Corel pushes desktop Linux with chips alliance

Corel has teamed-up with the PC Chips Group in an OEM alliance, which it believes will encourage a huge boost in Linux desktop users.

The move will see Corel Linux bundled with every motherboard package shipped by PC Chips worldwide.

Dr Mike Cowpland, founder and CEO of Corel, said: "Motherboards from PC Chips account for over 20 per cent of PCs sold worldwide, but users now have the option of running Corel's Linux or Linux for Windows on their machines."

Cowpland believes that the top PC players will now have to sit up and pay attention. "The Compaqs and Dells of this world have a wait-and-see attitude - once they see it working they will do it," he said.

With companies becoming more server-oriented, Cowpland wants to galvanise the push towards the desktop. "We're not competing with the likes of Red Hat. We're on the desktop," he said.