IBM wants portals for desktops
"If IBM is to convince buyers to use Linux for typical desktop productivity work, they better use it themselves – ‘Eating Your Own Dog Food,’ as it is known in the industry."
This quote comes from a LinuxWorld story which had IBM cio Bob Greenberg encouraging Big Blue IT organization execs to switch to a Linux desktop by 2005.
However, "IBM’s desktop strategy is focused on a gradual shift to portal technology," says a ComputerWorld report here. "A Web-based portal to applications residing on a server could be accessed on the desktop by a client running Linux, Windows or another operating system."
The Greenberg ’suggestion’?
IBM spokeswoman Trink Guarino said the memo was "meant not as a policy directive" at this point, says the report, going on:
"Instead, she said, it was sent as a way to ‘motivate’ the IT organization to look at the possibilities of running Linux as the desktop operating system of choice for all of IBM’s approximately 300,000 employees. But, Guarino said, ‘based on that memo, I would have to say we’re considering it’."
But Microsoft is downplaying the memo’s significance, says Computerworld, adding, "IBM is an important partner and customer for Microsoft," the company said in a statement, "and Microsoft will continue to work with IBM to deliver high value desktop solutions for both IBM and for its customers."
