Posted May. 18, 2002 10:12,
Changing operating system of a computer to Linux from Windows of Micro Soft is in fashion.
U.S. business news weekly Businessweek online reported on the 16th, “a lot companies have changed their server systems from the second half of last year. At this rate of growth (20 to 30 percent yearly), Linux would be a mainstream of operating system defeating MS in five years. ”
Most active movement is shown at the producers of hard and soft wares. Big hardware makers including IBM, Oracle, Dell and Hewlett Packard have shipped boxes preloaded with Linux from 2 or 3 years before. More software companies such as SAP, Veritas, and BEA have been promoting versions of their products that run on Linux.
CS First Boston converted its worldwide trading system to Linux last month. Merrill Lynch is likewise in the midst of a massive effort to replace. Linux’ making inroads on Wall Street, a huge market, is meaningful, say experts.
Previously, world largest online bookstore Amazone.com and Boeing also have changed their server system to Linux. At film studio Dreamworks, clustered Linux machines performed complicated graphics for the hit film Shrek. Nowadays, Linux is embedded in Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), smart phone, and set-top boxes.
According to IDC, U.S. market research agency, market share of Linux in corporate server market grew to 27 percent last year from 6.6 percent in 1997. It has almost 10 percent of market share in PC market.
Recent popularity of Linux is caused by the cheap price, which is less than 10 percent of that from Micro Soft, and the strengthened stability of the programs.
Scott Testa founder of Mindbridge said, “replacement of system saved some 100,000 dollars in a year. The stability of the system is attracting the companies, which snorted at Linux just two years ago, to the shift to Linux. ”