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Corel To Launch Linux PCs With Intel
Ami Ganguli writes, "This morning's edition of Canada's Globe and Mail claims that Corel and Intel are discussing an alliance to produce cheap Linux boxes. The article claims that a major PC vendor, a browser developer, and an ISP would also be involved. It sounds like a two year commitment to AOL may soon land you a free PC with Linux and Corel Office 2000. " It's all rumors and "talks" at this point, however.
AOL's proprietary network protocols already screw up Windows. If you've got problems and happen to have AOL installed, all you have to do is remove that funky "AOL adapter" from your network protocols and things get better. Do we really want them screwing with Linux, throwing their protocols in, and generally kludging things up? I doubt it!
I've really got nothing againgst AOL as a company. They've got near world-wide access. But their procedures leave a lot to be desired. If a standard ISP had as big an infrastructure as AOL does, that would be great (or if AOL would revert to standard protocols).
Brad Johnson
--We are the Music Makers, and we
are the Dreamers of Dreams
Brad Johnson
Sounds like good stuff
:)
I really didn't like AOL in the first place however if you can do it on linux that would mean people like my grandparents would never even notice me replacing their windows box
Slashdot social engineering at it's finest
On the other hand, this would go a long way towards pushing the whole internet appliance concept forward.
That is a bad thing. When you have everyone jumping ship to run one of those devices what happens to the cost of PCs and what about improvements? Basically you ruin the entire computer experience. WebTV has essentially not been a terrible success with it's approach and I don't think that internet appliances would be any better.
Slashdot social engineering at it's finest
I see that they only commit you to two years of AOHell, but I don't know if that'd be a big factor. The reality is that the people buying these cheapo internet boxes are usually ultra-low-level consumers. They've never heard of Linux. Also, who's going to stock these in the retail stores where a lot of these consumer PCs are still sold? I think most of the sales are going to be to family and freinds of Linux advocates and to the Linux advocates themselves who need an extra PC. But how many people is that? Too soon, is my judgement. -N
I am the one true god. However, as an atheist, I don't believe in myself. I guess I have a self-esteem problem.
A Linux version of AOL Instant Messenger?!
:P
Do you realise there is a free upgrade available?
There is a free upgrade available for this software?
There is yet another free upgrade available?
Do you realise you haven't been to the AOL Instant Messenger Update Page in the past x hours?
AOL - Its knowledge; Its power; IT SUCKS!
Ripping an new rectum in the fabric of spacetime.
Hate to bring this up, but I didn't see AOL specificall mentioned anywhere in the linked article. The closest I could find was:
<i>Mr. Cowpland said the talks are "multifaceted" and involve other computer industry players. Although he wouldn't reveal further details, Corel and Santa Clara, Calif.-based Intel would likely also want to include a computer maker, a browser company and an Internet service provider.</i>
While AOL could provide 2 of the 3 requirements, and are quite likely to be providing one (Mozilla/Netscape), there is nowhere where they are specifically mentioned. What's the big deal people?
As an aside, would AOL run under Wine? OR would Corel's efforts in that area maybe enable them to port it?
--sugarman--
I think this is great and all, but wouldn't it make a little more sense to wait for a few months until the next wave of the Linux desktop services come out?
Corel uses a modified version of KDE. It would be in their best interests (IMNSHO) to wait for KDE2 to come out so that developers for those systems can take advantage of all the cool new features of that platform.
Ditto for XFree 4 (standard 3D graphics), Mozilla (a usable browser) and the 2.4 kernel (USB support).
I realize that there will never be a time where there isn't something new coming down the pike, but with all of the above coming sometime in the next 6 months or so I believe patience would be a virtue.
If Corel jumps the gun, they may be putting themselves in a rather hard position. Right now, they don't even ship with glibc 2.1. In order to get much of anything to run, you have to upgrade. OK, for me that's not a problem. For their target market, that *will* be a problem.
Call me conservative, but rushing to market here is not the best idea. Remember our credo, ship it when its ready.
Cheers
David
It's *much* more likely that the ISP would actually be an ISP, along the lines of Internet Direct (here in Canada anyway). Internet Direct already has an alliance with Future Shop and eMachines, so something like this seems to be a perfect fit for them.
Is this post not nifty? Sluggy Freelance. Worshi
Remember those Netwinders, with those cool little ARM processors. Why not make a deal with CorelHardware/AOL/Corel instead? Am I just uninformed? Do these things even exist anymore?
The netwinder division was sold to rebel.com. Corel no longer has anything to do with them, and well, they just cost to damned much for what they are..
What is Inprise? What's the merger mentioned?
Inprise = Borland. Corel is finalizing a merger between the two companies..
-- I'm the root of all that's evil, but you can call me cookie..
HCC/CorelHardware changed its name to REBEL.com and still sells the Netwinder, but it is marketed as a server and is too expensive to compete in the sub-$400 pc market.
Regarding the merger not being adjusted, this is a response to the flack caused by an Inprise Board Director resigning in protest over the merger as he didn't thing the price was fair. Corel announced the merger would go through at the original price. See yesterday's post for more info. Of course, the board memeber is maybe a little less upset now, since this news has boosted Corel's stock price by 20% (and will likely at least double when an actual PC maker, a browser company and an ISP are identified).
