will lack of corporate support kill off Linux?

[JD Runyan]

The main issue that I see is that there needs to be a viable groupware solution for Linux
to compete with Exchange Server.  I know that you can use multiple products to achieve
this function, but there needs to be a single package that will give one client to use,
and one server out of the box.  Once this is done, many corporations would enjoy the
benefits of running Linux with NIS or DCE on the workstation, as long as they can generate
documents that can be read by others with word.  This can be done with Star Office or Word
Perfect.  I know that most companies only use Outlook for mail, and calendar, but there is
the promise of doing more if they turn it on, and train the user community.  I personally
would point people to the IPlanet Suite (aka Netscape) of servers.  They have a calendar
server, directory server, mail server, and more to meet this need.  They are also
developing installs to run on Linux, and certified on Red Hat systems.  If the LAN
management people can be swayed to check out these products they might just switch.  If
they want a commercial server, then they can use Sun, HP, or IBM for the server, and Linux
on the desktop running Netscape or Mozilla for the client.
--
JD

| Hi,
| Just a discussion ;), but have you been noticing (like I have) how reluctant
| corporations are to use open source - even though they are willing to buy
| any crap software at any price as long as it is "owned" by a company so that
| someone is liable.
| For example at my workplace, linux is not used, not allowed. In my earlier
| workplace, same story (we're talking the biggest phone companies in the
| country).
| Will this sideline open source to academia and maybe kill it off eventually?
| thanks,
| Anil Philip
| --------------------------------------------------
| disclaimer: my opinions are my own and do not reflect ....
|
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