A number of posts have discussed IBM's intentions
and whether or not this is just a hype device. I just wanted to chime in and mention that I have been part of a Linux startup for over 2 years now and IBM have been incredibly responsive to any input or criticisms our group has offered. I know that IBM views Linux as their opportunity to gain ground in a server market that they have lost to Sun largely because of the OS and less because of the hardware. IBM would like to encourage the growth of the 390 largely because they feel it is fundamentally a superior product, but is losing ground because of the application space. To that end (and I was actually present at a meeting w/ a General Manager and 3 VP's) when someone mentioned the idea of making time available. Everyone's reaction was enthusiastic. For them, here was a great opportunity to be viewed by the best the open source communitiy has to offer and allow IBM the opportunity to prove that they do in fact offer superior hardware. Things like limited time I imagine are only there to prevent squatters from wasting people's time. Beyond that, IBM seems to have demonstrated a complete commitment to Linux on all levels, so this idea really just seems to be the next obvious evolution of that commitment. I do have to admit though, the spraypaint thing was cooler IMHO.
simple4
I know this post is largely intended to be funny but I have often wondered how significant solitaire has been as an app to gain ground in the corporate workplace. Specifically, solitaire seemed to be the application that got people who would not normally consider themselves "computer users" onto a machine. Maybe I am dating myself a bit, but I remember when most people were afraid of computers and begrudging learned how to work on them. Solitaire seemed to be the application that EVERY secretary I knew would play, and over time their fear of the computer vanished without their ever realizing it. I don't know if solitaire could help in the "app war" that would have to be
won in order to gain ground in the corporate desktop environment, but I do think that applications of the "solitaire" type are necessary to make any headway at all. For my money, Alias Wavefront has recently ported a 3D app called Maya to Linux which has helped us more Linux on more workstations than ever before. Personally, I don't know that the patient is "dead" as the article points out. I would certainly agree that there is cause for concern, but I don't think the
verdict is quite out yet. At least, I hope not.
Bruce
Slashdot Mirror
A number of posts have discussed IBM's intentions and whether or not this is just a hype device. I just wanted to chime in and mention that I have been part of a Linux startup for over 2 years now and IBM have been incredibly responsive to any input or criticisms our group has offered. I know that IBM views Linux as their opportunity to gain ground in a server market that they have lost to Sun largely because of the OS and less because of the hardware. IBM would like to encourage the growth of the 390 largely because they feel it is fundamentally a superior product, but is losing ground because of the application space. To that end (and I was actually present at a meeting w/ a General Manager and 3 VP's) when someone mentioned the idea of making time available. Everyone's reaction was enthusiastic. For them, here was a great opportunity to be viewed by the best the open source communitiy has to offer and allow IBM the opportunity to prove that they do in fact offer superior hardware. Things like limited time I imagine are only there to prevent squatters from wasting people's time. Beyond that, IBM seems to have demonstrated a complete commitment to Linux on all levels, so this idea really just seems to be the next obvious evolution of that commitment. I do have to admit though, the spraypaint thing was cooler IMHO. simple4
I know this post is largely intended to be funny but I have often wondered how significant solitaire has been as an app to gain ground in the corporate workplace. Specifically, solitaire seemed to be the application that got people who would not normally consider themselves "computer users" onto a machine. Maybe I am dating myself a bit, but I remember when most people were afraid of computers and begrudging learned how to work on them. Solitaire seemed to be the application that EVERY secretary I knew would play, and over time their fear of the computer vanished without their ever realizing it. I don't know if solitaire could help in the "app war" that would have to be won in order to gain ground in the corporate desktop environment, but I do think that applications of the "solitaire" type are necessary to make any headway at all. For my money, Alias Wavefront has recently ported a 3D app called Maya to Linux which has helped us more Linux on more workstations than ever before. Personally, I don't know that the patient is "dead" as the article points out. I would certainly agree that there is cause for concern, but I don't think the verdict is quite out yet. At least, I hope not. Bruce