The New Challenge to Microsoft

As the government's antitrust lawsuit winds down, Microsoft's next battle may be a knock-down, drag-out fight against Linux. Like Microsoft's Windows, Linux is a computer operating system, but written and updated by volunteer programmers in a communitarian spirit, and available for free. If Linux spreads, Microsoft could see the first real challenge to its dominance of the operating-system software market. For consumers, that would be good news.

Microsoft's critics charge that its dominance of the market -- more than 90 percent of home computers run on its software -- results in high prices and reduced choice. And outside programmers have long complained that Microsoft makes it hard for them to create software compatible with Windows-based computers.

The government's antitrust lawsuit was aimed at solving these problems. If it fails to do that -- a ruling on a proposed settlement is expected soon -- the best hope may be Linux. Since Linux software is free, hundreds of dollars could be cut off the price of a computer. No less important, since Linux's source code -- the intricacies of how it works -- is publicly available, programmers don't have to get permission or assistance from anyone.

There are promising signs that Linux, which has been around for years, may finally be taking off. More than two dozen countries -- including Germany and China -- have begun to encourage governmental agencies to use such ''open source'' software. In the home market, Wal-Mart has started selling a home computer called Lindows, which runs on Linux. Early reviews have been mixed, but its $199 price tag shows the savings Linux could deliver.

Linux may, still, have a rough road ahead. Its informality could be a liability for the sort of serious governmental and commercial projects for which it is now being considered. And, not surprisingly, Microsoft has been working to blunt the Linux threat.

Government units abroad and in the United States and individual computer users should look for ways to support Linux and Linux-based products. The competition it offers helps everyone.