Boston University Corporate Education Center to Host First Annual Desktop Linux Conference

Global Event to focus on Linux desktop on November 10, 2003, at Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts

The Internet – September 4, 2003 -- In response to the overwhelming demand for information about Linux desktop deployment, the Desktop Linux Consortium has announced the organization’s first conference devoted to the Linux desktop, to be held on November 10, 2003, at Boston University’s Corporate Education Center in Tyngsboro, Massachusetts.

The conference will bring together industry leaders to share their insights and discuss the trends, technologies, and solutions that are driving the next generation of desktops to be based on open standards. The agenda offers business and technical tracks, as well as related forums covering a variety of topics regarding Linux technologies, security, government adoption, and emerging trends. Hands-on demonstrations and interactive sessions will also be featured to offer businesses, IT professionals, and CXOs the most up-to-date information about migrating to a more secure, lower cost, and nonroyalty-bearing platform while improving total cost of operations (TCO).

“Linux on the desktop is a real, practical solution that is being deployed by real people in greater numbers every day,” said Bruce Perens, executive director of the Desktop Linux Consortium. “The conference will bring experienced users together with the leading developers of desktop Linux software to provide an invaluable learning environment for anyone considering a deployment of the Linux desktop.”

Ruth Schall, Director of MIS for the City of Kenosha, agrees: “Our deployment of Linux desktops has provided us with a dramatic ROI while substantially improving our reliability and flexibility. I am looking forward to the opportunity to learn more about ways we can continue to leverage the power and flexibility of Linux.”

"Linux offers a significant option for business, governmental, educational, and home PC users," said Rick Lehrbaum, Linux industry analyst and founder of DesktopLinux.com. "Linux is universally recognized for its outstanding stability, security, configurability, freedom from viruses, and cost-effectiveness in the webserver and Internet infrastructure markets. "Over the past several years, the Linux desktop environment has evolved to where average computer users can now be totally at home on a suitably configured Linux system, bringing the many benefits of this stable, reliable, low-cost OS to millions of desktop computing users."

The event is to be held in cooperation with Boston University’s Corporate Education Center, a leading technology training facility located just outside of Boston, Massachusetts in Tyngsboro. The Boston University Corporate Education Center continues to be the leader in the training of corporations in Linux and other information technology and management development practices, having been involved in such training for the past sixteen years.

The event will kick off on November 10, 2003, with a keynote address from Bruce Perens, followed by a full day of talks, exhibits, and demonstrations. Sponsoring organizations include key Desktop Linux vendors as well as prominent open-source leaders. The conference includes special events and networking opportunities with industry colleagues.

The conference cost is $250 per person. Registration opens today. Additional information and registration information can be found at http://www.butrain.com/itp/desklinux.asp. The entire conference program will be published on September 15, 2003.

About the Desktop Linux Consortium
The Desktop Linux Consortium was launched in February 2003 in response to the growing corporate and consumer interest in adoption of Linux and open standards in the home, enterprise, government, and educational institutions. The non profit organization is a completely vendor neutral trade association and marketing group that promotes education and adoption of Linux on the desktop. Consortium membership draws from all parts of the Linux community, including corporations, end users, and key organizations that have helped build Linux into the success it is today. For more information about the organization and membership opportunities, please visit http://www.desktoplinuxconsortium.com/.

About the Boston University Corporate Education Center
As New England’s premier technology training provider, Boston University’s Corporate Education Center was created in 1987 to address the rapid changes and shortage of labor in technology and the professional work environment. Boston University’s Corporate Education Center (BUCEC) offers training for systems administrators and software developers in Linux, Java, Oracle, Microsoft, Wireless, and Cisco technologies. BUCEC also specializes in critical skills training in Project Management, Management Development and Business Integration – Lean Thinking, ERP, Supply Chain Management. BUCEC delivers customized corporate training solutions, instructor-led and elearning to enable organizations to meet their business goals. Featuring curriculum that is a unique mix of classroom lecture and hands-on, real-world project training. Selected from over 1,750 training centers worldwide to receive Microsoft's prestigious Worldwide Excellence in Authorized Technical Education Center Award, BUCEC has also been awarded the CompTIA (Computing Technology Industry Association) “Career Awareness Award”. To learn more about BUCEC, please visit the web site at http://www.butrain.com/ or telephone 1-800-BUTrain (288-7246).