Red Hat takes on Windows with new desktop software

Linux software provider Red Hat has announced the availability of a client application, Red Hat Desktop, designed for enterprises and government.

The product is part of the Red Hat Enterprise product line, which previously only provided software for back-end systems.

It's the first product aimed at firms' end users, and an open-source alternative to Microsoft's Windows platforms, which hold more than 90 per cent of the installed base for desktops in businesses.

"[Enterprises] can now extend the benefit of Linux from the back office into the front office," said Red Hat CEO Matthew Szulik at a press conference in London today.

Along with the client application, Red Hat will provide open-source productivity applications, including Mozilla for the web browser, OpenOffice for the office suite, and Evolution for email.

The company had not released client software for enterprises to date, because it felt the applications that would run atop it were not secure enough, according to Szulik.

Szulik pointed to security as a key selling point for businesses looking to switch from Windows to an open-source alternative such as Red Hat Desktop. The company touted its history of quickly patching known vulnerabilities in its server products, saying it produced fixes for three-quarters of vulnerabilities within one day. But whether Linux is indeed more secure than Windows remains a contentious issue in the computer industry.

Other reasons that companies should consider switching to Linux, according to Red Hat, include the low cost of installation and ease of managing desktop systems.

Red Hat is looking to the expected boost in IT hardware spending this year as an opportunity for businesses to switch from proprietary desktop software such as Windows to an open-source option such as Linux.

Red Hat Desktop will be available online from redhat.com and other distributors starting from 15 May.

Szulik expects that PC vendors such as IBM, Dell, and Hewlett-Packard will offer Red Hat Desktop preinstalled on systems within the next 12 to 18 months.