Dell Computer chairman and CEO Michael Dell predicted here yesterday Microsoft's Windows NT operating system will continue to dominate its upstart rival Linux in the PC server market.
"I don't think it will happen," responded Dell, when asked when he thought the much-talked-about Linux operating system will ship in more Dell servers than Microsoft's NT.
Perhaps realising that he had made a comment he might one day regret, Dell quickly added: "But if it does happen, we will be ready."
Noting that his company earlier this year entered into a relationship with Red Hat Software, one of the leading Linux providers, Dell said that the direct PC vendor is already shipping Red Hat's version of the open-source operating system in some of its servers.
Dell made his remarks in a question-and-answer session following his presentation here at IDC's European IT Forum. In his speech, Dell gave the audience an update of how his own company's electronic-commerce efforts are progressing.
The company is already seeing more than 40 per cent of its revenues coming from sales over the Web, representing an $US11 billion annual run rate, with more than half of consumer revenues coming from the internet, Dell said.
"The internet is a weapon just sitting there on a table. Either you will pick it up, or your competitor will," Dell said.