Is Linux going main stream? Bloomberg Boot Camp, a report on today's technology. The answer is no. At least not yet. In fact most people would probably answer... what the heck is Linux. What it is... is an open source operating system that competes with Windows and Unix on business servers. You can get it for free. And that's what has made Linux so attractive to lots of companies. At this week's LinuxWorld Expo and Conference in New York... .IBM and HP announced new lines of Linux servers and customers that include E Trade and DreamWorks Studios. Estimates are that Linux will be running thirty percent of the server market by the end of this year. But will you have any use for it? Sharp hopes so. It's new Zaurus handheld computer... that includes a slide open mini-keyboard uses the operating system. Sharp VP Steve Petix... .

"We feel we've achieved a new level of ease of use and functionality and power in handheld computing that currently hasn't been available in the market. It's based on a Linux operating system. And what that allows is a tremendous degree of powerful applications to run on this device."

It's hard to imagine great numbers of people using Linux instead of Windows on their desktop PCs. But maybe Sony will be able to change some minds. This spring it will begin selling a kit that will allow owners of the popular PlayStation 2 game consoles to turn the machine into a Linux based PC. Bloomberg Boot Camp, I'm Fred Fishkin.