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Lawson Of Japan To Install 15,000 Linux Terminals

Posted by Hemos on from the feel-good-story dept.

debreuil writes: "A Reuters article reports a leading Japanese convenience store chain will install more than 15,000 IBM computers running Linux to allow for Web access in stores, in the largest commercial use of Linux to date. Great onigiri there too..." IBM, who sold the machines, is happy as can be, of course.

12 of 200 comments (clear)

  1. 2.4-fold increase? by pastie · · Score: 5

    This 2.4-fold increase would give Linux a 7.8 percent share of the overall server operating system market in 2000, compared to a 4.0 percent share the previous year, IDC Japan said.

    2.4, eh? Coincidence? I think not ;-)

  2. Japan is cool by Xenex · · Score: 3
    One of the greatest things about Japan is the fact they keep up-to-date and will take on cool technologies (mini-disk springs to mind..). I guess wired stores are just another reason why Japan looks like it is the coolest place in the world.... (along with their tech, anime, and Shigeru Miyamoto :)

    And the fact these boxes use Linux, for cost, stability, customisabilty, or for 'coolness' (all for all of the above) is just sweet. One question comes to mind - is IBM in bed with a Linux distro, have IBM make thw 'distro' up themselves, or are IBM in this for hardware only? With Japan being the homeland of TurboLinux they'd seem obvious, but then don't IBM and Red Hat have something between them?

    All well, it's just one more place when Linux is going mainstream....

  3. No, really? by JurriAlt137n · · Score: 3

    IBM, who sold the machines, is happy as can be, of course.

    This is awful!!! A company that's happy because they made a major sale!!! Arrgghh, evil corporations. Oh wait, they run Linux. Oops, good boy.

    --

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  4. Not Linux Workstations by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5

    The appliances are Windows. The servers are Linux. From zdnet: "IBM (NYSE: IBM) said the deal calls for nearly every one of Lawson's 7,600 stores to install two Linux servers, which will feed Windows-based "Loppi" self-service multimedia terminals. "

    1. Re:Not Linux Workstations by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3

      You expect Slashdot to get the facts right? Hah, you must be new here. Coffee machine is over their, and don't go near Katz who sits in the corner, he's a bit loopy.

  5. It just occured to me... by under_score · · Score: 3

    that the gaining popularity of Linux, the resurgence of Apple and its impending roll-out of BSD/Mach based OS X, are causing a significant amount of upset in the operating system market. So what? Well, as a comp-sci degree holder, I know that there are a heck of a lot of "Really Good Ideas" out there that have to do with operating systems. Linux, the BSD's, and a bunch of research os's are all playing with these things. That makes me hopeful that at some point fairly soon, perhaps in a couple of years, there will be enough fragmentation of the OS markets that it will be possible for a really new, really good OS paradigm to sneak up and win. Now, I don't mean that Linux is bad or any other imagined slight. Linux is pretty darn good, but it doesn't really operate on a new technological paradigm. Most of its popularity is based on its unique development paradigm (Free/Open Source/Community software). As it transitions to popularity based on familiarity and demonstrated capability, it will become more difficult to change. I have to say that I don't really know much about OS theory - so I might be full of it, but these are just random musings so... TIWAGOS (Take It With A Grain Of Salt).

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  6. If this works... by tarbabyxxxx · · Score: 3
    If the installation and use of Linux is flawless then Linux will take off in the far east and even in the US. Third world countries will use it like gang busters. MS Rep: "Here is our super MS 2002 System, your cost is only $750 per machine which includes 30 days of free tech support. You can buy additional support at only $200 per machine for a one year period, upgrades are extra."

    IBM rep: "Our Machines include free software which you can change to meet your needs. There is also a ton of free sofware at freshmeat.net. If you need support there are many companies that will provide it for a small fee or you can hire a kid from college to be your sysop."

