With the help of companies like IBM, Intel and Hewlett-Packard, Linux has gone from an experimental idea to an almost-mainstream operating system. Those same companies have joined forces to support the free OS collaboratively, forming the Linux Foundation. Their mission: to help Linux compete more effectively against Microsoft. Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux, says “I work on the technology itself, not any of the other issues,” and he willingly accepts the partnership with the Linux Foundation. The Linux Foundation hopes to improve in areas where Microsoft does well, such as the promotion, protection, and standardization of the OS.

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