A Brief Story of SuSE and Ubuntu Linux Systems

Here is the narrative of the Linux systems SuSE and Ubuntu

I became acquainted with SuSe in mid 90s and considered an improvement over Windows. Part of my predilection has to do that at the time it was based in Furth, Germany, where I had lived before and it made it more appealing.

The name is an acronym of Software- und System-Entwicklung (Software and Systems Development) and their Linux development was a byproduct of their main business. When I used it, there were invitations to participate in seminars in Germany, where they organized outing for attendees with laptops and discussions where held.

In 2003 the company was acquired by Novell for $210 million dollars and the name was changed officially to SUSE..

In 2004 I changed my OS to Ubuntu, where a new version is released every 6 months. The reason for the odd name is that the developer of Ubuntu is Michael Shuttleworth, born in South Africa and holder of dual citizenship which includes Britain. Ubuntu is a Bantu language word that means Humanist and conveys a similar meaning as the word Mensch in Yiddish.

Michael Shuttleworth founded Thawte in 1995 and it specialised in digital certificates and Internet security. The company was eventually sold to VeriSign for around $575 million dollars.

In 2005 he founded the Ubuntu Foundation and made an initial investment of 10 million dollars. In the Ubuntu project, Shuttleworth is often referred to with the tongue-in-cheek title "Self-Appointed Benevolent Dictator for Life" (SABDFL).

The Ubuntu Enterprise version generates income, but the home edition produces a yearly loss to

the concern.

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My subsequent posts will be about people that have made a difference in our lives and are not well known for their deeds.