a rather ceremonial post.

    • Re:What Linux needs (Score:4, Insightful)

      by MKalus ( 72765 ) <mkalus AT gmail DOT com> on Monday June 02, 2003 @09:15AM (#6095476) Homepage
      Europe (espeically Germany) seems to be active on that one.

      The city of Munich decided to go with Linux (IBM & SuSE) and thus Microsoft is out of the door.

      Nothing big one might think if you forget two things:

      1. Munich is pretty "rich" in comparision to other municipalities.
      2. Munich is one of the "high tech" cities in the country.

      If IBM and SuSE can pull this off more parts of Germany will most likely make the switch and then it won't be that long until the federal government will go the same route. It already was a close call last year and I bet that Microsoft is already starting to sweat, they tried EVERYTHING to prevent Munich from "deserting" the Microsoft path.

      M.

  • IBM and Debian GNU/Linux? (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 02, 2003 @07:53AM (#6094907)
    Does anyone know if IBM is making Debian GNU/Linux available on these systems? It would be fitting for the only truly free Linux distribution to be delivered pre-installed on these systems in such a poverty-stricken country. I'm sure IBM will do great support for their hardware (they have been impeccable on the service contract on our department's 'Regatta' p690 POWER4 system (32 CPUs really make dselect fly!!!). The only question that remains is the software aspect of the deal. So...Does anyone know of any reliable apt-get mirrors in India?

  • Hmmm I wonder... (Score:5, Funny)

    by PS-SCUD ( 601089 ) <peternormanscott@@@yahoo...com> on Monday June 02, 2003 @07:54AM (#6094916) Journal
    If they'll have a cow for their GNU symbol?





    *note: this is a good natured jab, not making fun of their religious beliefs

  • Notice though... (Score:3, Interesting)

    by frodo from middle ea ( 602941 ) on Monday June 02, 2003 @07:57AM (#6094939) Homepage
    that the linux PCs are being sold in non-metro areas of the country.
    Unlike in US, there is vast diff. between the metro cities and other small cities.
    Majority of the enterprise level business are located in metro cities and I am not sure targetting SOHO business in non-metro cities is such a bright IDEA.
    Simply because, in non-metro cities it is very easy to get pirated microsoft software and PCs are assembled from cheap parts from taiwan , rather than bought from PC vendors.

  • People are scared of linux because... (Score:4, Insightful)

    by ahadley ( 665625 ) on Monday June 02, 2003 @07:59AM (#6094953)
    The reason people don't use Linux, IMO, is not because it is harder to use or less logical in its layout (obviously i'm talking just about using KDE or the like), it is mainly because people have been using Windows since they were this tall.

    If people started on Linux then Windows would seem bizare and hard to use at first, just as Linux is percieved by the windows generation now adays.

    Just my 2 (euro) cents worth
    Alex

    • Re:People are scared of linux because... (Score:4, Interesting)

      by zakezuke ( 229119 ) on Monday June 02, 2003 @08:06AM (#6095013)
      This is exactly what I get from my newphew. He's using macs at school, and he complains about OS9 all the time, and not those logical i can agree with you sorta things. It's primarly the "why did they put that over there" sorta deal. I guess i'm somewhat old and grew up in a market of aspiring and dying platforms.

      It's somewhat ironic the fact that while I've never been a big mac fan my self, I have always respected its relative ease of use, yet i'm finding more often then not, the kids are complaining cause it's not *windows*(tm) which I find to be an unacceptable complaint.

      • It's somewhat ironic the fact that while I've never been a big mac fan my self, I have always respected its relative ease of use, yet i'm finding more often then not, the kids are complaining cause it's not *windows*(tm) which I find to be an unacceptable complaint.

        These kids today! [grumble, grumble!]

        Maybe you should point them to the poster whose sig said "When I was younger, I wrote games in basic on a 4.7mhz processor with 128k of memory and I was grateful." Actually I remmeber doing that myself be

      • I recently taught computer courses to middle school students for three years. One of the first things I did at the outset was set up a Linux lab alongside the regular Windows lab.

        For the first couple of weeks there were complaints because it wasn't like Windows; after that the complaints abated and then actually reversed (i.e., "do we *have* to use Windows today?"). Kids are remarkably adaptable, and learn quite quickly that there are some pretty cool things you can do with a Linux box that you can't do
    • This is a load of crap. People don't use linux because the "string together a bunch of small tools" approach so popular with Unix geeks is absolutely 180 degrees opposite from the paradigm most people are comfortable with in their real lives.

