[Fsf-friends] NEWS: SGI to focus on Linux-based computing solutions

[Frederick Noronha (FN)]

SGI to focus on Linux-based computing solutions

>From Indo-Asian News Service

New Delhi, Aug 19 (IANS) U.S.-based Silicon Graphics Inc. (SGI) said Tuesday
it would continue to focus on developing cutting edge computing solutions on
the Linux operating system platform.

"We have enabled Linux to break into the high performance arena," said
Warren Pratt, executive vice president and chief operating officer of
California headquartered Silicon Graphics Inc.

"We are now committed to continue moving Linux forward by enabling real
solutions for real problems. We will help customers use Linux to solve the
biggest problems facing them," he told a press conference here Tuesday.

Linux can be bought for a few hundred rupees or downloaded free from the
Internet and the same software can be copied across dozens or hundreds of
computers.

One can also modify the software programme code of Linux to suit individual
needs, unlike its proprietary counterparts such as Microsoft's Windows.

While Microsoft say Windows is far ahead in terms of security and user
convenience, supporters of the open source software, which no one owns,
highlight its cost advantage and flexibility for a developing economy like
India.

Pratt said SGI was the first to make "serious product announcements" based
on Linux operating system. The technologies that SGI used in the creation of
its Linux product family have enabled the open source system to scale new
heights, he added.

The official said Linux has great scope to move forward rapidly in India
since the country has one of the largest open source community as well as
the world's second largest pool of scientific manpower.

"This is further boosted by the fact that the government is encouraging the
adoption of open source solutions for the country," Pratt said.

According to an official study, only 16 percent of the central government
offices currently use Linux as a platform but this is expected to grow
manifold in the coming years.

A number of states including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Madhya
Pradesh, Kerala and Maharashtra are either implementing or proposing to
launch e-government projects using Linux operating system as the platform.

The Indian operations of SGI are headquartered at Gurgaon, on the outskirts
of New Delhi, with branch offices located at Bangalore and Mumbai.

--Indo-Asian News Service