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Buying the Product
I had decided to wait until Corel Linux Deluxe became available, since it includes WordPerfect (not the Office Suite), Netscape Communicator suite, and a 3" penguin mascot. It was acclaimed in software reviews as the easiest Linux to install, ever.
What makes or breaks an operating system is the applications available. While there is a lot of software available for Linux, it is unlikely we will see market leaders, such as AutoCAD, Word, and Visio rewritten for Linux. Corel expects to deliver its WordPerfect Office suite for Linux in early 2000; it is also porting its CorelDRAW suite to Linux. There are several CAD packages already running under Linux, and there is an effort underway to possible port IntelliCAD 2000 to Linux.
The alternative to rewriting Windows software for Linux is to rewrite Linux to run Windows software. There are several Open Source efforts underway to replicate the Windows APIs and DLLs under Linux. The Wine project lists the experiences of volunteers running Windows apps under Linux using the Wine libraries; they've gotten McNeel Rhino, Word 97, Eudora, Paintshop Pro, and others to work -- more or less.
Corel announced that this summer its Linux will work with GraphOn Bridges, which allows Linux to "run Windows applications seamlessly over any connection." The catch is that the apps have to reside on a Windows NT server.
Monday, 4 January
It is the first business day in January 2000, and the Corel Linux
Deluxe package is available for purchase from the http://linux.corel.com
Web site. The price is US89, plus shipping. I am surprised that
ground shipping will cost me the equivalent of $25 -- that much
to ship a software package from a Canadian company to a Canadian
customer? I notice that no taxes are added; I am guessing the
package gets shipped from the USA. The Web site says to allow
30 days for the product to arrive.
During the ordering process, the http://shop.corel.com Web page reported that my credit card authorization was declined. I notice I left out a digit in my credit card number. I correct the number, but the Web page does not proceed: "Authorization declined," it repeats moronically each time I clicked the Next button.
This was the first time I used this credit card in 2000, so I call the card's office. They say I'm not over my limit; they notice that the charge from Corel had gone through. I email corel@techwave.com to find out what happened.
Tuesday 5 January
After waiting 18 hours for no reply from corel@techwave.com, I
decide to phone the Shop Corel's toll-free number at 1 (800) 877-1749.
The American-accented voice tells me they have no record of my
order. He says that when the credit card company said the amount
had been approved, the amount was only "blocked out."
Not until Corel's Web site generated a confirmation number would
the amount be finalized.
Not convinced, I call back the credit card number. The Corel rep was right: the amount was no longer on my credit card.
That afternoon, I needed to go to Future Shop, the local electronics superstore, to pick up a low-cost laser printer for my father. At age 75, he has decided to learn how to use a computer to write letters. After sitting unused in his office (except by grandchildren), my 9-year-old 16MHz 386SX (with 2MB RAM, 40MB hard drive, and Windows v3.1) PC is finally an item of interest to him.
While at Future Shop, I pick up a Maxtor 20GB hard drive for $213, and spy in the software section Corel Linux Deluxe on the bottom shelf. Price is the equivalent of US$68, as well as a $10 rebate. After taxes, a $40 savings over the Web price, plus no 30-day wait! As I pay for the hardware and software with the credit card refused by shop.corel.com, the "sales associate" asks me about Linux <g>.
Next week, Part II: Installing the Software, the Theory