Slashdot Mirror


Gateway Forges Partnership With SuSE

Zardus writes "According to Forbes, Gateway has named SuSE a "strategic partner" and will be offering SuSE Linux on all of their servers. I always thought SuSE would be a nice name for a cow, but I guess I'll have to settle with it being the OS of a spotted server." The article notes: "SuSE has long sought a greater presence in the United States, where rival Red Hat has taken the lead in selling Linux server software to businesses."

49 of 250 comments (clear)

  1. Finally another Linux partner by Krondor · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I for one have been waiting quite awhie to see a major vendor endorse another distro besides RedHat. Variety helps everyone, as does competition, and I don't see how a choice between linux distros hurts Linux or the vendor.

    Good Show

    1. Re:Finally another Linux partner by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      So you, for one, welcome our new SuSE overlords? :)

      Keep in mind Gateway ain't doing so hot right now, so I wouldn't read too much into this move, or expect much out of it.

    2. Re:Finally another Linux partner by ElGuapoGolf · · Score: 2, Insightful

      So...

      Let me get this straight. Suse provides you with the code to their installer. Suse allows you to modify their installer as long as you don't resell it. And this is a problem.

      Holy crap, we would be lucky if everyone else did that. So they won't let you *resell their installer*. Big friggin deal. It's a great piece of work, works really well, and I've never had a major problem with SUSE. Since I can not say the same for Redhat, guess which one I use.

    3. Re:Finally another Linux partner by Krondor · · Score: 5, Insightful

      .. I'd prefer they use Debian or Slackware or Gentoo or Mandrake or some other fully free Linux.

      Of course! Who wouldn't prefer that? However, you have to look at it from the Vendor support level. RedHat was always first on the support level because they did extensive testing and certified hardware as being functional in Linux. This takes a huge load off of vendors, such as Gateway, because they can check off their hardware against the list then guarantee their customers when they sell them a Linux box it will be compatible with Linux.

      The problem right now is that a lot of Vendors (excluding IBM) don't generally make their components. They buy a motherboard from MSI, a sound card from Creative, etc.. How are they to know if it is Linux compatible (and what degree of compatibility as some people's definitions seem different), without extensive product testing?

      Vendors such as SuSe, RedHat, and Debian (to an extent) do heavy testing and certification of Hardware. Face it SuSe and RedHat are "Enterprise Grade" in their testing processes. Gentoo will likely never be supported as it is constantly evolving to bleeding edge updates maintained by tons of packagers who generally aren't directly employeed by Gentoo.

      Debian is different in the size of its userbase, but Debian also does not have the resources for the kind of testing corportate Linux entities can muster. It will likely never have these facilities due to the community nature of the project, but instead relies on user testimony. Ex. "I use this it works". A vendor is going to need something a little more solid then testimony.

      Mandrake might have a shot if they could ever become profitable enough to put out some rigourous testing, though you could probably use RedHat's results fairly confidently with Mandrake (or any other Linux distro).

      Perhaps what is needed is a Hardware compatibility group that can test and verify hardware compatibility with various Linux distros, Kernel versions, etc..

      So to close, I still do not see how being able to choose between RedHat or Suse hurts Linux more then just being stuck with RedHat or nothing. You could argue that Vendors should just carry different Linux distros and not certify that they work, but I'm sure Gateway's legal team would feel queasy at that notion. Keep in mind companies are paranoid of brand association (Gateway sold this so they obviously endorse it).

    4. Re:Finally another Linux partner by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny
      Err, *four* definitions.

      ...and nice red uniforms... Ahem, amongst our five definitions are such diverse factors as...

  2. Good for Suse... by wankledot · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Too bad that Gateway is just about the last vendor I would buy a server from. Maybe I'm just replying on some prejudices of mine, but does gateway make decent server hardware?

    --
    My sig is blank, I typed this by hand.
    1. Re:Good for Suse... by jchawk · · Score: 3, Informative

      Gateway bought ALR a while back. ALR made amazing multi-processor servers on x86 hardware. In fact they even had a 6-way pentium pro 200 server back in the day that was wicked-cool. :-)

    2. Re:Good for Suse... by Bobulusman · · Score: 3, Informative

      My hometown is Sioux City, Iowa, manufacturing center for Gateway computers, so I might be a little biased, but...