    • Re:People are scared of linux because... (Score:4, Insightful)

      by Timesprout ( 579035 ) on Monday June 02, 2003 @08:25AM (#6095145)
      Did it ever occur that maybe a lot of those people who dont use Linux are happy with windows? Various distributions are available for free or for little cost but you dont see droves of users dumping windows and moving to Linux. Partly due to inertia as you say but also the majority of them are probably happy enough with what they have and see no compelling reason to change.

      • People stay with Windows because ... (Score:4, Insightful)

        by tjwhaynes ( 114792 ) on Monday June 02, 2003 @09:29AM (#6095629)

        Did it ever occur that maybe a lot of those people who dont use Linux are happy with windows? Various distributions are available for free or for little cost but you dont see droves of users dumping windows and moving to Linux. Partly due to inertia as you say but also the majority of them are probably happy enough with what they have and see no compelling reason to change.

        Did it occur to you that a vast army of computer users really don't know what they are using? Most of the circles I move in are populated with people who are used to multiple operating systems but occasionally I step back into the normal populace to help out a neighbour and I realise just how wide the gap is.

        Take, for instance, someone I helped fix their system after it was upgraded by another friend. The term 'operating system' is not one that the average computer user really understands. Therefore 'Windows is an operating system' is something that probably half the computer users out there don't have any serious comprehension of. This means that not only do a large number of people use Windows because they have it, they are unlikely to change it because they really don't know it 'exists' as a product. When they get a new computer, it comes preinstalled and they never really have to worry about it. I'm reminded of a survey where a significant chunk of people in the street thought that 'Pentium' was a chip maker.

        People rant a lot about how getting Linux preinstalled on new computers is the absolutely critical step in getting people to use Linux. From the ivory towers of the tech elite, it's way too easy to think that because people have a choice of OSs, they will exercise or even understand that choice. When you think of a store selling computers, people generally want a list of utilities (email, web, office suite, photo galleries, etc) - how that is acheived is irrelevant to them as long as it works. Much as people are now of the opinion that a virus checked is an essential item on any system (does anyone know of one for AIX :-) ).

        Cheers,

        Toby Haynes

        • Therefore 'Windows is an operating system' is something that probably half the computer users out there don't have any serious comprehension of. This means that not only do a large number of people use Windows because they have it, they are unlikely to change it because they really don't know it 'exists' as a product. When they get a new computer, it comes preinstalled and they never really have to worry about it.

          Windows is the computer. The Computer is your Friend. [crd-sector.com] Therefore Windows is your friend. ;)

        • http://clamav.elektrapro.com/
          Defend your AIX system from Windows viruses! :P
      • Various distributions are available for free or for little cost but you dont see droves of users dumping windows and moving to Linux.

        I'm sorry to completely roll you over with the clue train.... but .....

        have you actually LOOKED at the general computer user population? they cant even install windows, most have trouble installing a USB device.

        if you take 100 computer owners, 90 of them have zero clue and use "what the computer came with" they dont use it because they CANT INSTALL IT. they dont have th
        • I have a bit of trouble understanding how, under your reasoning, the "general computer user population" will have a better time installing a USB device (or whatever) under Linux than under Windows?

          Do you understand now?

          Do you?

        • if you take 100 computer owners, 90 of them have zero clue and use "what the computer came with" they dont use it because they CANT INSTALL IT.

          While this is true of older generations (e.g., the ones whose VCRs are permanently set to '12:00' because they can't figure out how to change the time) this isn't the case with younger generations. Boomers are indeed, for the most part, clueless because the technology came along long after childhood; those who grew up with the technology are more likely to have s
    • Windows was bizzare and hard to use, when we'd previously been on CP/M and/or DOS on the desktop.

      It took me about two years to feel comfortable with a mouse, and I still use the keyboard shortcuts where possible.

  • Good nes for the 3rd World (Score:5, Insightful)

    by PhysicsExpert ( 665793 ) on Monday June 02, 2003 @08:01AM (#6094972) Homepage Journal
    This could be excellent news for the proseperity of the third world in general and the redution in the digital divide in particular.

    At present many third world countries such as Ethiopia, Rhodesia and India have serious problems in that computers are an unobtainable luxery that the ordinary man on the street cannot afford. If we can get free software into these countries then we can alleviate much of the hardware costs associated with running a computer and so make it easier for undeveloped societies to have access to modern technology (ok the hardware costs are still there but how much does a second hand computer cost these days?).

