May 14, 2001 : Hewlett-Packard Hesitant to Adopt Linux
📅 - While the ongoing development of the free and collaborative operating system Linux continues to create a real Opponent for Microsoft's dominant Windows operating system, dividing the tech world, computer-making heavyweight Hewlett-Packard (hp.com) is staying adamant that it will remain in the middle ground.
In the past few weeks, the company has worked to assert that while continues to become a bigger factor in Internet and network computing, the operating system is not likely to become a bigger factor at HP anytime soon.
Linux is a risky proposition for computer manufacturers, who do not stand to make money directly from the sale of the operating system, but at the same time risk turning their back on the demand if they don?t produce systems that use it.
At one end, Microsoft Corp., the maker of the dominant Windows operating system is confident that Linux will not make anybody any money, and at the other, computer makers like IBM are willing to invest $1 billion in Linux development. HP, however, says that it will work with Microsoft on Windows, while simultaneously working with IBM on Linux.
Research firm IDC says the total market for server computers running Linux grew 132 percent to $1.7 billion last year, and that HP shipped $180 worth of Linux servers. Analysts say that HP's cautious approach to the smaller Linux market may be wiser than IBM's particularly aggressive approach.
HP says that while Linux is most popular as a networking platform, its influence was growing as a tool for linking smaller household appliances to the Internet. Palm Inc. and Microsoft have built operating systems for mobile devices like the Palm Pilot and Compaq Computer Corp's iPAQ. Hewlett-Packard has programmers at Carnegie Mellon University to experiment with Linux on its Jornada handheld devices, and is also working with media company RealNetworks Inc. on a Linux-based Web stereo.
While not planning to push Linux aggressively, HP said it would target certain companies, such as telecommunications companies, which often want Linux for custom telephone network systems because it works will with real-time and is open.
The company also said it was not in a hurry to push Linux to compete with its own high-end proprietary Unix operating system, HPUX, because Linux is not able to run big enough systems.
In the past few weeks, the company has worked to assert that while continues to become a bigger factor in Internet and network computing, the operating system is not likely to become a bigger factor at HP anytime soon.
Linux is a risky proposition for computer manufacturers, who do not stand to make money directly from the sale of the operating system, but at the same time risk turning their back on the demand if they don?t produce systems that use it.
At one end, Microsoft Corp., the maker of the dominant Windows operating system is confident that Linux will not make anybody any money, and at the other, computer makers like IBM are willing to invest $1 billion in Linux development. HP, however, says that it will work with Microsoft on Windows, while simultaneously working with IBM on Linux.
Research firm IDC says the total market for server computers running Linux grew 132 percent to $1.7 billion last year, and that HP shipped $180 worth of Linux servers. Analysts say that HP's cautious approach to the smaller Linux market may be wiser than IBM's particularly aggressive approach.
HP says that while Linux is most popular as a networking platform, its influence was growing as a tool for linking smaller household appliances to the Internet. Palm Inc. and Microsoft have built operating systems for mobile devices like the Palm Pilot and Compaq Computer Corp's iPAQ. Hewlett-Packard has programmers at Carnegie Mellon University to experiment with Linux on its Jornada handheld devices, and is also working with media company RealNetworks Inc. on a Linux-based Web stereo.
While not planning to push Linux aggressively, HP said it would target certain companies, such as telecommunications companies, which often want Linux for custom telephone network systems because it works will with real-time and is open.
The company also said it was not in a hurry to push Linux to compete with its own high-end proprietary Unix operating system, HPUX, because Linux is not able to run big enough systems.
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