Corel's Rallying Cry: Linux, Linux Everywhere!

In its various attempts over the years to unseat rival Microsoft, Corel Corp. has tried marrying its technologies to those of several other companies. First it tried bringing in suitor WordPerfect to beef up its office offerings. Then it performed the shotgun wedding of its desktop apps to the Java platform. Both strategies did nothing to de-throne Microsoft Office. Now Corel, always the bridesmaid but never the bride, is attempting to ride the Linux wave straight to the operating system altar: the company is offering Corel Linux OS as a free download. At press time, additional Standard and Deluxe versions were scheduled to be available on November 30th for $59.95 and $89.95, respectively.

Corel is also busy porting both its main software suites--WordPerfect and CorelDRAW--to Linux; these should be available in Q2 2000. At Comdex, Corel's booth was located conspicuously at the Hilton, smack in the middle of Linux Business Expo, one of the many sub-shows now living in the belly of the Comdex beast. Along with RedHat and Caldera, Corel's booth dominated the room and practically screamed "Long Live Linux!" The Canadian software company is betting heavily on Linux as a viable desktop OS, a concept many companies have been tip-toeing around for a year. IDC numbers (as of March) indicate that the entire Linux operating environment market (i.e. both client and server) is projected to grow at about 25 percent (CAGR) through 2003. Still, such impressive numbers may not tell the whole story; other recent surveys show an expected tightening of Microsoft's grip on the desktop OS market, with 99.5 percent penetration by late next year.

But Corel certainly gets points for being the first major desktop app vendor to port fully to Linux, and to develop a Linux desktop OS suitable for the semi-power user. Corel's Linux OS is based on Debian Linux and uses the 2.2 kernel. The desktop UI is based on the Enhanced KDE desktop built on Qt. An installation utility is also included. Standard and Deluxe versions on CD include other apps (Communicator, Acrobat, and ICQ-compatible client, fonts) and the source code. Deluxe also includes BRU Backup, WordPerfect 8 for Linux lite, more fonts, and phone support.

While Corel Linux isn't likely to have Redmond quaking in fear, it should certainly draw in some users who appreciate the name of a well-known software vendor behind the Linux curtain. In addition, the WordPerfect faithful are a committed group, and the new Linux version of the WP suite may be enough to bring some current Windows users over to the rebellion.

But, of course, the fact remains that Linux is still miles--if not years--behind Windows in terms of ease of use, hardware support (particularly USB support), and general application support, at least on the desktop. If Corel's Linux can improve on even one of these sticking points, it may be a winner.