IBM goes silent on Linux desktop effort

IDG News Service ^ | January 25, 2005 | Robert McMillan

[Bush2000]

IBM goes silent on Linux desktop effort Big Blue mum about progress of the company's move to open source clients

By Robert McMillan, IDG News Service
January 25, 2005

More than a year after IBM's (Profile, Products, Articles) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sam Palmisano challenged his company to move to the Linux desktop by the end of 2005, IBM has significantly toned down its rhetoric on the subject of open-source clients.

"We don't have anything we want to say that's definitive," said Nancy Kaplan, an IBM spokeswoman, as she declined to comment on specifics of the roll-out. "There are people using Linux and nobody is telling them to stop," she said.

IBM's Linux migration plans were made public in January 2004, just months after IBM Chief Information Officer Bob Greenberg formed an internal initiative called the Open Desktop project to facilitate the move.

"Our chairman has challenged the IT organization, and indeed all of IBM to move to a Linux based desktop by the end of 2005," Greenberg wrote in a November 2003 memo. "This means replacing productivity, Web access, and viewing tools with open standards based equivalents," he said.

IBM executives said at the time that they had approximately 15,000 Linux desktops within the company and predicted that they would have between 40,000 and 60,000 desktops in operation by the end of 2004.

IBM's Kaplan declined to say whether that goal had been met or not. "I don't know if there was ever a goal of 40,000 users; I don't know if there are 40,000 users," she said. "There's nothing mysterious about it; we're using Linux."

Whether IBM's Linux users are getting any help from IBM's internal support staff is another question, however.

According to one IBM employee, who asked not to be identified, the company has created a Linux version of its standard desktop client, called the Client for eBusiness. Based on the Red Hat (Profile, Products, Articles) Linux distribution, the Linux client includes the Open Office productivity suite, a Lotus Notes client running under the Wine Windows emulation software, and the Mozilla browser.

Though IBM volunteers have set up an internal IRC (Internet relay chat) channel where Linux problems are discussed online, users may experience problems running IBM's internal Web applications. Most of those applications are written for the Internet Explorer browser, which has not been ported to Linux. Internet Explorer is the only browser supported by IBM's internal support desk, according to another IBMer.

"If you don't use Internet Explorer, you might not get very far with them helping you with the problem," he said.

The majority of IBM's Linux users to date are technical users in the company's product development and research and development groups -- users who are technical enough to support themselves, the sources said.

IBM is using Wine to run Lotus Notes software on thousands of clients, according to sources, but ironically, the company's internal use of the open-source Windows operating system emulator did not translate into a ringing endorsement in a guide to migrating to Linux clients, published recently on IBM's Web site.

Wine is mentioned only in passing, in a section entitled "What to do if all else fails," and it is called a "temporary workaround" to get an application running on the Linux client. "This is not a solution for the long run," the guide states

[Golden Eagle]

So far, not a single lawsuit, and it's been almost a year.

Lie, it's been barely six months.

If they wait much longer, they'll have waived their right to sue about it.

Lie, they have plenty of time, but, damages could be triple since the FSF knows what the patent violations are now.

What I do to the Chinese is my business.

Lie, you'd like to keep it quiet I'm sure, too bad it's out in the open.

Maybe the Chinese are the only ones who want the damned thing.

Lie, or ignorance. IBM already admitted they had at least one American bid, but their vision is a shared future with the Chicoms instead.

[Nick Danger]

Lie, it's been barely six months.

Get better spears. That one was so dull, it bounced off and clattered to the floor.

you'd like to keep it quiet I'm sure, too bad it's out in the open.

I am so busted. The mighty Golden Eagle has revealed my connections with the Chinese mob. I guess I should go ahead now and admit that I am also working with The Grays to abduct all of Microsoft's programmers and replace them with lawyers and Internet spear-throwers.

I will also admit to failure. We tried to abduct Steve Ballmer too, but he was too damned fat to get drawn up into the mother ship. All it did was make him jump around like a monkey.

[Uncle Fud]

...Now we're trying to figure out what new bells and whistles we can add to already functional software to get people to buy the next generation.

...Video, audio and gaming are driving advances in hardware, software and operating systems. ...

Exactly 100% right - Microsoft is trying to create an impression (not shared by most users) that software becomes obsolescent every 2-3 years. An OS and core business apps should by rights have a much longer service life.

