| Sumario: | The rise of Linux, the free, open-source operating system, is altering the computer industry's dynamics and is creating winners and losers among software industry titans. As well as being free, Linux runs on almost any computer and so offers compatibility, flexibility, and further cost savings. The biggest winners are IBM, Hewlett-Packard, and Dell, who have done well selling Linux servers. The main loser is Sun Microsystems, one of the largest server vendors in the world. Its Solaris software is generally regarded as being the most capable version of Unix, the family of powerful operating systems used in servers; but compared to Linux, many regard Solaris as overkill. Details of how Linux is advancing within the industry and of how Sun and Microsoft are reacting are provided.
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