At CeBIT 2006 in Hannover, Germany, Novell unveiled a new enterprise Linux desktop that is aimed at captruing a share of the enterprise desktop market. The new Linux desktop, SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop (SLED), is a full-function desktop that sports enhanced power management, integrated desktop search, high-performance graphical interfaces and numerous application improvements based on open source innovation. SLED also promises to drive productivity at a fraction of the cost of current Microsoft desktop offerings.
SLEDS Intuitive User Interface
“Although the momentum behind Linux continues to be strong, until today, general business users have not really been a part of the story,” said Gary Barnett, research director at Ovum. “With today's introduction of SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop, Novell is keeping a promise it made last year, to invest in delivering a desktop that is designed for the business user, rather than for experienced Linux users. Novell deserves credit for addressing the issue of usability head-on, by delivering a desktop that really can meet the needs of the basic knowledge worker.”
Powerful Applications
SLED's Desktop Capabilities In a Nutshell
Fully supported enterprise desktop to deliver OpenOffice.org 2.0. The Novell edition of OpenOffice.org will support many Visual Basic macros, closing one of the chief compatibility gaps between OpenOffice.org and Microsoft Office.
To simplify migration to Linux, SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop is designed to work with Microsoft Windows*, Microsoft Office and Microsoft Exchange.
Novell Evolution e-mail client includes an integrated connector for Microsoft Exchange.
Lotus Notes and Domino users will be able to access Notes applications, databases and e-mail using IBM's planned Lotus Notes Application plug-in for the IBM Workplace Client Technology.
Novell GroupWise is completely supported on SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop.
Enhanced 3-D Accelerated Graphics
Nat Friedman, vice president of Linux desktop engineering for Novell, said, “Every IT administrator in the world should be eager to evaluate the improvements and functionality in this Linux desktop, and the cost savings that come with it. When we started work on SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop, we didn't want to build the best Linux desktop for business, we wanted to build the best desktop for business, period. By listening to users, we believe we have created a business desktop that leapfrogs the market.”
