From: "Masami Okano" <masami@cdrom.co.jp>
To: "Masami Okano" <masami@cdrom.co.jp>
Subject: [PressRelease]Promotion of "Japanese Red Hat Linux 6.0" will be terminated and "LASER5 Linux 6.0" will peplace it.
Date: Wed, 1 Sep 1999 01:56:23 +0900

-Press Release         September 01, 1999 From Japan
====================================================

Promotion of "Japanese Red Hat Linux 6.0" will be 
             terminated and "LASER5 Linux 6.0" will replace it.

====================================================
Itsutsubshi Rsearch Co., ltd.(President and CEO Toshiyuki 
Kubota, located at Kowa Bldg., 5-6-12, Sotokanda, 
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) announced that they will terminate the 
development of "Japanese Red Hat 6.0", and start the  
promotion and development of "LASER5 Linux 6.0".

Itsutsubashi Research Co., Ltd. has been promoting and 
developing "Japanese Red Hat Linux 6.0" as the primary 
vendor under the partnership contract with Red Hat since
February 1997.

However, a notice stating the termination of partnership 
contract came to Itsutsubashi Research Co. suddenly on 
August 24, 17.00PM(Japan time) and it became impossible for
Itsutsubashi to use the "Shadow man" logo and the  name 
"Red Hat Linux". Therefore, Itsutsubashi Research Co. was 
forced to stop the sales of  "Japanese Red Hat Linux 6.0".

The "Japanese Red Hat linux 6.0", which is almost completed, 
will be released on September 17, 1999 as scheduled, changing 
the name to "LASER5 Linux 6.0".

Due to the conflict of administration policy between LASER5 
Co., Ltd. and Red Hat, LASER5 will stop the further 
development of Japanese Red Hat Linux and continue the 
sale of LASER5 Linux and the support for the "Red Hat Linux" 
up to 6.0 version.

********** Specification for LASER5 Linux 6.0 ***********
-On sale beginning September 17
"LASER5 Linux 6.0" Base price 12,800 Yen
"LASER5 Linux 6.0 Japanese Input Kit" Base price 6,800 Yen

* 99% compatible with Red Hat Linux 6.0.
     "LASER5 Linux  6.0" is developed on the basis of Red 
    Hat Linux 6.0 and 99% compatible with Red Hat Linux 6.0.

* Adopt the latest Kernel 2.2x series.
    The latest Kernel 2.2x series has numerous enhancements 
    including improved performances in the environment of 
    2CPU or up, support for various server grades(RAID, UPS, 
    DAT) and expansion of file system.

* High quality GUI through GNOME and KDE.
    By using GNOME and KDE for desktop environment, 
    LASER5 Linux provides a GUI environment comparable or
    superior to Windows 95/98. Japanese version is being 
    developed aggressively. 
    The use of GNOME and KDE has improved the 
    maneuverability of LASER5 Linux dramatically.

* Variety of software bundle including "Just Systems", 
   "ATOK12SE", Omron
    Software Wnn6 and other Japanese version software as 
    well as many utilities.
    Through the adoption and support of Japanese input 
    software such as ATOK12SE and Wnn6, input in Japanese 
    will no longer be a problem.  
    The maneuverability is also improved by including multi-boot 
    utility System Commander Lite, the Blender  3DCG 
    rendering tool, the SSH for security,  the BRU back-up 
    software and 2 anti-virus packages (F-secure, Sophos).

* The complete manual in Japanese.
    A complete Japanese manual detailing the installation 
    procedure and use of software is provided so that new 
    Linux users can handle the  OS easily.

* Customer Support.
    We will provide free installation support via phone, fax or 
    E-mail for 90 days and 3 inquiries to resolve  troubles 
    during and after installation.

----------
    Q&A
----------
Q1) How to explain to customers anticipating "Japanese redhat 
      Linux 6.0"?
A1) Please recommend "LASER5 Linux 6.0".  
     This is the product that was going to be "Japanese redhat 
     Linux 6.0" and hence is nearly 100% compatible. Also it is 
     currently unknown when Red Hat Software Inc. is going to 
     provide a Japanese version.

Q2) What should we do for the enterprise?
A2) LASER5 Linux is almost completely following Red Hat 
     Software Inc.'s versioning. However we also aim to further 
     enhance "LASER5 Linux" and other products for the 
     Japanese market as a "Better Red Hat" unfettered by 
     Red Hat Software Inc.'s versioning.  In addition we feel 
     that we are in a far better position to provide support to 
     the Japanese market. 
     Please choose from our Server, Normal, and Free versions 
     one that best suits your needs.

