If the display booths of companies at a trade show in Taipei is any measure, Taiwanese manufacturers of Internet appliances are enthusiastically adopting Linux-based operating systems.
Local notebook maker Clevo Co (
According to Clevo R&D supervisor Toby Chang (
Clevo's customized version of Linux operates in nine different languages, Chang said. But Windows can perform just in English and one other language at a time.
Chang also noted that a number of top information technology players are turning to Linux as an operating system for mobile devices.
A slew of recent deals between major information technology companies is fueling the adoption of Linux as an alternative to Windows CE or other operating systems.
The America Online-Gateway deal announced last week to jointly pursue the Internet appliance market with upstart chipmaker Transmeta brought the Linux operating system into the spotlight. AOL and Gateway plan to develop a Webpad that will use "Mobile-Linux," a special version of Linux.
Transmeta software developer Linus Torvalds, the man famous for inventing the operating system, is currently developing the special operating system.
Linux has also been embraced recently by IBM as a standard for its servers and a line of notebook computers IBM reportedly plans to develop using Transmeta microchips.
The AOL-Gateway and IBM deals impact Taiwan because the Internet appliances and notebooks will be made here. Gateway and AOL have named Taiwan's Quanta Computer (
Transmeta CEO David Ditzel, whose company appears to be the driving force behind much of the Linux activity surrounding Internet appliances and other mobile devices, has said that Linux fits the Internet appliance industry better than Windows CE due to its compatibility with all types of systems.
Ditzel came to Taiwan to speak at last week's Linux conference in Taipei and met with local partners, who are developing notebook computers based on Transmeta microchips and Linux software.
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