Microsoft Announces MS-Linux
The flexible "grassroots" operating system, now with the quality and
enterprise-level service and support customers expect from Microsoft
REDMOND, Wash., April 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Microsoft Corp. today
announced
the forthcoming release of MS-Linux(R), a new version of the well-known
Linux(R) operating system designed for the enterprise.
"Prior to the development of MS-Linux, enterprise customers wouldn't
dream of deploying mission-critical applications on an unsupported
operating system," said Jim Allchin, senior vice president of Microsoft's
personal and business systems group. "All that has now changed."
Maximum compatibility and performance
While other versions of Linux offer a variety of immature and largely
incompatible windowing environments, MS-Linux includes an
implementation
of the familiar Microsoft(R) Windows(R) desktop, minimizing corporate
training costs and allowing the hundreds of millions of Windows users
worldwide to be productive right away.
MS-Linux provides a complete implementation of the Win32(R) API,
enabling many of the thousands of applications written for the Microsoft
Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT(R), and Windows 2000 operating
systems
to run unchanged on MS-Linux. Microsoft will offer support for future
releases of the Microsoft Office suite of productivity applications and
the BackOffice family of server products running on MS-Linux. In addition,
many existing MS-DOS(R) and SCO Unix programs will run on MS-Linux
without
modification. Benchmark tests performed by independent laboratories have
shown that MS-Linux is the world's fastest Windows file server.
A groundswell of support from industry
A number of leading development tool vendors will announce support for
MS-Linux, including Bristol Technology Inc., Compuware Corp., Cygnus
Solutions, Fujitsu Microelectronics Inc., Intel Corp., Metrowerks Inc.,
Rational Software Corp., Sybase Inc., and Tower Technology.
"The new Linux distribution from Microsoft gives the operating system
the credibility it needs to gain a foothold in organizations where it has
never gone before," said Jon Hall, Executive Director of Linux
International, a non-profit Linux advocacy organization. Microsoft will
become a corporate member of Linux International, and will make a
substantial donation of funds and equipment to the organization. "Linux
International looks forward to working with Microsoft for the benefit of
current and future Linux users," added Hall.
According to VA Research President and CEO Larry Augustin, "VA
Research
is delighted that Microsoft is entering the fast-growing market for
computers powered by Linux." VA Research has announced plans to
bundle
MS-Linux and selected Microsoft Office and BackOffice products with its
powerful server, workstation, and laptop computers. VA Research has also
agreed to make Microsoft its exclusive supplier of Linux-based operating
systems going forward. "Having the Office and BackOffice suites running on
computers from VA Research will give us a huge advantage in the
marketplace," said Augustin.
Microsoft has engaged well-known author and programmer Eric S.
Raymond
to advise the company on certain intellectual property issues related to
Linux. Raymond's paper "The Cathedral of the Bizarre" was a key factor in
Microsoft's decision to develop a Linux product. "While Microsoft will not
immediately release the source code for its version of Linux, the company
has promised to do so eventually," said Raymond. "That's good enough for
me."
"The Linux community and Microsoft are a great fit," says Linus
Torvalds, creator of Linux. "After all, we both have the same goal, which
is total world domination."
Separately, Microsoft has announced the opening of a new recruiting
center in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. "Microsoft is always
looking for talented individuals to join our team," said Mike Murray,
Microsoft's vice president of human resources and administration. "We
often recruit in communities that are expected to have significant numbers
of folks looking for work in the near future."
Pricing and availability
Microsoft expects to release English and international versions of
MS-Linux Version 3.1 for Intel- and RISC-based computers on or before
April 1, 2000. Pricing has not been announced.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in
software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of
products and services, each designed with the mission of making it easier
and more enjoyable to take advantage of people using personal computers
every day.
Microsoft, Windows, Windows NT, Win32, BackOffice, MS-Linux, and
Linux
are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the
United States and/or other countries. Other product and company names
herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