    The impact of this cannot be underestimated. If you think how much computers have impacted on your work and how much time/money they save then you will realise why third world countries cannot compete on a level playing field with us Americans. If we can get Linux into these countries we can enable them to make money so they will not be a drain on the ric countries but will instead be able to make money and provide for themselves.

    • Re:Good nes for the 3rd World (Score:5, Interesting)

      by SN74S181 ( 581549 ) on Monday June 02, 2003 @08:13AM (#6095063)
      Are you kidding? Putting Linux on systems will reduce 'much of the hardware costs'??

      Did you notice the price mentioned in the article on these machines? $850 is well beyond the reaches of many, many people in the First World and completely beyond the reach of people in the Third World.
    • Wow, I am totally floored. On slashdot when the subject of computers in India comes up theres usually 300 posts from liberals basically asking "what are thes filthy illiterate wogs gonna do with a computer when they don't have indoor plumbing, food or basic sanitation ?"

      I guess the IT market being moved on a massive scale to India helped educate them as to what "illiterate peasants living in dirt shacks and eating grubs to stay alive" are capable of.

      Gee, wonder if my sarcasm is showing yet.

  • 128mb?? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Alpha_Nerd ( 565637 ) on Monday June 02, 2003 @08:02AM (#6094976)
    I wish companies would stop selling systems with 128mb of RAM... 256 is bare minimum nowadays. People wouldn't notice the difference between that 2.4ghz P4 and a $50 AMD Athlon XP 1700+...

    Of course, I'm sure they do this because they can get away with it... The average consumer probably thinks a CPU with a big number next to it is more important.

    • Re:128mb?? (Score:2, Funny)

      by katre ( 44238 )
      People wouldn't notice the difference between that 2.4ghz P4 and a $50 AMD Athlon XP 1700+

      Until their pants catch on fire, anyways.

  • What happens when IBM gets into the linux picture (Score:3, Interesting)

    by zakezuke ( 229119 ) on Monday June 02, 2003 @08:11AM (#6095052)
    Perhaps we'll actually start seeing some OEM level hardware support, or if nothing else at least some specifications so we can make our own drivers for the latest GO-GO gadget device.

    While I'm by no means a fan of IBM, their whole microchannel experence has left a sour taste in my mouth, I must admit they are a big ass company, and when their business is supporting linux for large nations like India I see an increase in demand for drivers for cheeper hardware. Wether or not then will be release under some form of OSS license remains to be seen, but IBM at the very least has the mussle, they have the contacts, and they have the ability to get the job done.

  • It is getting closer. (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday June 02, 2003 @08:13AM (#6095058)
    Like all technological things, serious Linux aoption starts in Asia (Dell started selling linux systems in Asia a few days ago according to some article), and now it has reached India. Soon it will reach Europe, and around 2013 the USA may also start moving out of the stone age, and onto an OS that works.

  • US $850? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by dafoomie ( 521507 ) <dafoomie@hot m a i l . com> on Monday June 02, 2003 @08:14AM (#6095067) Homepage
    Isn't 850 a little pricey for the average guy in India? Especially considering I can walk down to Wal-Mart and get one for $200.

  • Yes indeed (Score:5, Insightful)

    by simong ( 32944 ) on Monday June 02, 2003 @08:16AM (#6095083) Homepage
    Who does say Linux on the desktop is dead? As far as I can see its takeup is just beginning, and as long as Microsoft persevere with an overpriced, overpowering 'standard', more organisations will consider it throughout the world.

  • Linux Jobs in India (Score:2, Informative)

    by dxnxax ( 225294 )
    Mojolin India (http://in.mojolin.com [mojolin.com]) has some 35 linux jobs in India posted.
  • Well maybe in the developed markets where people are using windows since last 10 years and are used to it. But in nascent markets it maynot be the case.
    In those so-called nascent markets, you can find any copy of any pirated software, so everyone having a computer can purchase the newest software and use it.
    Even these markets are full of windows users, don't even think about a heaven of Linux awaiting geeks.

    • Well maybe in the developed markets where people are using windows since last 10 years and are used to it. But in nascent markets it maynot be the case.
      In those so-called nascent markets, you can find any copy of any pirated software, so everyone having a computer can purchase the newest software and use it.

      For better or for worse, all software is essentially free-as-in-pirated in the third world. It is in China, India, Russia, etc that the real battle between Windows and Linux will take place, on equ

  • Old News (Score:3, Informative)

    by lkaos ( 187507 ) <{sw.yeknomedoc} {ta} {ynohtna}> on Monday June 02, 2003 @08:51AM (#6095318) Homepage Journal
    It's actually a whole new series of Business PCs called ThinkCentre [ibm.com]. Yes, they are available here in the states (and I actually remember seeing a figure ~$600 for the Linux models). The M50 is the only model thus far to be running Linux. Here's the blurb from the press release:

    "IBM also today introduced the ThinkCentre M50, with enhanced support for Red Hat and SuSE Linux. The M50 provides stability and manageability for the enterprise and is available with three improved mechanical designs."

