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And here's what it is about
IBM is the largest IT service provider in the world, with its biggest margin in the Global 2000. The last few years have seen a massive shift from client server to web-enabled - my organization is about 80% there, and by the end of this year we'll have almost zero Windows client software, other than the office apps. We're moving deliberately to thin client to cut the complexity "at the edge," reduce the number of service calls, etc.

So now we have slimmed down clients, but we're still running Windows. This means we have to maintain two different groups of support staff, help desk specialists, training - things that add up. These and a number of factors make the idea of Linux desktop very attractive.

The trouble is, there is just insufficient corporate experience to help over any potential rough spots. IBM is very strenuously cautioning those that would venture into unknown waters. The solution? "Eat the dog food." Make use of a knowledgeable and tolerant customer base, plus the company's extensive laboratories to work out the model internally. Then they will be in the position to make informed recommendations to their clients.

IBM computers for consumer use will remain Windows based. Probably, some day, they will offer Linux on the market, but that is completely outside the scope of this program - it's business only.
Posted by: IT_User   Posted on: 01/09/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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The leaked IBM memo in question  David Mohring | 01/08/04
And here's what it is about  IT_User | 01/09/04
HP, Oracle and Sun aren't just sitting around  IT_User | 01/11/04
Right on!  Martin Marvinski | 01/08/04
With SUN having so much success, they can not just stand by.  DonnieBoy | 01/08/04
Cautious optimism  Eggs Ackley_z | 01/09/04
IBM is just getting ready for Longhorn  Aphelion | 01/09/04
Whee do such neurotic ideas come from?  rbethell | 01/09/04
He was right on, but OpenOffice should be your first. priority.  DonnieBoy | 01/09/04
this is a no brainer  JWatson77 | 01/09/04
You're right about OpenOffice, but Longhorn is incidental  IT_User | 01/09/04
close look at longhorn?  krisan | 01/10/04
OH Pleeeeeese, Longhorn is the future  RobertoSalazar | 01/09/04
EDD?  OhMyGosh | 01/09/04
Corporations will be first.  DonnieBoy | 01/09/04
Sure they will...  Don Bradley | 01/09/04
We are moving to web services for corporate apps.  DonnieBoy | 01/09/04
most companies are  JWatson77 | 01/09/04
Yes, well..  Don Bradley | 01/09/04
Oops!  IT_User | 01/09/04
You overestimate hope many VB apps there are and how hard to change  DonnieBoy | 01/10/04
Whose point are you making?  IT_User | 01/10/04
"Culture of theft"????  Mr_Shifty | 01/09/04
Tivo is 100% Linux  JWatson77 | 01/09/04
The world is 95% Windows  Salman Pak | 01/09/04
The World had no choice but MS until recently  km4hr@... | 01/09/04
Untruth!  ShadeTree | 01/09/04
The world is 95% Windows?  nucrash | 01/09/04
95 % of the PC Market  ShadeTree | 01/09/04
95% of PCs is Windows  nucrash | 01/09/04
That's crap  Ployd_Farker | 01/09/04
Maybe 95 % this year. Won't be next year!  Hans Schmitt | 01/19/04
I know it!  ShadeTree | 01/09/04
Ummm Bit...wake up call  GRindinAxTaRupy | 01/09/04
This isn't about EDD  IT_User | 01/09/04
Gates and McBride never published their IP like this...  krisan | 01/10/04
WoW!  Hans Schmitt | 01/19/04
You are one paranoid person  marksashton | 01/09/04
If so, he hides it well  IT_User | 01/09/04
Good for IBM.  IT-man_z | 01/09/04
IBM is making a smart decision  verbitcompany@... | 01/09/04
Dog Food for IBM?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 01/09/04
Yes, not sure why it took them so long.  DonnieBoy | 01/09/04
A couple of reasons  IT_User | 01/09/04
Dog Food? Get a clue Bit...  Tim Patterson | 01/09/04
Good for you, we are happy for you.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 01/09/04
right  JWatson77 | 01/09/04
Me  quietLee | 01/09/04
Well said...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 01/09/04
Huh?  Martin Marvinski | 01/11/04
Yes, Time, Dog food  KTLA | 01/09/04
Chill it is just an expression.  ShadeTree | 01/09/04
yum  Rembrandt Pussyhorse | 01/09/04
Of course it's negative  KTLA | 01/09/04
Microsoft eats its own dog food also!  ShadeTree | 01/09/04
Wow  Rembrandt Pussyhorse | 01/09/04
If you can't stand the heat....  ShadeTree | 01/09/04
Own dog food?  Update victim | 01/09/04
Netcraft is wrong!  ShadeTree | 01/09/04
Check your own facts  Jose Jimenez | 01/09/04
gee, i can reply here, but not to a reply  JWatson77 | 01/11/04
Thanks Shade Tree and KTLA, some people  No_Ax_to_Grind | 01/09/04
hey - ms use linux for windows update  JWatson77 | 01/09/04
Put down the crack pipe and back away from the keyboard  ShadeTree | 01/09/04
WTF?  nucrash | 01/09/04
Thanks for showing your depth of knowledge.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 01/09/04
No, it's the other way around  IT_User | 01/09/04
when ibm sells a pc with linux  JWatson77 | 01/09/04
You'll have to wait a while  IT_User | 01/09/04
I thought IBM used OS/2  Salman Pak | 01/09/04
OS/2 was operating system for PS/2  IT_User | 01/09/04
Hardly! There are still...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 01/10/04
No, my statement was absolutely correct  IT_User | 01/10/04
Again, HUH???  No_Ax_to_Grind | 01/11/04
Yep  IT_User | 01/11/04
And once again  IT_User | 01/11/04
as sumb as many consumers are  JWatson77 | 01/09/04
Moving smartly to the past....  quietLee | 01/09/04
Exactly the opposite  IT_User | 01/09/04
Don't forget SCO before the etc  nucrash | 01/09/04
OSes were mentioned.  nucrash | 01/09/04
Read you own Post!  ShadeTree | 01/09/04
ShadeTree's Untruth!  Update victim | 01/09/04
Not so fast!  ShadeTree | 01/09/04
5000 people will not get Linux as their desktop  SteveProgrammer | 01/09/04
Somthing to think About.  ShadeTree | 01/09/04
Customers demand it  IT_User | 01/09/04
Visa for India?  ShadeTree | 01/09/04
Sorry, can't do it in India  IT_User | 01/09/04
its not about cost  SteveProgrammer | 01/11/04
Don't forget the bribes...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 01/10/04
That makes 5003?  IT_User | 01/10/04
what does ms do?  JWatson77 | 01/11/04
Gee Bit, er, Shade...  GRindinAxTaRupy | 01/09/04
This is good news for Linux  George Mitchell | 01/10/04
Maybe, but don't count the chickens just yet.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 01/10/04
Very limited? Not exactly.  IT_User | 01/10/04
What better way ...  George Mitchell | 01/10/04
As I said...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 01/11/04
And they might be playing catch-up  IT_User | 01/11/04

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