IBM promises a Linux-based virtual desktop to rival Microsoft
By Davey Winder in Editorial
That’s what IBM says with the announcement of a Linux-based, security-rich desktop solution that has been developed along with Virtual Bridges and Canonical. The concept is simple enough: save money by ‘amplifying’ Lotus collaboration software and Ubuntu to a larger user base, and do it using the power of virtualisation.
Running open standards-based email, word processing, spreadsheets, unified communication, social networking and other software to any laptop, browser, or mobile device from a virtual desktop login on a Linux-based server configuration (excuse me while I come up for breath) the virtual desktop solution looks for all intents and purposes like any traditional one. However, with many virtual Linux desktops hosted on a server, looks can be deceptive.
What this solution provides is the Virtual Enterprise Desktop Environment, also known as VERDE, from Virtual Bridges. That comes with the Canonical staple Ubuntu and IBM throw in the Open Collaboration Client Solution software based on IBM Lotus Symphony, IBM Lotus Notes and Lotus applications.
“When we look back several years from now, I think we’ll see this time as an inflection point when the economic climate pushed the virtual Linux desktop from theory to practice,” said Inna Kuznetsova, director, IBM Linux Strategy. “The financial pressures on organisations are staggering and the management of PCs is unwieldy. Today’s virtual desktop is delivering superior collaborative software, an innovative delivery method, and an open-source operating system that is demanding clients’ consideration.”
Maybe. All this comes just as the server market has taken a tumble and is looking at its worse in terms of revenues since 2005. This caused by the credit crunch and a cut back in IT spending in Western Europe. Saving money is important under such circumstances, so how do the cost savings add up as far as the new IBM venture is concerned then?
Well, there is the licensing to start with, and IBM reckon this amounts to a “cost avoidance” of
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Loading ...Comment by P Brian - December 5, 2008 on 4:45 pm
For reference this seems to be the original press release. http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/26230.wss
I fear this is not a tipping point. Moving from Outlook to Notes is not a easy step, and if the main competitor in this space is “VMware View” a hosted desktop that is OS neutral (ie windows and linux), well frankly “we can save money by hosting our existing desktops” is a much easier sell to the board than “we can save money but you will see this strange desktop and moan at your CIO for weeks”.
Yes virtual desktops area a big money saver, and as much as I would like to avoid the “windows tax”, I have never yet won the argument. Redmonds stranglehold is still strong.
Comment by - December 7, 2008 on 8:43 pm
Any figures for what you might lose until productivity gets back up to normal (or at least as close to it as Notes allows)? Users are still voting with their wallet for Windows over Linux when they buy netbooks; I don’t think it’s switching time either…
Pingback by - December 11, 2008 on 11:28 am
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Comment by Joseph - December 11, 2008 on 6:38 pm
Why not just use Windows - www.nivio.com does windows on demand? Why linux when you can have latest win apps?
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