    This press release is on the front of IBM's main page [ibm.com] on the very bottom under Press Releases. This is from about 2-3 weeks ago (surprised it took /. so long to catch on).
    • "enhanced support for Red Hat and SuSE Linux" most probably means that IBM will do their best to get those workstations certified by Red Hat and SuSE.

      As far as I can see, all Thinkcentre models ship with WinXP (Home or Pro) with a few shipping with a PC-DOS license. Anyhow, unless they really do release a Linux preload model as stated in the India Times article, I really doubt that IBM will support anything but the preload. Install a RH on your Intellistation, it will probably be certified by Red Hat, and
    • Read the specs...the ThinkCentre is basically a headless Thinkpad in a desktop case. This actually could be a nice little machine, provided they don't rely on "Intel Extreme Graphics" which are neither extreme nor very graphic. (Slow and leaden is a better description.)

  • At least (Score:4, Funny)

    by SatanicPuppy ( 611928 ) <Satanicpuppy@nosPAm.gmail.com> on Monday June 02, 2003 @08:52AM (#6095325) Journal
    If I call Dell tech support about a Linux system, the person on the other end will now know what I'm talking about.

  • Another Bonus (Score:4, Insightful)

    by Cardinal Biggles ( 6685 ) on Monday June 02, 2003 @08:57AM (#6095353)
    Of course, selling Linux desktops will help vendors compete with the low-cost boxen with pirated Windows you can get in developing countries. The cost of a Windows license is more significant there.

    But there's another advantage: if Linux-on-the-desktop seriously takes off, it would make the PC vendors more independent of Intel. After all, who cares what instruction set their CPU is running? The only reason everyone still uses x86 is because that's the only platform that'll run Windows.

  • Practical story? (Score:2, Interesting)

    by toolz ( 2119 )
    Here is a more practical story on Linux in India

    Puleeeze!

    That story is based on a reporter attending a vendor event that as specifically run as a hype-builder for the aforesaid PC product. The reporter clearly has no clue what is really happenning in India - maybe she should try attending a real OpenSource event [linux-bangalore.org] - the next one comes along this December [linux-bangalore.org].

    Events like the one reported on are really no representation of the real state of Linux/OpenSource in India. The organisers are essentially riding the w
  • (taken out of context, with typo)

    IBM CEO recently visited India generating news and smoke ...

    .

  • Compaq did it long ago (Score:2, Interesting)

    by ^avenger ( 52282 )
    Compaq has been selling Linux Desktops for sometime now, In India. Funny, it never made news ;)

    That is the irony of the whole thing. Whenever IBM even mentions the name Linux, it is worthy of news, unlike other MNCs.
  • Ok let's see....this story is actually a few months old.

    Compaq tried this but they don't have the size and clout of "Big Blue"....

    Hmmm IBM, Linux on the desktop....

    Hmmm....IBM is introducing Linux on the desktop, the Linux vs Windoze wet dream, in a market with the potential for 1.5 Billion new customers and suddenly SCO, with the aid of M$, starts suing IBM for copyright and/or patent infringement and/or contract breach (depending on which day of the week it is) on Linux source code, spreading FUD and t
  • Now that open source-based systems are being spread to one of the world's most populous nations, many of whom have years of experience building software, is there much open source development happening there?

    Do the big universities (paricularly IIT) encourage participation or leadership of OSS projects?

    • Do the big universities (paricularly IIT) encourage participation or leadership of OSS projects?

      A possible yes. As I mentioned on this site before, was down to an IT-only university in India last year. Felt weird looking at a whole lab with folks typing stuff in Emacs using the Devnagri script.

      And then I made the mistake of actually saying that Linux has a steep learning curve. The professor there held me captive in his room for 1.5 hours, and over endless cups of hot chai, explained to me carefully why

  • If a KDE or GNOME program running on linux has a dialog where there are radio buttons laid out in a confusing or ambiguous way using system-oriented jargon, and a counterpart Windows/MacOS program does not have this bad design, is the reason why people are afraid of using the linux *really* because "they are used to Windows/MacOS"?

    Perhaps the problem is not that the target market for linux on the desktop is "used to windows" but that the current linux developer and user community are used to bad, inconsis

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