    --
    Will the last company to abandon Linux please turn off the lights??!
    1. Re:If this works... by Jason+Earl · · Score: 3

      This assumes, of course, that the IT exec has had good experience with Microsoft support, and poor experience with IBM support. After all, you can bet the farm that the reason that the machines in question are IBMs was so that Lawson's could get IBM support.

      In the end, I think that any IT exec with two neurons to rub together is going to come to the realization that Microsoft support is basically worthless. IBM's Linux support couldn't possibly be worse, and could very well be substantially better. At the very least it is less expensive. And while IBM is always a safe bet for your support needs, you could theoretically shop around for another vendor if their support was poor. Purchase your OS from Microsoft, and only Microsoft knows how to fix it.

      Besides, with the money you saved from purchasing MS's OS you can shop around for superior in house support. After all, you won't ever be paying for software upgrades.

      Linux is finally at the point where companies are openly adopting it over Windows. You can bet that this decision was made by an IT Exec, and not some long haired programmers. For new systems Linux makes a ton of sense. It's stable, inexpensive, and it's chock full of developer tools. In these sorts of situations it makes a ton of sense.

  7. There's something funny about those stats... by Ami+Ganguli · · Score: 3

    According to that article the server market for this year in Japan is expected to be:

    • 60.9% NT
    • 18.3% Windows 2000
    • 7.8% Linux

    That leaves only 13% for all of Unix and Novell combined. Surely that can't be right.

    --
    It is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail. - Abraham Maslow
  8. Lusers not allowed! by Galvatron · · Score: 3
    The Linux operating system, which is freely available to programmers, is considered to be a distant threat to the Windows operating system sold by Microsoft Corp.

    Yeah, that's right, for programmers only! All the rest of you, that'll be $100 per copy. And don't think you can get away with just buying one and copying it for all of your friends, the GPL only applies to programmers, dammit!

    Seriously, that's really bizarre. Did the author simply misspeak, or did he honestly believe that only programmers could obtain free copies of Linux? Either way, when you think about it, that's really a pretty egregeous error, and will probably help support in many people's minds the myth that only prgrammers can use Linux (not that they won't get the most out of it, but others can use it too :)

    --
    "The question of whether a computer can think is no more interesting than that of whether a submarine can swim" -EWD
  9. What to learn from this post: by Syllepsis · · Score: 3

    OK, we may finally come to the end of linux 'zealotism' where people desperately bash MS at every opportunity. Go look at zdnet postings and you will se a flock of newly emerging windows zealots who make the linux zealots look like fair weather fans.

    The point is, never say this about MS products. The MS admin base is growing more vocally upset with linux and has begun large scale bashing. Let this happen. Adopt a come and see attitude towards linux, be evangelical like a buddhist, that is, only answer questions for as long as interest is shown. Underhype the OS, and people will arrive at their own conclusions, which will be correct. (notice I dont say what those conclusions are)

    People are not THAT dumb. They usually turn against zealot-like rage. Compute with a smile on your linux or BSD box, and people will come and see. Those people will install linux or BSD if and when it and they are ready for each other, and not before.

    Notice in this post, the poster explains how easy win2k is. The new win2k user who has difficulties will turn to disbelief quickly. If you say linux is hard to install, the user may or may not be pleasantly surprised. If you say linux has far less software than windows, the user may or may not be pleasantly surprised. If you say linux is not necessarily the most stable or fast thing around, the user may be pleasantly surprised. The user will not, however, be disillusioned.

    I ran NT4 until it ate my FAT. I switched to linux expecting it to eat ext2. It never did. I still use linux.

  10. Which browser will they be using? by acb · · Score: 3

    Nyetscape 4.x, which crashes a lot (more so than either major browser on Windows), Nyetscape 3.x which crashes less but is years out of date, or Mozilla which still has lots of rough edges? Or perhaps they'll go for stability and just run Links in a big Xterm. :-)

    I use Linux myself, but the rather poorly web browsing experience on it tempts me to get VMWare just so that I can use a web browser that doesn't crash and supports modern standards.