MESSAGE
| DATE | 2002-10-31 |
| FROM | From: "Inker, Evan"
|
| SUBJECT | Subject: [hangout] New SuSE Linux OS to run Office 2000, other Windows apps
|
New SuSE Linux OS to run Office 2000, other Windows apps
By TODD R. WEISS
OCTOBER 30, 2002
A new business-targeted version of SuSE Linux AG's proven Linux operating
system will incorporate software that allows users to run many of their
favorite Microsoft Windows applications such as Office 2000 right on their
Linux desktops.
In an announcement yesterday, Oakland, Calif.-based SuSE said the new SuSE
Linux Office Desktop version of its maturing operating system will include
an integrated version of CodeWeavers CrossOver Office 1.2, which includes
Windows application program interfaces (API). The APIs allow SuSE Linux to
communicate directly with applications such as Office 2000.
CodeWeavers Inc. in St. Paul. Minn., has been offering products for several
years that allow Windows applications to be used with Linux.
Holger Dyroff, manager for SuSE Americas, said the idea of a Windows
application-enabled version of SuSE for business has been kicking around in
the company for quite a while.
"It looks like it's really ready for the market now, so we decided to
include it," he said, referring to the CodeWeavers software.
"I think there is definitely demand for that," Dyroff said, adding that at
least 10 to 15 e-mails arrive each week from companies interested in running
lower-cost Linux while still being able to use their favorite Microsoft
products.
Jeremy White, a CodeWeavers spokesman, said that users will be able to
insert the SuSE installation CD into their computers, and after going
through the install routine can put in their Microsoft Office CDs and begin
their installs of that application, too. "This is a genuine competitor to
the Windows operating system," White said. "It runs at speed."
White said there's been no direct reaction from Microsoft on the
announcement, but said it's likely that the company is "aware of what we're
doing at the very highest levels."
The first versions won't support Office XP, but that compatibility is in the
works, he said.
Customers using the new operating system will be able to run the Microsoft
Office 97 or Windows 2000 applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint
and Visio 2000.
Customers will also be able to run IBM's Lotus Notes client software under
Linux for the first time on SuSE, using the new operating system.
The SuSE Linux Office Desktop version is aimed at small and medium-scale
enterprises. The price for one workstation will be $129, with availability
expected in January.
A separate additional SuSE Linux Enterprise Desktop version with other
features will be available in the first quarter of next year. It will be
aimed at large-scale enterprises. That version will include a focus on easy
central administration and will be optimized for deployment in large-scale
enterprises and companies with multiple locations.
Both versions are based on SuSE's standard 8.1 versions of its stand-alone
operating systems but are being offered as separate products.
SuSE Linux Office Desktop also includes tools to migrate from Windows
operating systems, as well as tools to install SuSE on a separate partition
to dual-boot it alongside Windows.
Stacey Quandt, an analyst at Giga Information Group Inc. in Cambridge,
Mass., called the new SuSE offerings a good market opportunity.
"A lot of people have been talking about a Linux desktop, but for a lot of
people it's not practical" because they couldn't use their needed
applications, such as Microsoft Office, Quandt said. "This would make a lot
of sense for a lot of users," while lowering their operating costs by going
to Linux instead of Windows.
Al Gillen, an analyst at IDC in Framingham, Mass., called it a "great idea
from a packaging perspective" because it eliminates hassles and
compatibility issues for potential users who want to try Linux with
CodeWeavers products. "If they're going to make that easier for people,
that's a good thing," he said.
Earlier this month, CodeWeavers announced a similar deal with Ottawa,
Ontario-based Linux vendor Xandros Corp. to include CrossOver Office 1.2 in
the upcoming version of the Xandros Linux operating system. In August, 2001,
Ottawa-based Corel Corp. sold its Linux operating system business to
Xandros, which has been working to create the new Xandros product.
http://computerworld.com/softwaretopics/os/linux/story/0,10801,75510,00.html
http://www.suse.com/us/company/press/press_releases/archive02/office_desktop
.html
http://www.codeweavers.com/home/
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