IBM Puts $100M Behind Linux Push

IainMH writes "Over at the BBC, there is a report that despite the slow build up, IBM is spending $100m (£52m) over the next three years beefing up its commitment to Linux software. It continues: 'The cash injection will be used to help its customers use Linux on every type of device from handheld computers and phones right up to powerful servers.'" Commentary and coverage also available on TechNewsWorld and ZDNet.

Comments

A BIG ally like IBM...

[TrollBridge]

Might be just what it takes to get a large chunk of hardware manufacturers and software vendors to start offering Linux-friendly products.

Sure, it might not start out as Linux-friendly games and gaming hardware, but this could be a very good start.

I also hope that, when IBM starts making money with Linux, that some moral compass directs them to give something back.

Re:A BIG ally like IBM...

[DoctorMO]

I kind of like IBM making money out of Linux, it means they have a stake in what happens to it and will more than likly contribute to it's growth and development. since Linux will remain open source it's really both of us that benifit, the company makes money and Linux gets some of the holes filled in with great wads of cash.

Re:A BIG ally like IBM...

[nine-times]

I also hope that, when IBM starts making money with Linux, that some moral compass directs them to give something back.

I think you're missing the point. They don't need to have a "moral compass" directing them to give something back. IBM and Novell are both betting their business plans on the success of Linux, so the desire to make their business succeed and the desire to profit will direct them to use their time/money/resources to make Linux a success.

Or, more properly speaking, we should not be using the future tense. IBM and Novell are making money with Linux, and they have been "giving back". The good news is not "IBM is being nice and making a large charitable contribution towards Linux development". The story here is, "IBM views Linux as a necessary component for their success, and they are [currently] putting a lot of resources into helping Linux grow."

Start at home!

[tmasssey]

I love it: IBM's putting $100 Million into Linux software, and their premier desktop groupware appliacation still doesn't have a Linux client. And the server still lags behind Windows and AIX for feature-completeness...

Note to IBM: MAKE YOUR OWN SOFTWARE WORK FIRST!!!

Businesses and Linux

[oprahwinfree]

With companies like IBM putting a lot of effort into pushing Linux, it may make businesses that are reluctant to adopt an OS that has a perceived lack of support behind it more willing to try it out.

This is good news and certainly a major push for Linux.

Re:Why so little.

[PornMaster]

No, they made $2 billion using and pushing Linux and their products which either run Linux or run on top of it.

You make it sound like they're freeloading by pressing copies of Debian and selling them.

They may have had $2 billion in Linux-related revenues, but the cost of making those $2 billion in sales was significant in terms of engineering, training consultants, sales, cannibalizing other resources which were going elsewhere, etc.

How much did they sell in Windows-related purchases in that time?

Re:Put your money where your mouth is...

[Raul654]

Forget the graphic part - the whole UI needs work. Package management is balkanized and bad in general, KDE/Gnome are becoming so heavy that you need a P4 just to run them, 'etc. You want to know the best way to use this money? Forget about handhelds and embedded systems - drop the whole $100 million into developing a good UI for desktop users.

Not your desktop, you dolts. The servers.

[gelfling]

Clearly this is almost entirely focused on the server side aka Workplace which is a huge complex assembly of AIX, Linux, Python, Java and RDBMSs. This is aimed at business space that wants to use Linux for things like CRM, Peoplesoft, SAP, Oracle, Seibel and custom made apps.

Re:Why so little.

[ultrabot]

For a company that made $2 billion off of Linux in the first year, it would seem that more spending would be appropriate.

Companies don't care how much spending would be "appropriate". They are going with spending that they think is going to be profitable, just the way it should be.

Credibility

[Billy the Mountain]

This might seem obvious, but having IBM endorse Linux (by money infusions and advertising) really helps the OS community spread the software into mainstream business. My supervisor is so old-school and tends to favor MS products, but with this kind of support from IBM, I can now at least get a couple of Linux servers up and running without complaints and my supervisor can see the reliability that exceeds Windows in these instances first-hand.

BTM

Re:Why doesn't IBM invest in BSD also ?

[swv3752]

It is the Licence, stupid.

Some could come along and take the BSD changes, incorporate into a closed project and then change things a little so things are not compatible the open project.

Sure noone would ever do that. Kerberos

At least with linux and other GPL stuff noonecan close off any changes.

Re:This is why I don't like Linux

[SunFan]

IBM still sells AIX, and Solaris is still the biggest selling UNIX by a large margin. What will hurt MS Windows is the evolution of the Linux Desktop. The current Linux Desktops are basically on par with Windows in usability, now what we need are games and business applications. If companies like Intuit were to step off the Windows bandwagon to make their apps portable to GNOME or KDE, that would be a huge win. If they were to do a good port to Java, the could even support Linux, Windows, and Mac OS with minimal additional effort.