Industry Leaders Launch Desktop Linux Consortium; Organization responds to rising demand for open standards, lower licensing fees.Business & Technology Editors NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 5, 2003 "We already have all the tools" -- Linus Torvalds Responding to the overwhelming interest in Desktop Linux, representatives from key firms and organizations today announced the formation of the Desktop Linux Consortium The Desktop Linux Consortium (DLC) is a non-profit organization which aims at enhancing and promoting the use of the GNU/Linux operating system on the desktop. Founded on February 4, 2003, it is led by open source activist Bruce Perens as executive director and Jeremy White, , or DLC (1) (Data Link Control) See data link and OSI. (2) (Data Link Control) The data link layer protocol (layer 2) that is used in IBM's SNA networking. See SNA, data link protocol and Microsoft DLC. . The vendor-neutral association is comprised of both commercial companies and open source organizations that are developing and shaping GNU/Linux desktop technologies. Linus Torvalds, creator of Linux, said "We already have all of the tools, in Open Source software, necessary for 80 percent of office workers in the world: an office suite including spreadsheet, word processor, and presentation program; a web browser The program that serves as your front end to the Web on the Internet. In order to view a site, you type its address (URL) into the browser's Location field; for example, www.computerlanguage.com, and the home page of that site is downloaded to you. , graphical desktop with file manager, and tools for communications, scheduling, and personal information management. The Linux desktop is inevitable!" Companies and organizations supporting today's announcement include ArkLinux, CodeWeavers, Debian.org, DesktopLinux.com, KDE (K Desktop Environment) A GUI-based user interface primarily for Unix and Linux machines, but also available for Windows and Mac. The source code is freely distributed and is maintained by developers around the world. , Linux Professional Institute (LPI (Lines Per Inch) The number of lines printed in a vertical inch. (language) LPI - A PL/I interpreter for IBM PCs and workstations. ftp://ftp.wustl.edu/mirrors/msdos/pli/runpli1a.arc. E-mail: <rcg@lpi.liant.com>. ), Lycoris, The Linux Terminal Server Project Linux Terminal Server Project (LTSP) is an add-on package for Linux that allows many people to simultaneously use the same computer. Applications run on the server with a terminal known as a thin client handling input and output. These thin clients are also known as X terminals. (LTSP LTSP Linux Terminal Server Project LTSP Lutheran Theological Seminary At Philadelphia LTSP Long Term Science Plan (NASA) ), MandrakeSoft, NeTraverse, OpenOffice.org, Questnet (Support4Linux.com), Samba.org, theKompany, SuSE, TransGaming Technologies, TrustCommerce, Xandros, and Ximian. Bruce Perens, interim executive director and well known open source community leader said, "The Desktop Linux Consortium will assure that there is fairness in all Desktop Linux-related issues and events. All vendors will be fully represented and the open source ethos will be respected." Targeting the needs of corporate, institutional, and home users, the DLC will help shape the future of Linux on the desktop. Group initiatives will include trade shows, conferences, and participation in Consortium-sponsored public relations public relations, activities and policies used to create public interest in a person, idea, product, institution, or business establishment. By its nature, public relations is devoted to serving particular interests by presenting them to the public in the most activities and programs. "The initial intentions for the DLC are very clear," said interim chairman Jeremy White. "Linux is firmly established in the server space, and now desktop Linux is coming of age. The ultimate beneficiary of the Consortium is the computing public, which will be assured a vibrant, open, stable alternative to closed proprietary systems, and an end to ever-escalating licensing fees." The Desktop Linux Consortium will be incorporated as a non-profit association. The DLC has established a formation committee, appointed interim leadership, and adopted an aggressive timetable to institute the group's governing body. Membership dues will be scaled to assure broad participation by both commercial firms and open source organizations. Additional details can be found at the DLC website. For media and other inquiries, please contact Jill Ratkevic at 408-209-5181, or jill@desktoplinuxconsortium.org |
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