Workgroup, the specialist software company in the Siltek IT Supply Chain Group, has underlined its commitment to providing the channel with optimum choice with its distribution of the five top operating systems from Microsoft, Novell, SCO, IBM and Linux. The latest addition to the range is Red Hat 6.1, which now means that resellers can offer their clients the best solution to fit their needs.
Says Rachel Longster, Linux product manager at Workgroup: "Linux is the fastest growing server operating environment in 1998, with a staggering 190% growth and it has proven itself to be a reliable and cost-effective alternative solution.
"This is being borne out by the fact that more and more respected hardware and software manufacturers are now shipping products for Linux. These include software development from Novell, SAP, Oracle, Netscape, Intel and Computer Associates while Compaq, Dell, Gateway, HP and IBM are shipping Red Hat as a factory installation OS on servers and some workstations," she adds.
Linux is targeting SMEs with its enhanced e-business developments using Java. The OS's mid-tier computing model means server-based computing moves applications to the host from the client.
"Using open-source code means a huge cost saving, which is especially important to SMEs," says Longster.
Linux users also have access to Sun Microsystems' StarOffice, an integrated interoperable cross-platform office suite, which can either be downloaded for free (65Mb) or purchased for $40.
"Although Linux is the original Open Source Code product, meaning that the product is downloadable free of charge, when you buy the Red Hat distribution, you also receive additional bundled software as well as manuals and priority FTP access for a certain period.
"You also save yourself the aggravation of slow download speeds!" Longster says.
Workgroup also distributes Corel's newly developed version of Word Perfect for Linux.
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Red Hat
Founded in 1994, Red Hat is a leader in the development of Linux-based operating system software (OS) and services. Based in Durham, N.C., Red Hat builds the most accessible and advanced server OS available anywhere with technical innovations such as RPM and the disk druid installation tool. Red Hat Linux is available for Intel, Compaq Alpha and Sun SPARC platforms. Red Hat Linux available directly from the company and through Red Hat's partner, distributor and reseller programs, which include top PC and server manufacturers like Dell, IBM and Hewlett-Packard.
Red Hat Linux was named InfoWorld's Product of the Year for four years in a row, was given a productivity accolade in Software Development's Jolt Awards, was named an environment/desktop finalist in the Ziff-Davis European Excellence Awards, won the editor's choice awards from the Linux Journal and Australian Personal Computing magazines, and won the 'Just Plain Cool' award from Australian Personal Computing magazine.
At March's LinuxWorld Expo, more than 8,000 members of the Linux community voted Red Hat a 'LinuxWorld Favorite'. Red Hat Linux recently won a Product Excellence award from Software Development Magazine.
LINUX is a trademark of Linus Torvalds. RED HAT is a registered trademark of Red Hat, Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group. All other names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.