Corel and Linux Computers (editorial)

Eugenio Sanchez has written an editorial on what he thinks about Corel's recent announcements relating to Linux. Specifically, He talks about how the NetWinder is the first "Linux Computer" and why this is important. Interesting reading.

The following is an editorial from Slashdot reader Eugenio Sanchez

Corel and Linux Computers

Corel has just released a network computer that happens to run Linux. They're trying to position it as a "network appliance" that would require little or no maintenance, have low power requirements, and fully supports Linux and all devices that work with it. This last features sheds new light on wider implications of Corel's Linux machines.

Just think about it for a second. Which computer do you use for Linux? More than likely, you run Linux on an Intel-based PC that came with Windows and/or DOS pre- installed and configured. It is not uncommon, though, that a sizable number of peripherals are not designed to work with Linux (altough this problem is seen less often every day). Proprietary interfaces, such as I2O, or hidden CPU features, like the Pentium's 4 Mb pages, constantly threat Linux to make it a pariah on the most common PC architecture.

The same problem happens on almost every other platform that Linux has been ported to: we have Linux for Alpha, but Digital designed it to run Digital Unix, VMS or Windows NT; the Power Macintosh feels right at home with the MacOS, and although there are so many MacLinux users out there that a specialized consulting company has been formed to provide support to such a wider user base, Linux is still a stranger in the Mac world. This same thought can be applied with almost any other platform that can utilize Linux: SPARC, MC68K, MIPS, etc.

But then, Corel Computer decides to release a RISC- based computer designed from the ground up to run Linux, and most likely, only Linux. What's the deep implication of this announcement? At last, we have a complete Linux-supported system. For years, it has been known that you couldn't take a diskette or CDROM and say, "This is 'Linux'", because there are so many distributions to choose from. However, we can rightfully say, "Look, that's a 'Linux computer'" because that's basically what Corel Computer has produced. Linux is no longer a very well adapted alien in the hardware world, but a first-class member for its own merits. It would make a lot of sense if Corel starts positioning their systems as *the* "Linux computers", taking advantage of the growing momentum that Linux has been gaining. Obviously, many Linux shops, like ISPs, would be immediately attracted to deploy these machines in their businesses.

Right now, we're seeing many big software vendors offering versions of their products for Linux, mainly for Intel platforms. It makes a lot of sense that Corel would offer ports of their products for the NetWinder. If this happens, and the NetWinder price/ performance ratio is good, then we could be witnessing the appereance of the Linux platform of choice for many users (and businesses alike).