Penguin Computing Vice President to be Featured at International Linux Conference with Oracle, Intel, IBM Managers.

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 9, 1999--

Allison Huynh, executive vice president of Penguin Computing Inc., will be one of the featured speakers at the Philippine National Linux Conference, taking place from June 9-11 at the Shangi-La Hotel in Manila, Philippines. Huynh, a recognized international leader in building successful Open Source businesses, will be delivering the speech, "How to Create a Profitable Open Source Business," to an international audience of computer vendors, IT managers, and high tech business development experts, including Asian market managers of Oracle, Intel, and IBM.

Huynh was invited to the conference by Miguel Paraz, vice president of business development for Iphil Communications, one of the largest ISP's and networking consultancies in the Philippines, and one of Asia's foremost Linux supporters. Iphil Communications heard about Penguin Computing through their partner, David Conrad, of Internet Software Consortium.

The event is the first ever Linux-focused conference in the Philippines. The fact that this conference is taking place at all reveals the extent to which Linux has begun to challenge the Microsoft domination of the software market worldwide. "Five years ago we would never have imagined an event of this magnitude taking place in our country," Paraz said. "It is now clear to everybody that Linux, and not Windows, is the wave of the future in Asia, no less than in the United States and Europe."

Paraz wanted to invite a representative of a well established and successful Linux company that could help explain how to bring high-quality, Linux-based Internet connectivity to Asia. "Penguin Computing has an international reputation as a world-class vendor of Linux-based computers," Paraz said. "We want to learn as much as we can from Penguin's experience. Hopefully they will assist us in our own efforts to improve our Internet and networking solutions in the region."

While other companies typically offer dual-boot systems, Penguin Computing has carved a niche in the industry by focusing exclusively on Linux systems. Each Penguin machine is designed from the ground up. Components for Penguin workstations and servers are chosen for their reliability and performance under Linux. "We are impressed with Penguin's ability to deliver such reliable Linux systems to the market," Paraz said.

"Before Penguin Computing, nobody would have thought of having such an extensive 72-hour burn-in period. Nor did anybody believe that you could have an 8-way SMP Xeon server or a 1-u rackmount server running on Linux. We want to understand how Penguin has managed to bring such innovative products to the market, and so quickly."

The business brain behind Penguin, Huynh is responsible for managing the customer-focused on-line ordering system that accounts for 98% of the company's sales. Within less than a year, Huynh steered Penguin from ground zero to a company that generates sales exceeding one million dollars per month, becoming one of the largest companies selling complete Linux solutions. Penguin currently sells more Linux systems than IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Compaq, and Dell combined. The company predicts that sales will increase tenfold within a year from now.

In the Philippines Huynh will be speaking about how Penguin Computing has leveraged the internet as well as its in-house Linux expertise to create a low-cost, high quality Linux solution for e-commerce companies, ISP's, research labs, universities, and individual home users. Included in the company's roster of clients are such well-known companies as Excite, Paramount Pictures, Cisco Systems, Amazon.com, E-Book Systems, NASA, AMD, and a host of universities.

Originally, Huynh was to be joined at the conference by Sam Ockman, president of Penguin Computing, and a well-known Open Source leader. Ockman could not attend, however, because of a prior speaking engagement on Craig Crossman's Computer America Show. "I regret that I could not be part of this exciting event," Ockman said. "We at Penguin are committed to supporting Open Source development efforts worldwide, and Allison's presence at the Linux conference in the Philippines represents that commitment. We also see a great potential for Linux in the Asian market. We are currently in negotiations with several local players to discuss possible business partnerships in the region."

Through its entry into the Asian market, Penguin Computing hopes to solidify its already solid position as a world leader in Linux-based computer systems. Aiming for both the high and low end of the Linux computer market, Penguin products range from under $1000 to over $100,000. Penguin Computing offers free standard 9 to 5 support for two years on every system it sells, as well as upgrades to 24-7 support.

Penguin Computing can be reached by calling 888/PENGUIN or by sending an email to [e-mail]. To schedule an interview, call Andrew Kaufman, director of communications at Penguin Computing, at 415/243-8100, or email him at [e-mail].