IBM's Linux System Hits Times Square, Mar 02, 2001

IBM Corp.'s love for the Linux operating system hits new heights in a print and outdoor ad campaign breaking this week. A six-story Times Square billboard-one of the largest outdoor ad spaces in Manhattan-emblazoned with Linux's penguin icon along with peace and love symbols, marks the first wave of a new multimillion-dollar marketing effort supporting the free operating system that is gaining ground against Microsoft Corp.'s Windows platform.

Yu Kai, a salesman at one of Beijing's biggest computer stores, is all in favor of using homegrown software to break Microsoft's dominance in China--if only someone could show him how it works.

At Yu's shop in suburban Zhongguancun, Chinese-made computers from Legend Holdings and Great Wall Computer use one of two competing operating systems: Microsoft's Windows or a local version of Linux--named Red Flag Linux to stir national pride--written by a company controlled by President Jiang Zemin's son, Jiang Mianheng.

Hewlett-Packard's Jornada palmtops may drop Microsoft's Windows-based Pocket PC platform in favour of Linux or Palm OS, according to Iain Morris, the new head of HP's recently formed Embedded and Personal Systems group. The firm also announced a Jornada with wireless capability for later this year.

At the PartnerWorld conference this week in Atlanta, IBM Corp. said it expanded its Linux-focused You Pass, We Pay program. Under the program, IBM will reimburse business partners for up to $3,000 in tuition and test expenses for each employee who gets certified via the Linux Professional Institute or Red Hat Linux, said Richard Sullivan, vice president of solutions and integration management at the vendor's software group.

Kylix, the Linux edition of Borland's popular Delphi language and programming environment, will soon offer companies an alternative to Java that is far easier to learn and produces faster applications.

While Linux is well-known for security, stability, and speed, many open services and other various pieces of software can either slow down or leave gaping holes on your server. The Duke of URL has just reviewed Trustix Secure Linux 1.2 which looks to remedy this situation with its high security and minimal installation. The review covers the installation, usage and much more.

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