Below are answers to frequently asked questions about Linux®, Corel and our commitment to the Linux platform.
What is Linux®?
The name Linux comes from the system’s founder, Linus Torvalds, who in 1991 released the first Linux source code under public license. While Linux refers technically only to the kernel or core operating system, the term has come to describe the complete operating system and suite of applications. Linux is a 32-bit, UNIX®-like, multi-user, multitasking operating system and is legendary for its stability.
Linux is publicly available for download on the Internet. Not only can one download the program, developers also have access to the source code. While the product is publicly available, it is also packaged with documentation and support and sold by a number of vendors such as Red Hat, Caldera, SuSE and in the near future, Corel.
Red Hat Software has conducted extensive research based upon a variety of sources, including magazine subscription surveys, industry analysts’ reports and Internet counters and surveys, and estimates that there are between 4,355,000 and 10,050,000 users in the world today.
What is Open Source Software?
Open Source Software is the name applied to a special category of software. The software may be freely distributed in both a compiled form that can be executed on a computer and in a source code form that can be interpreted by software developers.
Open source distribution is considered a premier means to ensuring rapid technology development, as well as to ensuring that the best technology is available to both users and developers.
What is the GNU General Public License?
Self-referential, GNU is short for “GNU’s not UNIX”. The GNU project was started in 1984 by Richard Stallman, a founder of the Free Software Foundation, Inc. The philosophy behind GNU is to produce software that is nonproprietary. The GNU General Public License was created to help ensure the success of the foundation’s projects. The first goal of the GNU project was to develop a completely free UNIX-like operating system. With the help of the Linux kernel, this objective has been met.
The GNU project continues to stimulate highly creative software development and the Free Software Foundation continues to have a lasting impact through the widely used and referenced GPL. More information can be found on the World Wide Web at www.linux.org/info/gnu.html.
Why is Corel supporting Linux?
Corel has pledged support for the Linux platform because it fits well with the company’s mission statement: to focus technology leadership to offer customers value, compatibility and choice.
“We see a strong and growing demand for this emerging platform,” said Dr. Michael Cowpland, Corel president and chief executive officer. “Users have doubled annually for the past few years—growing from half a million users in 1994 to about 7 million this year. For many users Linux is a viable alternative to the various Windows platforms.”
Why is Corel providing a special no-charge download of Corel® WordPerfect® 8 for Linux®? What does Corel expect to gain from this?
This no-charge download is part of Corel’s strategy to address the high-quality software application needs of the Linux community. The special download version of Corel WordPerfect 8 for Linux – Personal Edition is the first in the Linux series that will include a shrink-wrapped version, Server Edition and full suite of applications.
With the release of the download version of Corel WordPerfect 8 for Linux at no charge, Corel is following the Linux tradition of making software available at no cost. Corel believes this strategy will help gain widespread acceptance within the Linux community and allow for adoption of Corel WordPerfect as a primary business application in this emerging niche market.
Since the no-charge download requires users to register, Corel will have access to important information about the evolutionary process of the Linux community.
How will Corel generate revenue from Corel WordPerfect 8 for Linux by offering it as a no-charge download for personal, non-commercial use?
The special no-charge download is a slim version that does not include online help and other value-added elements such as manuals and large font libraries. This gives Linux users the opportunity to try the product before purchasing it. As users work more with the product, they may feel the need to puchase the full suite to have access to all the value-added elements. Corel will receive revenue through its support services, sales of full versions and server editions of Corel WordPerfect 8 for Linux and future sales of the Linux office suite.
Netscape® and Microsoft® Internet browsers, as well as a number of Linux products, are being sold through the retail channels despite their free availability.
How does this no-charge download fit within Corel’s overall business model?
Corel’s business model is focused on the needs of its diverse customer segments. The free download will generate a customer base which can easily switch between different OS platforms. This integrates seamlessly into Corel’s strategy to provide its customers with choice, value and compatibility.
Which flavors of the Linux operating system will Corel WordPerfect 8 for Linux support?
Corel WordPerfect 8 for Linux has been ported to run on all StrongARM® and X86-based hardware platforms.
What other products is Corel developing for the Linux platform?
Corel believes that a word processor is the first priority for a typical Linux user. Corel WordPerfect 8 for Linux is the application for which we receive the most number of requests. We have plans to port our business applications and graphics products to Linux.
How will customers get technical support? Will there be a charge?
In North America, technical support for the download version will be pay-for-support through a 1-900 number. International technical support options have not yet been confirmed.
What other Linux application developers are currently doing this?
Many vendors of Linux distributions offer free downloads. On www.linuxapps.com there are a number of freely available word processors, some of which are developed within the open source community. Stardivision is offering its entire Linux office suite for free download for non-commercial use.
What are the minimum system requirements to run Corel WordPerfect 8 for Linux?
The download version of Corel WordPerfect 8 for Linux requires a Linux operating system, 9 MB of memory for the first user and 2.5 MB of memory for each additional user and a minimum of 43 MB of hard disk space.
What fonts are supported by Corel WordPerfect 8 for Linux?
The Retail versions of Corel WordPerfect 8 for Linux currently support Adobe® Type 1 fonts and Bitstream® fonts. Currently there is no support for TrueType® fonts, although there are several offerings from the Linux community that enable this font feature in X. Native support for TrueType fonts is still a developmental effort and won’t be available in the near future.
I am a user of a derivative of Red Hat Linux on the PowerPC (MkLinux). Many users of MkLinux have raised the question “Will they make a port for us?”
Our current distribution of Corel WordPerfect 8 for Linux has been compiled for the x86 architecture. While we are currently developing plans to port to other architectures, such as ARM, PPC, Alpha™ and others, we have not yet made any final decisions regarding this topic. When we do make a final decision, we will post the information on this site.
Will Corel WordPerfect 8 for Linux be using any software packaging mechanisms such as RPM, DEB and TGZ?
Corel will ship a shrink-wrapped version of Corel WordPerfect 8 for Linux that will use its own installation program. However, we are also bundling our product with several of the major Linux distributors’ CDs, and for these Linux distributions we will use the packaging format that is employed by the Operating System installation program. Therefore, a new Debian distribution install CD would contain a .DEB package for Corel WordPerfect 8 for Linux; the same will apply to Red Hat Linux (.RPM) and others.
Will there be a port of Dragon NaturallySpeaking™?
Dragon NaturallySpeaking is, like all of our third-party software extensions (e.g., the legal extensions such as Amicus™), a licensed product from a third-party development company. We use and integrate that software with our Application Suite under direct license from these vendors. Therefore, the decision to port these extensions of our application suite to the Linux operating system falls to these companies, and is outside of our jurisdiction. We are discussing this possibility and when a final decision has been reached, we will make that information available on this site.
What is the difference between the downloadable version, the shrink-wrapped retail version and the Server Edition of Corel WordPerfect 8 for Linux?
For a full breakdown of the differences between the three versions, visit the Highlights & Features page.
