MESSAGE
| DATE | 2003-10-01 |
| FROM | From: "Inker, Evan"
|
| SUBJECT | Subject: [hangout] SuSE Rolls Out 64-bit Linux For PCs
|
SuSE Rolls Out 64-bit Linux For PCs
The new operating system includes improved partitioning, while maintaining
support for 32-bit applications.
By Larry Greenemeier, InformationWeek
Sept. 30, 2003
URL:
http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=15200870
SuSE Linux AG on Tuesday introduced the latest version of its open-source
operating system, designed to take advantage of 64-bit PCs while still
supporting 32-bit environments. When SuSE Linux 9.0 hits the streets on Oct.
24, the new operating system also is expected to feature a preview of the
upcoming Linux 2.6 kernel, improved partitioning capabilities, and support
for Microsoft Windows' NTFS (New Technology File System).
The partitioning utility lets users shrink the portion of their PC devoted
to Windows so that they can have more resources dedicated to Linux while
still retaining the ability to run Windows apps, says Holger Dyroff, SuSE's
general manager of the Americas. SuSE Linux 9.0 also lets users take
advantage of the upcoming Linux 2.6 kernel, which is more scalable and
supports more memory than previous kernel versions.
"It has a number of incremental improvements rather than any single
improvement that makes SuSE Linux 9.0 strikingly better," says Dan
Kuznetsky, IDC's VP of system software research. These include better
performance, memory management, and user interface.
SuSE Linux 9.0's greatest hope for sales could be its relationship with
chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices Inc., which last week formally launched its
64-bit Athlon 64 PC processor, says Gregg Rosenberg, chief technology
officer for Ricis Inc., a systems integrator and service provider
specializing in Linux. "We've had a lot of dialogue with architecture and
engineering firms about 64-bit Linux on the desktop," he says. "But it's not
going to have to be on everyone's desktop."
Linux continues to mature into a more viable desktop operating system,
Kuznetsky says. In the past, Linux users had compatibility problems with
documents created in Microsoft Office, for example. But OpenOffice, an
open-source suite of productivity applications, "is getting very close to
full compatibility with Microsoft," he says. In the meantime, SuSE's
strength continues to be its presence in the European market, where
companies aren't as married to the Windows-on-Intel configuration as they
are in the United States.
Windows is the dominant desktop operating system and is increasing its
dominance every year, Kusnetzky says. Windows in 2001 held 94% of the market
for desktop operating system licenses, while Linux had 1.6% of the market,
he says. In 2002, Windows was up to 95.5% of the market, while Linux had
grown to 2.8%, indicating very rapid growth but still a small share of the
market.
SuSE is creating a platform for the future, particularly because 64-bit PCs
and apps are hard to find in most businesses. Kuznetsky points out that,
while SuSE is the first major Linux vendor to offer a 64-bit compatible
operating system, this head start doesn't hurt Red Hat--which doesn't yet
have a desktop version of its operating system--because the market is still
evolving. Says Kuznetsky, "Red Hat wants to see demand in the U.S. market
for 64-bit first."
****************************************************************************
This message contains confidential information and is intended only
for the individual or entity named. If you are not the named addressee
you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail.
Please notify the sender immediately by e-mail if you have received
this e-mail by mistake and delete this e-mail from your system.
E-mail transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free
as information could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive
late or incomplete, or contain viruses. The sender therefore does not
accept liability for any errors or omissions in the contents of this
message which arise as a result of e-mail transmission.
If verification is required please request a hard-copy version.
This message is provided for informational purposes and should not
be construed as an invitation or offer to buy or sell any securities or
related financial instruments.
GAM operates in many jurisdictions and is
regulated or licensed in those jurisdictions as required.
****************************************************************************
____________________________
NYLXS: New Yorker Free Software Users Scene
Fair Use -
because it's either fair use or useless....
NYLXS is a trademark of NYLXS, Inc
|
|
