Linux Gets Graphic
By Clayton E. Crooks II
Corel has long been a Linux advocate and has ported a variety of its popular Windows and Macintosh applications to Linux. Its ambition in the OS doesn't stop with applications, as Corel has developed one of the easiest to use and most popular Linux distributions. If its recent release of a free Linux version of Photo-Paint didn't convince you that Corel is serious about the OS, the company's release of a Linux version of its flagship product—CorelDraw—should persuade you. (Editor's Note: Since this article has been printed, Corel has released
CorelDraw Graphics Suite 10. It hasn't been yet ported to Linux.)
Why Linux?
Why does Corel want to develop Linux applications when its products have been widely successful on mainstream operating systems? Several factors seem to be at play in the decision to pursue the Linux OS, but most probable is the recent decline in profit and market share for Corel's top products. The company's sales have been less than stellar, and even the reliable CorelDraw has dropped behind offerings from Adobe and Macromedia. Corel WordPerfect is a good product, but it doesn't appear that any single office suite can compete with Microsoft Office, especially on the Windows platform. As a result, Corel has largely positioned its future around the Linux OS. Interestingly, although Corel has offered a trimmed-down version of the majority of its Linux applications for free, it doesn't plan to introduce a free version of CorelDraw.