Work for Change & GET PAID!
A US postal service employee was involved in a shooting rampage today, reports quote him as saying "These net appliances are just to damn big to put in every mailbox", referring to AOL new mass marketing program where 500billon of the devices have been mailed out to everyone in the states.
...but yes, it's just speculation.
Remember that Corel wants to go for the mainstream consumer market. AOL is the domininant player. Add to that the fact that AOL owns Netscape and it makes a whole lot of sense.
If you look at it another way, Corel would be foolish to try to take on Microsoft head-on (again) without some serious backing. AOL is the only ISP that's big enough (and hates Microsoft enough) to pull this off. Partnering with people like iDirect would only work if they had a network of similar sized ISPs across the continent.
It is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail. - Abraham Maslow
I was listening to a Toronto all-news radio station (AM 680 News) and they have said that Intel refutes the article saying they are not in any specific talks with Corel...
Corel's Michael Cowpland claims to be in "multi-faceted" talks with Intel... whatever that means...
BlackNova Traders
In a surprise move, Corel, after reaching a record $95 per share, buys Redhat which had dropped to $53 per share.
Sources close to the Corel say that the main reason Corel Linux has been so popular is because Corel Linux has a pretty box, and uses very little harsh red colors.
In a related story, Debian decided to change their product name to GNUnix to further distance themselves from consumers and common sense.
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Next Article: Intel releases 2 Ghz Carroton to compete against AMD's k9(dogathlon)
hold F4 and Alt to continue.
Currently AOl does not suport Linux. I have met many people who's only reason not to switch to Linux is that they can't or wont give up AOL. Hence we have http://www.xaol.org . This open source project is still in the very early stages but we are always looking for help. Please visit the web site xaol.org and feel free to contact the project. -Jeffrey
Microsoft will release IE 5.5 this summer, but I heard rumors that there will be no IE6. IE will completely disappear inside Windows. The next version of MSN is codenamed "Mars". Mars is hybrid of IE, Microsoft's Neptune UI, and an AOL-ripoff. Here's a Mars screenshot from a John Dvorak article about Mars .
Mars is just a local, non-web-based "portal". I can't see any advantages Mars has over web-based MyYahoo-like personalized portals. It's like the Labrea tar pits for getting customers stuck in the Microsoft mud.. er, innovations. And why those sickly dayglo colors?? Microsoft must think that all AOL users are teeny-boppers.
cpeterso
"User Friendliness", eh?
Lessee - Corel plays buddy-buddy with AOL-Time-Warner and Intel...
AOL gets "ported" to linux (but will only run on Corel due to some sort of proprietary shiznit)
They put out cheap linux boxes (probably all-in-one jobs) to which the user DOESN'T have root access (remember, this is AOL, and they don't WANT you to know what you're doing, let alone actually be able to do it)
With these boxes (probably sub-$600) you'll pay for AOL's ISP service, and be treated to AOL ads every time you boot up. Because it's AOL, you'll be treated to a few spam emails
You won't be able to install other software.
You won't be able to switch ISPs.
You won't be able to go anywhere on the web AOL decides to filter out.
AOL, through Corel and Intel will "Make your life simple".
Am I the only one SCARED about this?
The way I see it, the benefits would be that first of all, Linux would (have to) get an interface designed for the mass audience. Linux's UI is currently developed by geeks for geeks, and it shows -- if they're serious about it, Corel/AOL/Intel have the muscle to develop something usable for the masses. Second, this would "sneak" Linux to a large group of people who would never otherwise even think about getting a Linux system, which will instantly increase the user base for all sorts of non-geek applications: more demand for games, more testers (guinea pigs?) for Corel Office, etc. And third, for every computer-illiterate AOLite mom who signs up so she can chat about soap operas, the same family will have a budding hacker kid who will now get the chance to grow up with Linux.
Or, to put a more pessimistic slant on the issue, until something like this happens I doubt Linux will ever be able to escape the server/geek-niche. But with more and more companies dishing out free PCs, ditching that expensive MS operating system will soon start to look mighty promising...
Cheers,
-j.
Better go back and check the Corel PR page and the Intel PPR page.
Corel is disowning the story as is Intel. Here is a clarification from Corel.
"Corel has enjoyed a long standing relationship with Intel Corporation. Since 1997, Corel has optimized its software for Intel's processors. Corel has also included Intel's MMX technology in our flagship WordPerfect office and CorelDRAW graphics suites. In early 1999, we optimized our products for the Pentium III processor chip and are looking with interest to Intel's next generation of processors.
At the same time, Corel is in regular contact with major hardware manufacturers regarding bundling opportunities for Corel's award-winning applications, including Corel LINUX OS and our forthcoming WordPerfect Office for Linux. Corel CEO Michael Cowpland's remarks quoted in yesterday's Globe & Mail were in reference to these general discussions and were not related to any specific deal or ongoing discussions with any particular company.
See what happens when you have to many press releases floating around or you spend to much time doing PR instead of taking care of business.
Its only a matter of time before Corel gets bitten by an errant PR release yet again.
.