      Them seem to be getting better. As I understand it, the story goes like this:

      A few years ago, Ted Waitt, founder of Gateway computers, retired. The board selected a new CEO, who proceeded to cut corners and the like until Gateway was known for crappy PCs. The board kicked him out and since Waitt's stock options were now in the toilet, he agreed to come back and fix the whole mess. Since then, Gateway seems to be improving.

      Hopefully, they can earn back a place of trust in consumer and corporate minds.

      --
      Cogito ergo sum in Slashdot.
    3. Re:Good for Suse... by jsupreston · · Score: 2, Informative

      My shop (a gov't agency) is an all GW shop. I prefer Dell for my server, but the Gateways have been stable the two years I've been here. Only probs I've had were a drive failure in a raid 5 array and a tape drive transport mechanism jam DURING A CRITICAL RESTORE. Can't blame either of these problems on Gateway. So, to answer the question, seems to be decent hardware to me, except they make it too complicated to get the cover off of a tower server (keep telling the boss we need to go rack).

      --
      "It's a dog eat dog world out there, and I'm wearing Milk-Bone underwear."- Norm (from Cheers)
  3. Gateway by Pingular · · Score: 2, Informative

    has been dying for a long time now, their hayday was '96, '97, they needed a partner like this to help them going. This is definetly a good business move on the part of Gateway.

    --

    When anger rises, think of the consequences.
    Confucius (551 BC - 479 BC)
    1. Re:Gateway by bhtooefr · · Score: 2, Informative

      Actually, there are Gateway Country stores (interestingly, they're only in MAJOR commercial zones... the ones that have flattened 5 zillion acres of farmland each... there's one 30 minutes from me, though) So, Gateway DOES have floorspace in some areas. Apple also has stores, in case you didn't know.

  4. Huh? by rmohr02 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Gateway sells servers?

    1. Re:Huh? by donnyspi · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Yeah they are trying to expand their business and get away from just selling desktops. You can get gateway printers, digital cameras, etc. I wonder how many of these products are really made by someone else with the name "Gateway" stamped on them.

    2. Re:Huh? by generic-man · · Score: 3, Informative

      All of them are. When you buy a laptop, you're usually buying a design from a Taiwanese ODM (Original Design Manufacturer) that Dell, Gateway, etc. decided to stamp their name on. ODMs design a lot of concepts; American companies round out the specs and provide sales and "support" for them. The co-branded printers, cameras, etc. all work on this model. Dell and Gateway have been introducing a lot of new products because PC margins are razor-thin and most families who have a PC are not very inclined to replace it.

      Incidentally, Gateway's plasma TV was so successful that more companies are jumping onto the bandwagon.

      --
      For more information, click here.
  5. Gateway + SuSE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Oh, SuSE-Moo.....
    Oh, SuSE-MOO !
    Oh, SuSE-Moo, baby I love you.
    SuSE-Moo.

  6. What about Novell? by bc90021 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    As Novell agreed to acquire Suse how will this affect that agreement? Doesn't this mean that Gateway will be offering Novell Suse Linux on their servers?

    1. Re:What about Novell? by deuce868 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Well, considering this annoucement came after the Novell one I am going to bet they know something about it.

      Anyone think that SuSE could be the next RH? I mean which would you buy from right now if you were going to choose? Personally I use Debian on the servers here, but if you needed something with support I really think I would choose SuSE over RH.

    2. Re:What about Novell? by swordgeek · · Score: 2, Interesting

      The big IT-related companies decide who will be big or not, and SuSE is definitely in the running.

      Sun has partnerships with RH, SuSE, and Debian; but are currently offering their enterprise Java desktop on SuSE and RH. Most of the Geophysicial apps out there are moving (or at least expanding) from Sun to Linux, and the distro of choice there seems to be RH. On the other hand, SuSE has a much bigger market (and mind) share in Europe, and that should help them.

      All I know is that I'd rather run Debian or SuSE over RH any day.

      --

      "People who do stupid things with hazardous materials often die." -- Jim Davidson on alt.folklore.urban
  7. Gateway by 110010001000 · · Score: 4, Informative

    For those of you that aren't familiar with the U.S. market, Gateway is practically dead in the computer space. Dell has taken over anything they once had. Gateway is now focusing on selling plasma televisions and home entertainment in a last bid to survive.

