Pioneer-Standard Electronics, Inc.
Computer Systems Division 
offers experts to discuss the state of the Linux market

What a Difference a Decade Makes
The open source kernel that Linus Torvalds began in 1991 is now poised to
become one of the leading operating systems for the enterprise market. With
commitments from major IT vendors such as IBM and Compaq, clustered software
and continuous technical support are available for businesses interested in
integrating Linux into mainstream computing environments.  

Why are large vendors concentrating their efforts on supporting Linux? The
simple answer is their enterprise customers have demanded it. Linux is a
stable, affordable option that offsets the escalating costs of licensed
software. By installing Linux, users can consolidate existing servers and
significantly reduce the cost of managing multiple midrange systems. 

By supporting Linux on their systems, leading vendors help users maximize
technology dollars, broaden current IT capabilities and enhance existing
Internet functionality.  


Linux Analysts Say...
* According to Al Gillen, research manager for IDC, Linux garnered a 27
percent share of operating system software for computer servers sold in the
year 2000. This number is up 24 percent from 1999 and 17 percent from 1998. 
* Forrester Research forecasts that Linux will dominate Web servers by 2003,
accounting for 50 percent of the market.  Forrester's 2001 report says
reliability and flexibility are the open source system's key attributes. 
* According to Bill Claybrook, research director of Aberdeen Group's Linux
and open source software division, the interest in Linux clustering is
moving forward rapidly.  There are at least a dozen Linux cluster suppliers
shipping products today.
* In 2000, a IDC survey found that 20 percent of corporations used Linux to
operate some of their databases and 10 percent used it as part of human
resources and customer relationship management systems.  Those percentages
have doubled since 1999.
* According to research conducted by Idaya, the Linux market is set to grow
by more than 150 percent in the year 2001. Linux is also likely to become
the dominant Web server platform by mid-2002. 

Pioneer-Standard, Computer Systems Division is committed to bringing Linux
to the midrange market through its extensive channel connections, technical
support services, and clustered solutions. 

Industry Experts

Matt Reaves
Vice President Software and Solutions Marketing, Pioneer-Standard, CSD

Ross Venuti
Vice President IBM Product Marketing, Pioneer-Standard, CSD

Jerri Hegwood
Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications
Pioneer-Standard, CSD

Dan Strother
Media Relations Manager
Pioneer-Standard, CSD
















For an interview or 
more information, please contact:
Amber Mahurin
Springbok Cohn & Wolfe
972-480-9980 ext. 152
amahurin@springbok.com