Alternative to Windows here soon

By ADAM GIFFORD

Corel's easy-install version of the Linux operating system, which offers PC users an alternative to the ubiquitous Microsoft Windows, will reach New Zealand shelves on February 7.

Corel Linux OS has created considerable market interest in North America since its release at the Comdex IT industry product showcase in November.

International public relations director Rossana La Riviere said more than $US3 million of Corel Linux products had been sold since November 15, and there had been more than 100,000 free downloads of Corel Linux OS from the internet.

Warwick Grey, of Corel New Zealand, said the operating system should cost $120, including GST. He said there was already strong interest from retailers, with 300 orders waiting to be filled immediately by Dick Smith and Harvey Norman outlets.

While most software manufacturers apart from Microsoft have made moves to accommodate or support the Unix-like "open source" operating system, few have embraced it with the fervour of Corel.

Mr Grey said he was also getting lots of interest from network managers and chief information officers, who were often already using Linux back at the server.

"They are interested in the cost - this is a free operating system - and they can expect a reasonably priced office suite soon."

Word Perfect Office 2000 for Linux is due for release in April. Corel Draw 9 for Linux should be out mid-year.

Where Corel Linux differs from other distribution is it is squarely aimed at the desktop rather than the server. Instead of the heroic installation sessions which are a feature of Linux lore, Corel offers a four-screen process.

Users can choose between the full install, where the hard drive is formatted and optimised for the operating system, and the double boot install, where Linux is installed as a DOS file in Windows - which means users can choose which operating system they want whenever they start up their PCs.

Corel has built its system around the Debian distribution of Linux, using the KDE graphical user interface. Users can have not just one but eight "virtual desktops," so different applications can be run on different desktops. Rather than mess around minimising and maximising windows, you can click on the new desktop.

For Linux to succeed on the desktop, users will need to be convinced they can access all the applications they want, which is why Linux has invested in a company GraphOn.

The company makes a technology called Bridges, which allows a Linux client to access Windows applications running on a Windows NT server.

Mr Grey said that was a way companies' investment in applications could be protected, particularly for in-house applications or applications from smaller suppliers which were unlikely to be released in Linux versions.