Q3) What is going to happen to 
      "Japanese redhat Server Edition"?
A3) There should be no problems even if you continue to use 
      it. The server edition offers simple and automated firewall 
      setup, internet and Samba servers, the secure high 
      performance Roxen Challenger web server and other 
      features not found in Red Hat Software Inc.'s products. 
      Please note however that the next release will be
      provided as a server version of  "LASER5 Linux".

Q4) How about support for Red Hat Software Inc.'s products?
A4) LASER5 Co., Ltd. is not a simple marketing-only company,
      integrating development. support, and promotion functions.
      We will continue to import Red Hat Software Inc.'s 
      products and continue our support program. We will be 
      able to continue to provide the best possible solution 
      geared for our customer's needs.

Q5) Where does LASER5 feel that Red Hat is unsatisfactory?
A5) We feel that the management of Red Hat Software Inc. 
      is unstable. In addition, we feel that their centralized 
      licensing control is against both the spirit of Open 
      Source(Free) Software and the "Control on the user 
      side" advocated by Mr.. Bob Young, the chairman of Red 
      Hat Software, which implies some conflicts of policy 
      among the management. 
      As to the solutions using Linux in Japan, there are 
      special environments besides language barriers, and it is 
      hard, if not impossible, for the companies located in US 
      to control everything to offer good supports for 
      customers in Japan.
      Moreover, the delay of decisions & release is a serious 
      problem.
      Red Hat Software Co. has lost its competitiveness by 
      raising the large amount of money through the sales of 
      its stocks which requires good dividends and needs to 
      raise loyalty or service cost.

Q6) What is the strong points of Red Hat?
A6) Red Hat has many talented people in open source 
      development and there is no major problems currently in 
      reliability, achievement and direction of future vision 
      which belongs to the academic world.
      As to the actual usage of products, it depends on the 
      management of Red Hat Co. in US which has inadequate 
      administration of corporation as explained in the 
      paragraph A5.

Q7) What will be the support to the users of Japanese 
      redhat Linux?
A7) LASER5 will support the users of Japanese Red Hat Linux.

Q8) What will become the Japanese Linux 5.2 free version?
A8) The distribution of Japanese redhat Linux 5.2 free version
      will be terminated 180 days after August 24, 1999.

Q9) What will happen on the mailing list and support pages?
A9) The "Shadow man"Logo of Red Hat will be eliminated from 
      the  support pages, but the current information's may be 
      used as usual. Also, the current mailing list may be used.
      Please use the mailing list of LASER5 also which will be 
      started soon. 

Q10) Isn't Red Hat a big tree for the safety shelter?
A10) The latest total turn over of Red Hat is only double of 
       LASER5 groups'. The capability and size of two companies 
       are in the same level, considering population and market 
       share of Linux in two countries. 

Q11) Isn't Red Hat the de facto standard distribution in the world?
A11) There was a big change in distribution since last year 
       and Red Hat is now a local brand in US only.
       In Europe and South America, the local distribution 
       matched with the culture of each country is a main 
       stream. There are "Mandrake" in France, "Conectiva" 
       in Brazil, and "S.u.S.E Linux" in Germany which is different 
       from Red Hat, and these "Better Red Hat group" vendors 
       sell products much more than Red Hat does.  
       These distributions have become the de facto standard of 
       each resions.The Red Hat's policy which consists of 
       version development for worldwide distribution, conducted 
       at the main office in North Carolina, and charging high 
       loyalties, is inadequate for the business model of open 
       source symbolized by "Cathedral and Bazzar". 
       The Linux developed with "Bazzar" model will fit to the 
       distribution by "Bazzar" model.



*Itsutsubashi Research Co., Ltd. http://www.cdrom.co.jp
Since 1993 we have been providing Japanese Linux 
environments with extensive help and collaboration with the 
Japanese Linux user community.
Since 1997 we have been acting as the main distributor of 
Red Hat Linux in Japan and were developing and providing 
"Japanese redhat Linux" and have distributed over 1 million 
copies (as of June 1999).
Additionally through our publishing department, we have 
published Japan's first Linux publication "Linux Japan" since 
1996.  Our shop in Akihabara and the Web, sells various 
software and publications both Linux related and not.

====================================================
For inquiry, please contact with Masami Okano
<masami@cdrom.co.jp>, Public relations  & marketing, The OS 
department, by E-mail.

The Itsutsubashi Research Co., Ltd.
Kowa Bldg #3, 2Fl.,5-6-12 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Zip Code #101-0021
Phone:+81-3-5818-6626     FAX:+81-3-5818-6627
====================================================
The OS Department of Itsutsubashi Research Co., Ltd. is to 
become LASER5 Co., Ltd. from September 1st. 
http://www.laser5.co.jp