Corel Presents Worldwide Preview of Corel LINUX - open-source operating system - Product Announcement

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, August 16, 1999

Tuesday at LinuxWorld in San Jose, Corel Corporation (NASDAQ: CORL, TSE: COR) unveiled its distribution of the Linux operating system, Corel LINUX, to the public for the first time.

Corel LINUX is based on the Debian/GNU distribution of the Linux OS and includes the K Desktop Environment (KDE). In its distribution, Corel has enhanced the graphical user interface and created a new installation program that greatly simplifies the installation process. A beta version of Corel LINUX will be available in September 1999, and the first release is planned for the end of the year.

Corel LINUX will be available as a stand-alone product and will also be bundled with the upcoming WordPerfect Office for LINUX suite, which is expected to be available in early 2000. The prices for both the stand-alone version and the suite will be announced at a later date.

"We are very excited about our distribution of the Linux operating system, which focuses on ease of use, simple installation, Windows connectivity and compatibility," said Dr. Michael Cowpland, president and chief executive officer of Corel Corporation. "Our goal was to create a Linux operating system that all users can install quickly and easily on the desktop. We are very pleased with the results so far and feel that we are well on our way to bringing Linux within the reach of everyday users."

Corel will offer a number of unique features in its distribution, such as: similar network configuration to Windows; an intuitive file manager with integrated Web browsing, FTP support and access to local and network drives; online updating and automatic installation of the latest Linux files and patches; and an event viewer that shows all system messages that occur on a system.

"Corel's packaging of Linux should be appealing to both Linux users who are looking for an easier route to a Linux environment, as well as to users who want the convenience and full features offered by its combination with Corel's WordPerfect Office for LINUX suite," said Amy Wohl, editor of Amy D. Wohl's Opinions. "It is encouraging to see the Linux market attract support from experienced, commercial developers who are bringing their experience in customer applications and support to the emerging Linux market."

Corel is also announcing the redesign of its Linux.corel.com Web site, designed specifically for Linux users. The site makes it easy for new users to find facts on Linux and resources for Linux users. There are sections that encourage collaboration between Linux users, with discussion groups and news groups; and there is an area to learn more about Corel's Linux initiatives.

"Linux.corel.com has been redesigned to focus on Linux users of all levels and to make it easy for them to find what they need," said Kirk Edwardson, director of Web marketing at Corel Corporation. "Our main goal is to make people feel comfortable using Linux because we are confident that it is a technology of the future."

Corel Corporation is an internationally recognized developer of award-winning graphics and business productivity applications. Development of market-leading products such as the CorelDRAW line of graphics applications and the Corel WordPerfect Suite of business tools is continually evolving to meet the demands of the corporate, retail and academic markets. Committed to performance, compatibility, value and open standards, Corel develops products for the Windows, Macintosh, UNIX, Linux and Java platforms. Corel's common stock trades on The NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol CORL and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol COR. For more information visit Corel's Web site at www.corel.com.