[Plug] Dec 2 Inquirer FAQ questions on Linux

[Chris Fearnley <cjf@netaxs.com>]

Hi fellow PLUG members,

The Inquirer ran a piece mentioning Linux:
  http://www.philly.com/volt/faq/120299faq.asp

I have submitted the following response that I thought you might enjoy:

Date: Sun, 5 Dec 1999 12:41:34 -0500                                               
To: John.Fried@phillynews.com                                                      
Cc: tony.gnoffo@phillynews.com                                                     
Subject: Re: Dec 2 Inquirer FAQ questions on Linux                                 

Dear John,

The article concerning Linux last Thursday was appreciated by those of us
who have had a long and rewarding use of Linux as an operating system.
Your mostly accurate comments were, however, marred by some glaring
errors that detracted from an otherwise excellent piece about the rock
solid Linux operating system.

First, I would like to point out that there are several vendors who offer
extensive support options for Linux including, my company, LinuxForce.
We are a nationwide service and support organization with offices
in Irvine CA, Boulder CO and a home base right here in the Delaware
Valley.  LinuxForce already counts such prestigious clients as the
Franklin Institute Science Museum and Spanco, the Morgantown based
crane manufacturer, on our web page (http://www.LinuxForce2000.com).               
We at LinuxForce recognize that our leadership position is constantly
challenged by a number of firms that also provide Linux service and
support.  Our marketing and sales people would strongly dispute your
statement about the lack of extensive support for Linux.

Secondly, there is already plenty of quality software available for Linux.
Netscape's Navigator is the most obvious program missing from your list
of mainstream programs available for Linux.  The Debian distribution
of Linux favored by LinuxForce and the Corel Corporation in their new
release of Corel LINUX, includes over 1500 software packages ranging
from personal finance applications to software for generating models of
geodesic domes.  In addition, countless software and games manufacturers
are porting their applications to run on Linux.

Finally, I disagree that Linux has any serious shortcomings in the field
of standardization.  All of the Linux vendors cooperate and are actively
involved in ensuring that software will work on different versions
of Linux.  For the most part the Linux community coheres as a strong,
unified voice despite the growing competition.  Please check out the
efforts of the Linux Standards Base: http://www.linuxbase.org/ (note,
in particular, its support by such members as IBM, Corel, and Red
Hat).

In conclusion, I find that the extensive software and support options
now available for Linux make it worthy of consideration by the average
"Joe User".  Linux is already ``here'' to meet the needs of well over
half of all users.  Which explains why Linux is growing so rapidly
despite the efforts of the manufacturers of the more highly marketed
operating systems to characterize it as not yet ready for prime time.
There is little doubt that Linux is the next step in computing.

Yours Truly,

Chris Fearnley

--                                                                                 
Christopher J. Fearnley          |  LinuxForce Inc.                                
cjf@LinuxForce2000.com           |  Senior Vice President Technology               
http://www.LinuxForce2000.com    |  Design Science Revolutionary                   
                    "Dare to be Naïve" -- Bucky Fuller                             

_______________________________________________
Plug maillist  -  Plug@lists.nothinbut.net
http://lists.nothinbut.net/mail/listinfo/plug