IBM looks to spread Linux with 'Chiphopper' (Possible prep for the Cell???)

Marketwatch -CNET ^ | February 14, 2005, 11:37 AM PST | By Martin LaMonica Staff Writer, CNET News.com

[ProudVet77]

Linux industry, or "ecosystem."
OK, they can take me away now, I've heard it all. Ecosystem?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

IBM's vice president of Linux, Scott Handy, said the Chiphopper program will greatly increase the number of applications in the Linux industry, or "ecosystem."

Hmmm...ok.

I saw this:

"It's generally part of an effort to fight the perception, held in many quarters, that Linux is nothing more than an x86 phenomenon," said Stephen O'Grady, an analyst at RedMonk. "IBM wants to expand (application) vendors' horizons to non-x86 platforms."

And immediately thought about the new CELL chip IBM is building for SONY and Toshiba which is an incredible performer but for PC applications will need Software.

Details on the CELL are here:

IBM unveils 'supercomputer on a chip'

[SoDak]

Linux is all right, for what it is, but I just don't get why someone like IBM wants to be so pushy with it, especially on the server side. We use their AIX product extensively, and we just can't get the same level of stability or mature tools on Linux, as a server solution, as we can on AIX.

[ThinkDifferent]

Linux is all right, for what it is, but I just don't get why someone like IBM wants to be so pushy with it, especially on the server side

Well, IBM actually has to pay people to write AIX.

[SoDak]

We pay IBM a lot for their trouble.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

There was always a problem at IBM (when I was a Field SE some years ago) of all the multiple operating systems, each having it's own development staff, support staff, Hdqrs and field.

Big bunches of money costs. IBM being a bottom line company, the high level was continually pushing to reduce the cost of all of this. So the rational could be nothing more than that.


But they do have a new processor coming....so maybe ....they have some plans. Of course the two events may not be connected also.

[ThinkDifferent]

We pay IBM a lot for their trouble.

Sure. But fundamentally IBM sells hardware and services, so they want software to be as cheap as possible. It's all about commoditizing your complements.

[SoDak]

AIX requires hardware AND support with high margins on both. Linux can be run on a plain jane Intel box. I don't know, maybe you're barking up the right tree, I'm often confused at IBM's decision-making, and also confused about the marketplace pushing Linux so hard, but I still highly value IBM's products.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

but I still highly value IBM's products.

As a shareholder I am glad to hear that.

[SoDak]

I've slowly purged my company of Unisys, NCR, and SCO. I'd never consider anything other than AIX on risc for what we do.

[ShadowAce]

IBM Ping

[Golden Eagle]

I'd never consider anything other than AIX on risc for what we do.

Too bad for you, that plans like this are perfect proof IBM plans to shelve AIX in favor of the foreign fake Linux. Disappointing to me, too.

[Doohickey]

It's really no mystery. It's about moving application software, which is where the biggest margins are. Intel hardware has been effectively commoditized, now IBM is now trying to commoditize OS as well as high-end hardware.

[Straight Vermonter]

You and me both!

[Doohickey]

Linux may be (partially) foreign, but it's real. Show me evidence that China is using Linux to gain competative advantage and subvert US markets, and you'll have an ally in me.

[Golden Eagle]

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200501/19/eng20050119_171084.html

[Doohickey]

I'm not touching that through the corporate firewall, so I'll have a look at that when I get home this evening.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

That processor with 8 little vector units just looks an incredible performer for the right applications.

It might blow away some of the early Cray's.