Now games (as you correctly observe) are very different. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 is a far more desirable program than its 1998 counterpart and well worth the cost of the upgrade and the faster hardware required.

The same comparison made between editions of MS Office is much less compelling.

[Golden Eagle]

There you go trying to change the subject again. These problems aren't about Microsoft, they're about IBM, selling out the country, just like they did with the Nazi's. The give free software to the vietcongs now, and tell us it's all well and good. Try to force linux on us, but refuse to take the medicine themselves. Try to sell the Chinese an American staple for 1/5 the value, then act shocked when the feds move in and investigate over national security concerns.

Yet you stand there, IBM stooge #1, and try to somehow blame Microsoft for it all. It isn't working, obviously.

[Nick Danger]

There you go trying to change the subject again. These problems aren't about Microsoft, they're about IBM, selling out the country, just like they did with the Nazi's.

I am aware that you would like to keep the subject on the various spears that you are given to throw in the course of your Internet advocacy on behalf of Microsoft. I see no reason to be bound by that, however. If I choose to make fun of Steve's "monkey boy" dance, you just have to eat it.

Face it, Eagle. You are here to throw spears on behalf of Microsoft, and everybody knows it. You have become a cartoon. The only thing to do with you is piss you off and make fun of your heroes. Engaging you in discussion has proved fruitless for dozens who have tried. It's just one spear after another, directed at Microsoft's many enemies. Any reply posted to you is just an occasion for you to throw another spear... as this one will be.

Incidentally, thank you for the reference to the Nazis. I hereby invoke Godwin's Law. I win.

[Bush2000]

I am aware that you would like to keep the subject on the various spears that you are given to throw in the course of your Internet advocacy on behalf of Microsoft.

Nicky, this has nothing to do with Microsoft. Repeat: Nothing to do with Microosft. Why you keep trying to turn the conversation away from IBM and toward your favorite object of demagoguery -- Microsoft -- isn't going to distract people from the fact that it's IBM that we're talking about here. And Godwin's Law only applies when somebody makes a comparison of one person to Nazis. GE was making a reference to the Nazis based on historical fact: IBM did, in fact, collaborate with the Nazis during WWII to help them catalogue prisoners for their death camps. So, in fact, you lose.

[Nick Danger]

Nicky, this has nothing to do with Microsoft.

The presence of you and Golden Eagle in this thread means that it does have something to do with Microsoft. Otherwise you wouldn't be here. You two are the poster boys for Microsoft's net advocacy program, which I assume now includes throwing spears at IBM-in-general as well as linux.

Hey, at least this time they've picked a fair fight. Good luck.

[Bush2000]

The presence of you and Golden Eagle in this thread means that it does have something to do with Microsoft. Otherwise you wouldn't be here. You two are the poster boys for Microsoft's net advocacy program, which I assume now includes throwing spears at IBM-in-general as well as linux.

Nonsense. Neither GE nor I gets paid by MS to post here. That's your continual lie. I'm here because somebody has to counter-balance your FUD and advocacy for IBM and pro-Chinese crapware.

[Nick Danger]

Yeah, I figure the net advocacy stuff comes out of Waggener Edstrom or DCI Group or someplace like that. It's not something they'd do in-house.

[Golden Eagle]

I've made the offer and I'll make it again.

I'm willing to wager my entire net worth that I have no financial relationship with Microsoft or any of it's agencies.

So, are you willing to take that bet, and attempt to make the connection? Apparently not.

I'm just here to point out how companies are selling out the US for their own profit, and from what I can tell, IBM is at or near the top of that list.

Their recently proposed deals are being investiaged by the US government for national security concerns. You defend them, while I point it out.

So guess where I really work Nick. That's right, for the US government. Time for you to deal with it. Or take that bet if you think you can prove otherwise.

[Knitebane]

So guess where I really work Nick. That's right, for the US government

Figures. Just another low-level GS whackjob pretending to be more important than he really is and pretending to know things that he continuallly shows he doesn't.

Not like I've ever run into those in the Gubmint. *snort*

Come in under a Clinton jobs program, did ya?

That would explain your fascination with the Chicoms.

But what explains your constant apologetic behavior whenever Microsoft's gift of Windows source code to the Chicoms is mentioned?

