February 12th, 2007
IBM says, you don't need no operating system
Linux is the high card in the open source poker hand.
It's an operating system. A very good operating system.
But what if operating systems didn't matter?
That's what IBM is saying with its Open Client Offering. We will let you run Windows applications, Linux applications and (very soon) Macintosh applications in a single, seamless environment.
It's not about reducing the cost of running Windows and Linux. It's not about desktop Linux at all. It's not about alternatives to Windows.
It's about making the whole question of operating systems irrelevant.
This is very much in keeping with IBM's role in our time. IBM seeks to hide the complexity of computing from organizations, and have them pay it for the privilege.
If they were into clever marketing, I'd suggest IBM's next ad should feature Larry the Cable Guy, saying his trademarked line, "Git 'R Done". Maybe have him dressed like Steve Jobs and backlit until he turns around to say the punch line.
Because that's what the company is really all about.
Dana Blankenhorn has been a business journalist for 30 years, a tech freelancer since 1983. You can follow Dana on Twitter. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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| 02/12/07
