Dann Sheridan: X-log::Linux

Sun, 01 Dec 2002 02:10:45 GMT

Drivel: I downloaded and installed OpenOffice 1.0 under Red Hat 7.3 today. As far as I can tell, it is well on its way to being a MS Office alternative. The only hitch I ran into is the requirement to have the Java 2 Runtime Environment 1.3.1_06 installed. This requirement was not clearly documented. Other than this, the install was very easy and went smoothly.

Sun, 01 Dec 2002 01:59:35 GMT

Drivel: I purchased VMware Workstation last year and have not had a good reason to use it until recently in testing different web browsers on Windows 98. In the process, I learned how to configure X-windows to run under VMware, which was the main reason I purchased it. I have found myself gradually spending more and more time in Linux.

Thu, 14 Nov 2002 19:27:25 GMT

Drivel: I cannot imagine the difficulty this company is going to have migrating their data. I would hate to be the IT Manager responsible for this project.

## Red Hat wins over Windows convert. The Linux seller says its new customer will move from Microsoft Windows to its open-source software for database systems--a tougher proposition than a Unix-to-Linux switch. [CNET News.com]

Fri, 28 Jun 2002 04:30:54 GMT

Drivel: This is an interesting letter as it so acutely illustrates the fundamental shift that has occurred on the Internet in the past two years from free to for fee, or advertising sponsored, services. Email and hosting services such as those provided by Sourceforge.net are not free, despite how they are offered to the users of the service. This is also a great illustration of the infamous battle between the developer and the businessman. The developer thinks that if I don't like what my "free" service is doing I can just switch. OK, sure, but at what cost? The cost of switching can be calculated by totally the time it takes to perform the switch and multiplying by the person's hourly rate of compensation. If the person performs the switch on his or her "own time" then they decided to do the switch instead of something else, which also has a monetary value. The businessman understands this plods forward. This is economics 101, which, after almost eight years, the Internet community as a whole is just starting to grasp even after the down turn. Everything operates according to some basic rule set that can not be changed; economics, law, and programming are not as different as one might think at their core. This letter is like reverse of Dilbert in that Dilbert is asking the less intelligent question and the end user has the answer. In a sense, we are all Dilbert from our own perspectives.

##Open Letter to SourceForge. Upset by some SourceForge advertising policies, David Sugar, Bayonne Project leader, writes an open letter to the SourceForge staff and receives a response. [Linux Journal]

Thu, 28 Mar 2002 15:21:01 GMT

Drivel: A very interesting partnership in the making here. It looks like IBM is getting tired of Red Hat and may be looking for another horse to bet on.

IBM and SuSE: Worldwide Alliance Provides Linux Support for Corporate Users. The two companies partner on enterprise-level support and services. [Linux Journal]

Thu, 28 Mar 2002 15:07:55 GMT

The GIMP: I'm about fed up for paying for utilitarian software for Windows, or even slightly specialized software. I am willing to pay for things like Radio, which is highly specialized, or software that protects me, like anti-virus software. However, I am not willing to pay for things that are commodity items. For this reason, I blew away my installation of PaintShop Pro and Photo Shop, both of which are ending their trial periods or coming up for renewal, last night and installed GIMP for Windows. It works great. Now I have consistency across my Windows workstation and my Linux workstation. This is a rare thing.

Wed, 27 Mar 2002 15:08:30 GMT

Drivel: While this articles isn't entirely interesting, it does bring up an interesting point of Microsoft not being able to move software due to falling prices of hardware. In this scenario, hardware manufacturers will no longer be able to absorb the price of Microsoft's software because it will represent too large of a percentage of the total unit price. I think we are close to seeing this happen today. For example, Gateway is offering a $599 computer with a 1.2GHz Celeron chip, 128MB of RAM, a 20GB hard drive, and a CD-RW drive with Windows XP pre-installed. All of the software on this machine represents about $100 of the total price. That's 16.7% of the total price. This has to be eating into the per unit margins. I would guess that as this percentage gets closer to 20% you will see the computer makers begin to adopt other strategies. This is pure economics. They have to do something. All of the legal battles with Microsoft are only buying them some additional time.

Tiemann Takes the Stand. The big guys are trying to end the bullying of the biggest guy, but perhaps Microsoft's undoing will be simple economic theory. [Linux Journal]

Wed, 20 Mar 2002 05:28:31 GMT

Drivel: I am just about ready to make the transition from Windows to a complete Linux environment on all of my machines. It has been a lot of work to get this far, but it is all there and not having to pay Microsoft's licensing fees every year will be welcome relief. I have all types of network access -- dial-up, wireless, and ethernet. I have complete MS Office compatibility via StarOffice. I have more choices for IDEs than you can shake a stick at. All forms of communication are available -- IM, email, video, and audio. The only thing holding me back from making the jump is Radio and Frontier. Two things I can't live without. So, I will stand poised for the moment UserLand ships a Linux port.

Wed, 20 Mar 2002 05:19:21 GMT

Drivel: StarOffice is gaining momentum. It is nearly feature compatible with Microsoft Office and even supports saving and importing in most MS Office file formats. I have used it, though not extensively. The only thing it is lacking is huge install base, which will come as Linux gains momentum on the desktop.

StarOffice goes commercial, and stays open-source [IDG InfoWorld]

Wed, 20 Mar 2002 05:16:38 GMT

Drivel: Another win for Linux.

Lindows wins first round [Geeknews]

Wed, 20 Mar 2002 03:11:00 GMT

Drivel: With job losses minimal and in a non-critical area of their business, Red Hat is fairing rather well while competition folds or takes deep cuts.

Red Hat restructures, signs big customers. In reporting its fourth-quarter results, which meet analyst estimates, the Linux seller says it has restructured to focus on big customers, cutting some jobs. [CNET News.com]

Fri, 01 Feb 2002 02:47:20 GMT

LinuxWorld: Approaching a Linux standard. The 2002 edition of the OS show spotlights the latest news: IBM says the OS is suited for the real world; a push to standardize different Linux versions bears fruit. [CNET News.com]

Thu, 31 Jan 2002 21:38:45 GMT

LinuxWorld: CA stokes the Linux flames [IDG InfoWorld]

Thu, 31 Jan 2002 04:52:33 GMT

LinuxWorld: Red Hat expands enterprise software tools [IDG InfoWorld]

Thu, 31 Jan 2002 04:51:07 GMT

Sony Launches Linux for PS2 [Geeknews]

Thu, 31 Jan 2002 04:50:48 GMT

Torvalds, developers at odds over Linux. Is Linux founder Linus Torvalds stuck in a bottleneck? A debate is growing over whether he needs help with patching the operating system core. [CNET News.com]

Thu, 31 Jan 2002 04:50:32 GMT

LinuxWorld 2002: The flock returns. The spotlight is on the Linux operating system as the LinuxWorld Expo kicks into gear. Companies large and small are flocking to New York to tout their latest products, services and successes. [CNET News.com]

Thu, 31 Jan 2002 04:49:45 GMT

Linux Puts On the Formal Wear. LinuxWorld 2002 is a staid, serious affair -- even with the announcement that Linux coding will soon be available on Sony's PlayStation 2. