IBM said on Sunday that it will offer an open desktop software system for businesses that puts the cost of managing computers running Linux or Apple's Mac OS on a more equal footing with Microsoft's Windows software, improving the economics of Windows alternatives.

The product--which the company calls its Open Client Offering--pulls together software IBM has developed in-house and with partners Novell and Red Hat to answer questions over the cost-effectiveness of managing Linux or Apple PCs alongside Windows PCs.

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