  8. Gateway actually sells servers? by PierceLabs · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I thought gateway had been relegated to cheap PCs and consumer electronics. Had no idea they were even still in the server space, which begs the question. In this day and age - who is buying business servers from Gateway? If Gateway had ANY sense (and I've recommended this to Sun as well), they would sell personal home servers. Today's 'connected' home is full of a lot of devices that people want to share data and yet most people are heating their homes trying to use full PCs for the task. Gateway should at the very least look up the old Qube design and turn that into a home server design. Something small, relatively quiet, and light on power consumption that can stream video, audio, etc to all of the 'connected' devices that Gateway makes. But alas I'm sure they'll try to jump on the Linux bandwagon with everyone else, after-the-fact and sell servers to the few companies who would still buy a business server from Gateway (unless I'm just not seeing their servers when I visit companies or something).

  9. Gateway has serious business problems by zymano · · Score: 4, Informative

    While Dell is making the big bucks Gateway has been laying off people. This is why they are interested in expanding into electronic products like Flatpanel displays(gateway displays are inexpensive but not hdtv) and into cameras and mp3 players. This company is in serious decline. Although their laptops get good props from Cnet and pcworld. Getting into servers only makes sense since they HAVE to diversify.

  10. promotional offer by theMerovingian · · Score: 4, Funny

    Buy a Gateway server, and get your choice of:

    1) Epson America Stylus(R) color Inkjet

    OR

    2) Gateway Brand 1.2 megapixel digital camera

    *Plus*

    Free UPS ground

    --
    "If you think you have things under control, you're not going fast enough." --Mario Andretti
    1. Re:promotional offer by harlows_monkeys · · Score: 3, Funny
      Free UPS ground

      My UPS has a three-prong plug already. Why would I need a free ground?

  11. Too bad their website says by donnyspi · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Gateway recommends Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP" right at the top of the screen.

    1. Re:Too bad their website says by questionlp · · Score: 2, Funny

      Almost all OEM vendors that get some kickback from Microsoft has that snippet on their site. HP/Compaq, Dell, Gateway, etc.

    2. Re:Too bad their website says by Coward+the+Anonymous · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Yeah, for their desktops.

      I don't know many people recommending XP for servers.

      The SuSE deal is for servers.

      --
      -- Jason
  12. How's about pointing us to Reuters Instead? by !Squalus · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Since the original came from Reuters anyway, why no link to Reuters instead of For-bees, eh?

    Follow the source to its destination.

    --
    All Ad hominem replies happily ignored as the sender shall be deemed to lack the faculties to comprehend the equation.
  13. Gateway Servers... by j0keralpha · · Score: 4, Informative

    Are among the most atrocius pieces of hardware I have ever encountered. Frequent hardware failures, performance issues that stagger the mind... I stay away from them at all costs. Oh incidentally, their enterprise support sucks as well. You would do better to get your hardware from the mom and pop store down the street, let alone Dell, HP/CPQ, or IBM.

  14. 64 bit? by boristdog · · Score: 5, Interesting

    How does Gateway square it's no AMD policy with SuSe's 64-bit x86 Linux versions? Will Gateway once again be forced to supply a decent processor?

  15. Gateway? by larry+bagina · · Score: 5, Interesting
    this is interesting. Gateway has seen flat sales and quarterly losses recently. They've fired most of their workforce and have their PC building outsourced. They've recently bet the farm on flat-screen TVs.


    VA Linux wasn't able to make a profit selling linux servers... I don't know why Gateway would. I think of Gateway as a PC for a first-time buyer, inexpensive, but higher quality than an HP, Compaq, or eMachines.


    I think there's more to this story than is currently being revealed.

    --
    Do you even lift?

    These aren't the 'roids you're looking for.

  16. SuSE disappointment by morelife · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Man. What are they doing??? Gateway hasn't any server market, or products to speak of, and their other offerings are only consumer grade crap (albeit decently priced consumer grade crap).

    This is the last company SuSE should have aligned themselves with if their intent was to win any corporate clients.

  17. Too good to be true... by Vario · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Gateway was long know as the company completely focused on the mainstream with Windows/Intel, so these are very cool news for SuSE.

