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Linux, eh?
A report from Comdex Canada

from Dan York, Linuxcare

TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA - Packed in the back corner of the large North Hall 
of the Toronto Convention Center, the Linux Pavilion proved once again that
Linux will draw a crowd.  During much of the first day, the aisles were
filled, almost all of the presentations in the Linux Theatre were 
standing-room only, and the questions were coming fast and furious.

"There's a lot of people here to kick the tires and check it out," said
Evan Leibovitch, one of the members of the Canadian Linux Users' Exchange
(CLUE), the group that organized the Linux Pavilion.  "From the level
of questions, it's not Linuxworld, but it's not bad, eh?"

Exhibitors in the Linux Pavilion include:

  - Canadian Linux Users' Exchange
  - Caldera Systems
  - Linux Journal
  - VA Linux Systems
  - Linux Solutions (comspec.net, jdp.com, iplink.net)
  - Open Seseme systems (a Magic distributor)
  - Sangoma Technologies
  - IBM Learning Services & IBM Netfinity Products Group
  - RT Control uClinux
  - Novasmic, formerly Monalp,Inc.
  
Corel and Rebel.com, both being based in Canada, were present at the show,
although their booths were not directly in the Linux Pavilion.

As the only distributor there, Caldera Systems was handing out a ton
of CDs and had quite a line of people waiting to get the cards swiped.
Sangoma Technologies was showing a network card that looks to your
Linux system as if it's a regular Ethernet card, but in fact includes
a router built into the card and can even include a CSU/DSU directly
on the card.  Matthew Cunningham from the Linux Journal was on hand
giving out free copies of the magazine.  VA, Linux Solutions, and
IBM's Netfinity group were all demonstrating their systems than ran
with Linux.  Both IBM and Caldera were also advertising their training
classes for Linux.

The CLUE folks had a well-planned "Linux Theatre" area that included
a row of demonstration machines at the outer edge.  Their demo 
stations included some older equipment, including some 386s, just
to show that Linux could run on old equipment.  Macmillan had sent
along several boxes of SAMS books, which the CLUE folks were collecting
names and raffling off books at the end of the day.

Today's presentations included:

  - Linux Solutions - Raw Speed: Linux on 64-bit RISCs
  - FSC Internet - Linux & Security
  - Magic Software - Magic Rapid Application Development
  - uClinux
  - Faximum Software - Integrating Message to Windows Users with a
        Linux Server
  - SAMS Publishing - Open Source Documentation
  - VA Linux Systems - First in Linux Systems
  - CLUE - The CLUE Linux Centre of Excellence
  - Rebel.com - The Netwinder
  - Caldera Systems - Installing OpenLinux 2.2
  - NetMaster, Inc. - Business Internet Gateways & VPNs
  - Techno-Logicals - A live Linux installation (RH 6.0)
  - Linux Professional Institute - The state of certification

A complete list of presentations for the rest of the show can be 
found on the CLUE web site at http://www.linux.ca/comdex/speakers.html

The presentations I watched were interesting, although I was personally
disappointed to see that a couple of the speakers were using PowerPoint or
a Windows web browser to display their slides.  If it is a Linux pavilion,
it seems to me that the focus should be on showing Linux in use.  Other
presenters used Applixware, Star Office, or HTML pages in a web browser
on a Linux laptop.  I asked the presenters in question why they were 
using Windows and received lame answers about being salespeople.  If
anything, you would think the sales people would be the ones who *should*
be using Linux!  I would hope that in the future all presenters at such
shows would only be using Linux for presentations.

I did not get the opportunity to spend much time at all the Linux booths
(they were quite crowded), nor to wander around the rest of the show, 
but will be doing so over the next two days.  There are about 300 vendors 
in the North Hall for Comdex Canada, but the South Hall has two large 
halls for Windows World and Networld+Interop, both of which are occuring 
simultaneously with Comdex Canada and are filled with their own exhibitors.

All in all, the CLUE members are to be complimented for putting together
a very professional presence for the Linux community.

-- 
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Dan York, Certification Program Manager, Linuxcare, Inc.
dyork@linuxcare.com    http://www.linuxcare.com/
415-740-4519 mobile, 603-268-0691 tel, 603-268-0103 fax
Linuxcare.  At the center of Linux.
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