Linux making it in newspapers

[fred@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

LINUX OPEN SYSTEM PASSES TEST OF TIME, GAINS SUPPORTERS
(USA) -- Linux, the open-source Unix-based operating system developed
in 1991 by Linus Torvalds, is beginning to take a foothold at
newspapers, as well as small and large companies worldwide, largely
because of its modular design kernel, relatively small space
requirements and cost (it's free). Gannett has installed 19
Linux-based systems for everything from pre-press photo production to
news archives; the Washington Times uses it on its mail servers,
Layout 8000 and classified pagination; and the Miami Herald has been
running Linux as a communications server for four years. As an
open-source system, Linux's source code is easily available and allows
for all sorts of tweaking and customization. Other features include
full multitasking, virtual memory, graphical user interfaces; it runs
on anything from an ordinary PC to a fully powered Intel box; and it's
virtually virus-proof. Users seem to be willing to overlook the
negatives (including a long learning curve, moderate
user-unfriendliness, lack of documentation and exacting installation
requirements), in exchange for its affordability, reliability and
management ease. "It's not just the cost of the product you're saving
by running Linux," said Richard Cichelli, president of Software
Consulting Services, which has installed a number of Linux systems at
newspapers. "It's the overall cost of putting the paper together."
(The Cole Papers, October 2000)
http://colegroup.com