[Fwd: [webwatch] IBM to sell laptops with Linux OS]

[David Poehlman <poehlman clark net>]

I responded with the speak up info page and the ultrasonics page.

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [webwatch] IBM to sell laptops with Linux OS
Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 05:11:46 -0500
From: "Lisa LaNell Mauldin" <lisamauldin earthlink net>
Reply-To: "webwatch" <webwatch telelists com>
To: "webwatch" <webwatch telelists com>

Hi All,

The headline is perhaps a little catchy, but further down in the article,
one sees that Linux is merely a choice being offered by IBM, not the
standard offering.  However, given my very basic understanding that Linux is
not accessible, what would happen if a blind customer wanted to buy a laptop
with Linux?

The article speaks of Linux offering certain features/benefits that have
been embraced by computer professionals/scientists such that providing
Windows to a blind computer professional would clearly not constitute "equal
access."

Just some thoughts that crossed my mind...-Lisa


>From the Web Page:
http://www.sjmercury.com/svtech/news/breaking/ap/docs/86226l.htm

Posted at 4:11 p.m. PDT Sunday, June 11, 2000

IBM to sell laptops with Linux OS

NEW YORK (AP) -- International Business Machines Corp. was set to announce
Monday that some of its popular Thinkpad laptop computers will be available
with
Linux, the upstart operating system that enthusiasts see as an alternative
to Microsoft's Windows.

The laptops are aimed at computer professionals and scientists, two groups
that have embraced Linux, said Irving Wladawsky-Berger, the head of IBM's
Linux
group.

Linux is a popular for choice for Web servers, but is used on only a small
percentage of personal computers. It is even less common on laptops because
of
the special requirements of the hardware.

Thinkpads running Caldera Systems Inc.'s OpenLinux 2.4 will be available in
the third quarter, IBM said.

Dell Computer Corp. began selling laptops running Linux in February.

IBM, based in Armonk, N.Y, was also planning to announce the release of some
of its small-business applications for Linux and a program to speed
development
of applications among its partners.

Linux is an ``open source'' operating system, freely available for anyone to
use and modify. It was created by a Finnish computer student, Linus
Torvalds,
in 1991.

------
On the Net:
http://www.ibm.com/linux

(PROFILE (CO:International Business Machines; TS:IBM; IG:CPR;) (CO:Microsoft
Corp; TS:MSFT; IG:SOF;) (CO:Caldera Systems Inc; TS:CALD; IG:SOF;) (CO:Dell
Computer; TS:DELL; IG:CPR;) )

Copyright © 2000 Associated Press. All rights reserved.