Red Hat introdues an new Desktop enviroment called Bluecurve with mixed reactions.
Running MS Office under Linux with CodeWeaver's CrossOver Office
"Learn how CodeWeaver's CrossOver Office can simplify your move to an all-Linux platform." Worth a read.
"As organizations seek to control software license costs and press forward with Java initatives, open source is an appealing alternative. However, IT leaders are increasingly concerned with liability and security surroundng the use of open source. IT organizations must develop policies and procudures to aid in assessing the risks associated with all code utilized in the organization." Well written though a bit lengthy.
"One unfortunate thing we did was coming out against open source -- we knew it would be controversial...The fact is that Linux is now competing with Windows. That is good...." Well he got that much right at least. I tried to read it but got a headache. Maybe you'll have better luck. Weren't these guys just at Linux World? In the booth in the corner? :)
"Pop quiz: what messaging server has group calendaring, including free/busy notifications, group contacts, POP3 and IMAP, built-in encryption, Web mail, low system requirements, high scalability, reasonable cost, and non-restrictive licensing? Answer: SuSE Linux eMail Server 3.1. Sound too good to be true? It isn't. This is what all commercial software should be like." Just more proof, as if any were needed, how very far Linux has come in a very short time. Read it. You'll see that it supports all major email clients and "Outlook users won't notice the difference when you retire Exchange and replace it with SuSE. Well actually they will - when it works better." 'Nuff said. :) Thanks Steve for making me think a bit. :)
"I expected Windows 2000's installation would be seamless, fast, and lightyears ahead of upstart Red Hat's by any measure I could concoct. It turns out Windows 2000 Pro installation is superior to Linux, but in two dubious categories." Joe Barr at Linux World with a comparison I think everyone should read. W2K Pro vs. Red Hat 7.3. And the winner is...
KDE 3.1 beta was announced today, and after just scanning through the list of new features, and browsing through some of the sexy screenshots, I can safely say, this is going to be soooo kewl.
"Vectorlinux is proud to announce the release of the SOHO Edition of their Linux distribution. Small Office, Home Office is based on the popular 2.5 Vectorlinux featuring outstanding speed, stability, ease of installation, and sporting the best open source productivity software available. The distribution is preconfigured to easily setup and install printers, scanners, and usb hardware. Features the KDE 3.x desktop including KOffice and the KDE Development suite. Open Office, AbiWord, the Gimp, Realplayer, Mozilla 1.0, Opera 6.x, CUPS printing system, java runtime, and kernel 2.4.18." Those are just a few of the highlights. They have a link on their front page to show what's been added to VL 2.5 Base. At only usd$24.97 for the CD and printed manual this is a deal that's hard to pass up. Recommended hardware minimums: 300MHz Pentium, 64MB RAM, 2GB harddrive. Both IDE and SCSI are supported. On a personal note I've been using Vectorlinux as my "distro of choice" for 'a while' now and all my contacts with Robert Lange, VL's creator, have been a pleasure. Every time I've 'suggested' something I felt lacking and needed adding in, most notably Port Sentry and Wvdial, he's actually listened to those comments and added it in. If Microsoft did the same things they'd be far better served. I look forward to trying it.
A question that needs answered. Badly. Until it is Linux is going to remain a 'geeks only' OS. Star Office (and others) can replace MS Office components easily enough. Except for Access. Hello?? There has to be a way. We need to find it.
Good comparison from Nick Petreley at LinuxWorld of two "minimalist" Window Managers for Linux and Enlightenment. I've used all of these myself and mostly agree with his assessment. Lots of good links in the Resources section as well.
A few hours ago, LinuxWorld opened it's doors, Wired reports: "Sun public relations people are handing out earplugs to 'stifle the noise of IBM's Linux hype' and IBM is promising to send out SWAT teams to move companies from Sun to IBM hardware,'' said Nick Fitzgerald, a Chicago programmer. ''And Microsoft reps are just sitting quietly in the corner, grinning." Amongst other things, the following was announced: "IBM announced a partnership with VA Software, owner of geek-beloved websites Slashdot and SourceForge. The latter site, which hosts thousands of open-source projects, will now be housed on IBM's DB2 server." IBM again... "having restrained itself from spray-painting Linux logos on San Francisco's streets after being fined for that activity last year, decided to show its love for Linux more simply: It displayed several Linux-based products, including two new rackmount servers built around Intel Xeon processors."
Those super swell guys at Microsoft have landed themselves a booth at this years LinuxWorld, aint that cute! Apparantly they want us all too live in harmony now. "Microsoft representatives at LinuxWorld plan to talk about the company's ASP.Net Web Matrix Project, a collection of free tools and programming code that allows developers to build Web-based applications." Read the complete article andd make of this what you will....coughTOSSERScough.
Red Hat Linux Advanced Server Operating System for AMD's Hammer Technology
Businesswire Reports: "Red Hat to offer mainstream support of AMD's X86-64 technology in enterprise product lines, providing optimized native 64-bit and 32-bit application support."
CDex a open source cd ripper which laurence and I have been using for years, have had their source code used altered it and added Spywear and AddWear.
Gartner's predictions for Linux and Open Source
"In January 1999 Gartner published 'How the Open Source Movement will Affect Users.' In that Research Note we listed six key Strategic Planning Assumptions (SPAs). Here we re-examine those SPAs, assess their accuracy and explain what track we are going forward." Anybody that knows me knows I don't have much love for Gartner. They have, on occasion, published outright FUD, bought and paid for by Microsoft. Nonetheless, many people in the 'business world' rely upon them for an indication of 'where the IT world is headed' and, rightly or wrongly, a lot of people base their purchasing decisions on what Gartner says. That's why this link is here. If Gartner, about as unabashed a Microsoft Fanatic as I've ever seen, is admitting Linux is 'kicking butt and taking names' then I guess it must be true eh? :)