Microsoft Free Computing Solutions Will Be Available in 2009
IBM will collaborate with major Linux distributors (Canonical/Ubuntu, Novell and Red Hat) and hardware manufacturers to provide Microsoft Free personal computing solutions with Lotus Notes and Symphony.
It is well known the fact that many of Linux operating system distributions are compatible with low cost hardware as compared with Microsoft Windows technology that implies non-economical hardware alternatives.
Kevin Cavanaugh, vice president for IBM Lotus Software stated: “The slow adoption of Vista among businesses and budget-conscious CIOs, coupled with the proven success of a new type of Microsoft-free PC in every region, provides an extraordinary window of opportunity for Linux. We’ll work to unlock the desktop to save our customers money and give freedom of choice by offering this industry-leading solution.”
The Microsoft-free personal computers will contain IBM’s Open Collaboration Client Solution with Lotus Notes, Lotus Symphony and Lotus Sametime and a certain Linux operating system distribution. These computing solutions will be adapted to customer needs: for example in education sector, students and teachers will have the opportunity to use a low cost computer with open source office applications and collaboration software, as well as social networking utilities.
The combination of IBM software and Linux operating system at the desktop level is not only a convenient alternative in terms of performance/cost ratio value, but also a flexible platform for custom computing solutions. The increasing popularity of IBM’s Open Collaboration Client Solution present on Linux based personal computers is achieved on all continents in various activity sectors like government, public schools, IT companies and more.
These Windows-free computing solutions could have a notable success on all markets next year, given the existence of previous similar experiences and the customer specific demands:”Customers are demanding a Microsoft-less PC, and we have responded with our reliable, secure Linux solution through our top channel partners worldwide, building on the success we’ve seen in Eastern Europe and other markets.”
