That Linux Unix clone developed by Finnish programmer Linus Torvalds with the assistance of a loosely-knit team working across the Internet – originally for 80386 and 80486-based personal computers – is getting around, and despite denials by Novell Inc and Unix Systems Group (CI No 2,416), US PC Week believes that the thing, code-named Expose, will appear at the heart of a 32-bit multi-tasking desktop operating system called Corsair to be launched by Novell in July. Said to be tentatively priced at just $100, the operating system combines Novell DOS 7 with a kernel based on Linux 1.0, and is described in a Novell internal document examined by PC Week as an enterprise networking client fully integrated into NetWare and Unix networks. In addition to iAPX-86 processors, the software is said to run on PowerPC and other leading RISCs. Users will be able to run Windows, MS-DOS, and Intel Application Binary Interface-compliant Unix applications simultaneously. A virtual world three-dimensional graphical interface will emulate real-world job functions, thereby reducing training costs and increasing productivity, says the document. Corsair will also include a World-Wide Web browser for the Internet either based on or similar to Mosaic. Novell was a bit more forthcoming this time, saying only that there is no set release date for Corsair. PC Week hears Corsair was such a pet project of long-time Novell chief Ray Noorda that though Novell at one time decided not to continue with, Noorda put up some of his own money to keep the project going.