[Knitebane]

Wow, a hit piece from Robert McMillan on Linux. I'm shocked.

In other news, the notorious the Microsoft Fanboy ranted, "Microsoft had nothing to do with SCO, there's nothing wrong with Internet Explorer, and Bill Gates is a great lover...just ask me."

Later, the drooling fool was dragged away in a white coat shouting crazed epithets about how Java was a Sun plot to bring down the greatest company in the history of the world.

[Golden Eagle]

But what explains your constant apologetic behavior whenever Microsoft's gift of Windows source code to the Chicoms is mentioned?

I am outraged over it, but, fact is, it was a response to the open source threat that is endangering US software vendors. It never would have happened if Linux didn't exist, quite obviously. Besides, "shared source" isn't "open source", as any open source lunatic such as yourself would clearly know.

When Microsoft starts giving software away for free for use in Chicom supercomputers, arguing for the destruction of US patent law, launching denial of service attacks against those that accuse them of stealing their software, and selling one of their divisions to the Chicoms despite Congressional warnings over national security, you might have a point. Till then, it's obvious you'd rather ignore the serious threats I just named and sneer from the back of the free software mob instead.

[Golden Eagle]

IBM and Oracle may learn to regret their decisions to invite open source software into the US market. Two new articles discuss the obvious dangers, so far ignored, but now becoming unavoidable:

Open Source Database – Will Proprietary Databases Survive?

Like Linux, Databases Going Open Source

[Knitebane]

I am outraged over it, but, fact is, it was a response to the open source threat that is endangering US software vendors. It never would have happened if Linux didn't exist, quite obviously.

Uhhh, so Microsoft gave away the family jewels because of a percieved threat to an OS that isn't quite ready for prime time.

You need to pick one argument and stick with it.

When Microsoft starts giving software away for free for use in Chicom supercomputers...

If you think that the Chicoms got the Windows source code, examined it and then just threw it away without actually using it in their own products, you're delusional.

...arguing for the destruction of US patent law...

Rather, arguing for the Constitutional restoration of US patent law, not the travesty that it has become. Hey, restoration of the Constitution, isn't there a website dedicated to that?

...launching denial of service attacks against those that accuse them of stealing their software...

Nice smear, but there's no proof that anyone having anything to do with Linux had anything to do with the SCO DDOS. And you know it, troll.

... you might have a point.

which is one more than you've ever had.

Till then, it's obvious you'd rather ignore the serious threats I just named and sneer from the back of the free software mob instead.

Actually, I only sneer at you and Bush2000, since you're obvious Nothing But Microsoft trolls.

[Golden Eagle]

You lose, on every point.

China to crack supercomputer top 10 list (thanks to IBM, Lenovo, and Linux)

Torvalds joins in anti-patent attack

Software & Patents: Stallman Declares "The Battle...Must Continue!"

Open Source Leader Asks Hacker to Stop SCO Attack - "I had been hoping, and actually expecting, that the attacker would turn out to be some adolescent cracker with no real connection to the open-source community other than a willingness to stand down when one of its leaders asked. But no; I was told enough about his background and how he did it to be pretty sure he is one of us -- and I am ashamed for us all."

[Nick Danger]

Two new articles discuss the obvious dangers

I sold computers in the government for many years, and I must say that you are the first government IT guy I ever saw who takes the side of the vendors.

Might I remind you that those are our (taxpayer) dollars you are spending in that shop of yours? Your role is to get the job done at the least cost to the taxpayers, not to conduct some self-generated industrial policy predicated on keeping the vendors awash in money.

Why don't you let Larry Ellison worry about Oracle? It doesn't look like he needs your help anyway. Besides, you have no right to be helping him with our money.

[Knitebane]

China to crack supercomputer top 10 list (thanks to IBM, Lenovo, and Linux)

More silly trolling.

1. You don't know what's running on that supercomputer. You are assuming it's Linux, but for all you know it's code based on the Microsoft release of Windows source code. Not likely, but the point is that you don't know so instead you make stuff up to spread FUD about Open Source.
2. The idea that the IBM sale of their desktop division having anything to do with a Chinese supercomputer simply shows that you have no idea how any of this technology works.
3. IBM just recently sold their PC division to Lenovo. If the Chinese are so good that they can build a top-end supercomputer just weeks after aquiring the aging IBM PC division, then we should all just give up.