    Everywhere on the Gateway pages there is still written:"Gateway recommends Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP", but maybe things change a bit. Unfortunately if you have a look at the category "Operating Systems" on their website you can still only choose between

    XP Home Upgrade

    XP Professional Upgrade

    XP Home
    and my favorite OS:

    Microsoft Plus! For Windows XP

  18. Used to work for Gateway... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    ...and I wouldn't get too excited. We've had LOTS of "strategic partnerships" that never did squat. A couple of big ones with AOL and Transmeta quickly come to mind.

  19. This confused me (hardware and Free Software) by ciaran_o_riordan · · Score: 4, Insightful

    While our competitors talk around the issue of freedom by discussing the "possible benefits" of "OpenSource techniques" and "Linux-based software", the hardware vendors should be shouting "Free Software" from the rooftops.

    With Free Software, the price restrictions drop, and computers become more useful. Hardware vendors don't have to worry if the OS will support their new video card etc. They can hack together their own support.

    So anyone can compete, and the software vendors don't hold any controlling cards. I can see why software companies don't get Free Software. They'd have to change their entrenched business models. But hardware companies should be shouting "Users should expect Free Software", and funding FSF, etc.

    some people just don't know a good thing when they see it.

    1. Re:This confused me (hardware and Free Software) by Enry · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It's already been tried. See the parent company of /.

  20. Watch as the planets align.... by Rahga · · Score: 3, Interesting

    There has got to be something significant with the timing of all of this... Novell gets SuSE and Ximian, Gateway starts offering SuSE... I really would not be surprised if there's something going on at Compaq/HP/Dell to turn the tables and apply serious pressure on Microsoft. Forget about pricing, I have a feeling that those guys would rather see a much larger disconnect between the OS and components like the Browser, Media Player, and *ESPECIALLY* MSN IM.

  21. Gateway Forges Partnership With SuSE by surprise_audit · · Score: 4, Funny
    The title says it all:
    Gateway Forges Partnership With SuSE
    It's a forgery, folks...

    OK, it's a poor attempt at humor, but then it is Monday morning...

  22. Whose mascot (or both)? by Ilan+Volow · · Score: 4, Funny

    If you cross a chameleon with a cow, do you get cow that changes it spots when it senses danger?

    --
    Ergonomica Auctorita Illico!
  23. Nice but... by Orien · · Score: 3, Funny
    I can't say I'm not shocked.

    I enjoyed your post even though you should have RTFA, but I was left with one burning question:

    Are you shocked or not?

  24. Why? by BigBir3d · · Score: 4, Informative

    Gateway already offers RedHat.

    Gateway has less than 1% of the US server market.

    But there have been rumblings that Gateway wants to move up in the world. A partnership with IBM should be beneficial, and might explain the Linux movement.

  25. The Free World against SCO & Microsoft. by polyp2000 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    How many more companies have to embrace Linux before people realise its here to stay?

    It seems there is an emerging force behind linux now, and pretty soon there will only be a couple of large companies left behind. Those players that Microsoft has all but wiped out know that if they are going to survive, they have to put their money behind Open Source, Any new proprietary Office/Server Space software doesnt stand a chance against Open Source, or The beast of redmond. So what Microsoft kills creates a new seed planted in the beds of Open Source. Redmond are rapidly digging their own grave and in it will be planted the seeds of an open and free world :)

    --
    Electronic Music Made Using Linux http://soundcloud.com/polyp
  26. Fine and dandy, but.... by pair-a-noyd · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I'll be impressed when they announce they are shipping systems with Linux installed as the DESKTOP enviroment, sans any M$ products.

    When I clicked on the gateway link, out of morbid curiosity, I got this at the very top of the first page I saw,

    "Gateway recommends Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP"

    Not that I would ever buy a pre-built computer or recomend that anyone buy one, but I'm not seeing too much headway being made in the final conflict for the desktop.

    I suppose this is still better than nothing, perhaps it's a start.

  27. Re:Linux needs this like Tux needs aftershave by RealProgrammer · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The only way we're going to save Linux is to get it off Grandma's computer.

    Do you believe in the principles of Open Source, or not?

