I think most software and hardware companies are flirting with bankruptcy. As a matter of fact, there is even a US company in court for having an illegal monopoly that makes the entire software field less competitive and drove proprietary and open souce companies out of business. That company's name escapes me at the moment. However, there are success stories with new companies founded soley for the purpose of selling open source software. There are also success stories of existing companies releasing open source licensed products. But its a tough world and not all the baby turtles make it to the sea.
As far as the open source projects used in this article, once you have a big backer, you are less likely to die. I don't know this for sure, but its likely that these manufacturing companies are running TurboLinux on IBM hardware. As far as the software goes, I imagine that they will be using traditional vendors who have released their product as open source, like SAP did with SAP DB, and they'll be developing in-house products with open-source licenses. There will also be more open source software project to service this market now that there is a market to be serviced.
TurboLinux is a privately-held company, so I don't have access to their numbers. However, in 2000-2001 they went through the same rough period all IT experienced and is still experiencing. They laid off staff, streamlined process and got rid of the original C-level offices. For instance, Ernest Cicogna, former controller for IBM, is their CFO now.
TurboLinux is also good at developing partnerships, like their partnerships with IBM and HP. I'm running the IBM NetVista thin clients, which are TurboLinux powered, in a warehouse setting. I imagine they would make their way into the manufacturing plants as well.
And, of course, TurboLinux is now part of UnitedLinux.
TurboLinux had publicly anticipated profitability by the end of 2001, but I can't find data to confirm or deny.
Big shifts in purchasing procedures, like the one outlined here, will go a long way towards keeping many open source companies in the black.
Learn about Linux
Download Linux
Get Linux help
Re:Was just wondering.
Posted by: DCallaghan on July 05, 2002 11:31 PMAs far as the open source projects used in this article, once you have a big backer, you are less likely to die. I don't know this for sure, but its likely that these manufacturing companies are running TurboLinux on IBM hardware. As far as the software goes, I imagine that they will be using traditional vendors who have released their product as open source, like SAP did with SAP DB, and they'll be developing in-house products with open-source licenses. There will also be more open source software project to service this market now that there is a market to be serviced.
TurboLinux is a privately-held company, so I don't have access to their numbers. However, in 2000-2001 they went through the same rough period all IT experienced and is still experiencing. They laid off staff, streamlined process and got rid of the original C-level offices. For instance, Ernest Cicogna, former controller for IBM, is their CFO now.
TurboLinux is also good at developing partnerships, like their partnerships with IBM and HP. I'm running the IBM NetVista thin clients, which are TurboLinux powered, in a warehouse setting. I imagine they would make their way into the manufacturing plants as well.
And, of course, TurboLinux is now part of UnitedLinux.
TurboLinux had publicly anticipated profitability by the end of 2001, but I can't find data to confirm or deny.
Big shifts in purchasing procedures, like the one outlined here, will go a long way towards keeping many open source companies in the black.
#