Torvalds joins in anti-patent attack

Being against software patents is not the same thing as being against patents. Traditionally, patents are issued for concepts, not for software implementations. Indeed, up until the US Supreme Court forced the USPTO to accept a software patent in 1981, no software was patented. Not Unix, not VMS, nothing.

Software patents are just an attempt by certain companies to perform an end-run around their Constitutional copyright requirements.

Software & Patents: Stallman Declares "The Battle...Must Continue!"

See above.

Open Source Leader Asks Hacker to Stop SCO Attack - "I had been hoping, and actually expecting, that the attacker would turn out to be some adolescent cracker with no real connection to the open-source community other than a willingness to stand down when one of its leaders asked. But no; I was told enough about his background and how he did it to be pretty sure he is one of us -- and I am ashamed for us all."

"...But no; I was told enough about his background and how he did it to be pretty sure he is one of us -- and I am ashamed for us all."

Note the bold, my addition. One person does not a community make. The Open Source community did not, repeat, did not perform a DDOS on SCO.

One misguided person did.

And by the way, he did it with dozens of easily compromised Windows boxes. So, all of those people that failed to patch their Windows boxes are just as guilty of performing the DDOS as the one Open Source supporter.

And, for those that are interested in the software patent issue and not just using misrepresenting the problem in order to attempt to cloud the issue, a pretty good primer on the problem can be found here.

[Golden Eagle]

Why don't you let Larry Ellison worry about Oracle? It doesn't look like he needs your help anyway. Besides, you have no right to be helping him with our money...Your role is to get the job done at the least cost to the taxpayers

Something I am very skilled at, exactly why I have reached the position of authority I have. And an extremely easy thing to understand by someone in my level of authority is how easy-to-use software from some vendors is significantly less expensive than the salaries of countless experts needed to maintain difficult software made by other vendors.

We ripped out almost every instance of Oracle and Unix we had about 7 years ago, and cut our operating budget by close to 75% when we went with the Microsoft products. The Windows/SQL Server combination is still serving us well, and no way am I about to trade it in for some foreign fake being peddled by those claiming they make a handsome profit by giving the software away, and selling the service alone. I'm sure it works on those ignorant enough to fall for it, but it's not working on someone with my level of experience.

That is not to say I would turn a blind eye and endorse products or vendors that are currently being investigated by respected Republican congressmen for potentially threatening US national security, even if they were less expensive. No, not me. That would however, quite obviously be you.

[Golden Eagle]

1. You don't know what's running on that supercomputer.

LOL, that's your #1 point? Really, that's pathetic. Pull your head of the sand, loser.

China plans to create the world's third most powerful supercomputer...a cluster comprised of computers running a Chinese-designed Linux operating system.

Chinese designed linux my ass. A copy of Red Hat they've renamed Red Flag is the extent of the "chinese design".

And don't act like this is something new. Anyone who knows anything knows linux is making it real easy for the Chinese and others to have supercomputer power like never before.

Countries with supercomputing prowess such as the United States have long sought to restrict the export of high-performance calculation technology that could be used for nuclear weapons design or communications decryption. Those export laws have tripped up companies such as Sun Microsystems. But a newer approach, in which numerous low-end Linux systems are connected with a high-speed network into a high-performance computing cluster, means supercomputers can be built from widespread, ordinary technology

Being against software patents is not the same thing as being against patents.

ROFL! Talk about complete horsesh!t. Do you really believe this stuff? More likely, you hang around people who do, or those that have brainwashed you into such nonsense.

One person does not a community make.

Maybe not, but everybody saw your cheerleading, if not outright assistance, from a mile away.

the problem is that this worm is apparently the product of some ticked-off Linux fan deciding to get back at SCO. Indeed, some moronic Linux fans are cheering MyDoom on. "Quick, disable your AV software, and get some Windows boxes on the internet!"

So, all of those people that failed to patch their Windows boxes are just as guilty of performing the DDOS as the one Open Source supporter.

Completely wrong, just as I wouldn't be liable if someone broke into my house, and stole one of my guns to rob a store. If they entered my house and did something illegal, they are the ones liable. Your pathetic attempts at coverups of illegal acts, and the obvious dangers you fools present to US national security is disgusting.