IBM uses Linux to take on Windows 7

Article Excerpt

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORP. $122 (New York symbol IBM; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 1.3 billion; Market cap: $158.6 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.7; WSSF Rating: Above Average) is looking to increase its software sales to businesses with a new suite of programs that use the free Linux operating system. Many businesses put off upgrading their computers when Microsoft launched Windows Vista in 2007. IBM hopes to convince these customers to use its cheaper software instead of upgrading to Microsoft’s new Windows 7 operating system. Linux has been slow to catch on due to compatibility issues with certain software. But IBM’s backing should help offset these concerns. IBM is a buy. buy…