So if it is easy to see that Linux is a far superior operating system to Windows, why does Windows continue to hold captive the vast majority of users. Please do not mistake my words: Linux is giving Microsoft the biggest run for their money that they have seen in a long time. So what is holding the quest for World Domination back? The answer is quite simple: Marketing.

Here is a "short" report on what happened at IT World/Comdex 99 at New Delhi from Linux-india.org.

In the next five years, "half of our revenue will be coming from Linux," CEO Michael Cowpland told CNET News.com in a wide-ranging interview. "We will continue to work with Windows, but we hope to be the company that bridges the gap for users who want products for both Windows and Linux."

Linus Torvalds, the Finnish founder of a computer operating system at the centre of the latest tech frenzy, believes that successful market debuts of two companies linked to the programme mark its coming of age.

In its 15-year existence, Open-Source Software has shaken up the markets for Unix utilities, Internet servers and, most notably, operating systems. Now it is headed for a market where its impact could be even greater: high-level corporate Web applications.

Applix, Inc. announced the acquisition of Cosource.com, a leading auction site for open source and Linux software enhancements. In conjunction with the acquisition, Mr. Bernie Thompson, Founder and CEO of Cosource.com, has been appointed President of Applix's Linux Division.

Corel Corporation is pleased to announce its Corel LINUX OS has been named the CNET "Editor's Choice" as the best of seven major Linux distributions reviewed.

In an earlier posting, we reported that Bynari's Support Team found the Corel version of Linux fairly stable and everything seemed to work. Then we attempted to hook it up to the Internet through a Digital Subscriber Line (dsl) which uses DHCP and discovered it failed.

So why do so many UNIX users, after getting frustrated using Linuxconf, the "Control Panel", HP's SAM or any other GUI admin tool have tendancy to huff and puff, then close the damn thing and fire up an xterm?

There is a fear of tainting the Unixoid purity of Linux by dumbing it down for the masses, mixed with the thrill of turning Linux into a mainstream OS. Many an opinion here hints for two versions of Linux, the dumbed-down "consumer" version, and a he-man-macho-elito "hacker" version.