IBM, Ubuntu, Novell and Red Hat gang up on Vista

[Doog]

The Linux computing crowd smells blood and wants to make a run at Microsoft’s Vista operating system.

Coinciding with LinuxWorld, IBM, Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, Novell and Red Hat issued a joint statement promising “Microsoft free” desktops across the globe.

IBM, Ubuntu, Novell and Red Hat gang up on Vista | Between the Lines | ZDNet.com

[jplindy]

We shall see what we shall see. If they're wanting to rule the world on the strength of Lotus Notes I'll say "lotsa-luck-with-that". Unless of course their battle-bot comes equipped with machine guns and Lotus Notes. Should be fun to watch though.
Give it couple of days or so to see what Microsoft's hyperbole machine can come up with as a counter.

[Doog]

Microsoft To Counter Open Source With 'Basic' Software Line

The software vendor plans to develop versions of its products with "basic functionality" to be sold at lower prices than its standard offerings.
Microsoft's strategy to counter open source products, are both priced at more than $100. Microsoft's Equipt software subscription service, also cited by the spokesperson, sells for $69 per year.


Microsoft To Counter Open Source With 'Basic' Software Line -- Microsoft -- InformationWeek

[dragonbite]

I hope nobody is heaping on expectations of a "dream team" or a "perfect storm" because even with this mega-group there is still a lot of work to do but I think this may be Linux's best chance at making some strides and breaking Micrsoft's grip some.

One great aspect is that it's all 3 top linux distros because each one has a different target market and their own strengths and weaknesses.

Personally, I've been saying to people here that openSUSE w/KDE 3.5 with stability, features and polish feels like a full contender to Windows and OS X.

[saahne]

Here's IBM's press release:
IBM, Canonical/Ubuntu, Novell, Red Hat to Deliver Microsoft-Free Desktops Worldwide
Product info: IBM open collaboration client solution

Note that this isn't anything particularly new for Novell. The news here is that Red Hat and Canonical are joining the party. Here's the press release from last year:
IBM and Novell Help PC Users Collaborate, Save Money and Avoid Vendor Lock-In

To help businesses avoid the high costs of over reliance on a single vendor, IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced an integrated open collaboration client for SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop from Novell. The announcement was made at the opening of LinuxWorld in San Francisco.

And here's the link to the product:
IBM open collaboration client solution powered by SUSE Linux Enterprise from Novell

The new bits for Novell this year were:
The Linux World Builds SMB Market Opportunity With Software Appliances From Lotus Foundations and ISVs

The new developments include a preconfigured version of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 from Novell in Lotus Foundations and a toolkit that opens new opportunities for Domino software vendors (ISVs) to deliver their applications on a software appliance to the smallest businesses.

IBM Announces New Products and Initiatives to Enable Next-Generation Linux

IBM is building on its support for real-time Linux, adding support for Novell's SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time Linux with select IBM BladeCenter servers, and with WebSphere Real Time, which extends the business benefits of Java to time-critical applications.

[john_hudson]

Is this also a wake-up call for Sun whose proprietary attitude to OpenOffice is upsetting some people associated with Novell?

[dragonbite]

Originally Posted by john_hudson

Is this also a wake-up call for Sun whose proprietary attitude to OpenOffice is upsetting some people associated with Novell?

Isn't Symphony based on OpenOffice.org and was a fork of it until recently when IBM started trying to bring it back into the OpenOffice.org folds (in order to get more developer share)?

[else_where]

Originally Posted by jplindy

We shall see what we shall see. If they're wanting to rule the world on the strength of Lotus Notes I'll say "lotsa-luck-with-that".

Having to use Notes in Windows is bad. Having to use Notes in linux is just a kick in the cajones. I hate Notes. Notes has contributed to Outlook/Exchange domination, just by it's awfulness.

I even tried Notes in linux, back when we were still using it. The documentation told me it required a hardset dpi of 92. That part lost me. And the loading time was, well, painful. And then it mostly crashed.

We're on Exchange now at work, so I no longer have to deal with Notes. But linux-advocate that I am, I'm not even going to try and deal with Symphony. A java-based application utilizing openOffice 1.x code for document compatibility holds little appeal. I realize IBM is trying to extend their investment in Eclipse to become a cross-platform application framework, but seriously. Just go Qt and be done with it.

I find it interesting that IBM is embracing Ubuntu, though. Their linux distro strategy now seems to now consist of throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks...

Just my 2c...

Cheers,
KV

[buckesfeld]

* else where,

what can I say...? You are SO right :-)
Domino is the nailgun to my coffin.

Uwe

[Magic31]

Originally Posted by else_where

I find it interesting that IBM is embracing Ubuntu, though. Their linux distro strategy now seems to now consist of throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks...

Lol.. well, it's a good thing that they (meaning the big 3 distros) are showing a joint effort in such a project.
I hope they like it so much they continue doing so with other initiatives!

Cheers,
Wj