    • Grandma: "I clicked on the little button thingy, and it said something about needing a root."
    • RealProgrammer: "Oh, that must mean it was asking for the root password. In this system, only the user named "root" can do things that affect other users. Here's the password to type, and I'll fix it."
    • RealProgrammer leads a world-wide development effort to make a Grandma-friendly And Still Secure Enough Environment (GASSEE). Grandma is a beta tester. She soon learns that some popular, feature-rich, overbloated environments are better than others, and that she likes the ones that let her look under the hood and scratch code on the bare metal. She also likes the idea of giving back to the community, and since she has a lot of free time she takes over management of the GASSEE project, developing a lean and clean 3D X server and tools to manage XF86Config.

    Yeah, that was a little over the top, but the point is that OSS principles don't depend on the expertise of the user nor the skill level of an individual developer to work. In fact, you want users of all skill levels and backgrounds. How else can you make it better?

    Either Linux can take the scrutiny of Grandma and be improved by it, or Microsoft, SCO, and the RIAA have already won.
    --

    --
    sigs, as if you care.
  28. I , for one by malus · · Score: 3, Funny

    Am waiting for a real partnership between Gateway & SuSE, not one of these bogus 'forged' partnerships.

  29. Re:And up jump the price! by octalman · · Score: 3, Informative

    Nope. The price is the same it has been for a couple of years: $40. The $80 price is for the "Pro" version, which is double the price when there was no Pro version. Maybe more than double -- seems like SuSE Linux was $30 in 1999, and they even had some rebates for a couple of years.

    I couldn't get Red Hat 5 to run on my box in 1999 because it had an SiS video card. SuSE 6.2 had a patched version of X Window System that worked for me. Though I missed some great features in Red Hat, I've been very pleased with the increasing maturity of SuSE Linux.

    SuSE's download server appears to be throttled for free access users. Sometimes I can't even get a full YaST update, and it is sloooow too. I'm still living in 56K land, but the server only allows about a third of that, and it gets slower as the connection ages. SuSE offers better service for a fee -- something around $5 a month, I think, for a basic upgrade, more for business folks who need more and better.

  30. Gateway makes computers? by RealProgrammer · · Score: 3, Informative

    From 1990 to today, every Gateway owner I've known has had to call tech support at least once. Single user home PC purchases, large institutional buys, it hasn't mattered; something was always wrong enough to require a call to Gateway.

    --
    sigs, as if you care.
  31. Suspicious... by todesengel · · Score: 2, Funny

    According to the article.... "Gateway, which currently offers Microsoft Corp.'s (nasdaq: MSFT - news - people) server software and Red Hat Inc.'s (nasdaq: MSFT - news - people) version of Linux..." Mmm, Redhat seems to have been acquired by Microsoft... Microsoft is taking some pretty drastic measures to compete with Novell...

  32. Re:And up jump the price! by rsax · · Score: 3, Insightful
    "In other news today, SuSe's distribution of the increasingly popular Linux operating system is now selling at an all-time high of $80, how about that for free..."

    This isn't today's news. SuSE 9.0 Professional was being sold for $79.95 when it got released so I don't know if you actually meant to try to tie this into today's SuSE/Gateway news or if it was a mistake on your part but again, no controversy here. And the other thing is if you're so concerned about the price why don't you buy the personal version for $39.95? The Professional box comes with 5 CDs, 1 DVD and 2 printed manuals with 90 days installation support. The personal just includes the CDs. If you don't want to do that either then do a FTP install. No one said that a Linux vendor has to ship you CDs for free. If you don't like the price then don't buy it, the OS is still free.

    I don't know about anyone else here but I would prefer is SuSE kept charging for the Personal and Professional versions. Atleast that gives them the chance to make *some* money of the "free" versions rather than ditch it all together and re-brand it a la Fedora.

  33. Re:Cool by Jetson · · Score: 2, Insightful
    This is good news for Linux in general, good to hear this. Wonder if the "Windows Tax" will still apply like it did with IBM, tho?

    GateWay Canada used to sell machines with RedHat preinstalled. As I recall, the price was almost identical to the price with Windows installed. They also absolutely refused to sell the machine without any OS (I prefer Debian and don't want to pay for RedHat, either). All of this suggests that they are paying a Windows tax and will pass it on to you regardless of what OS you want.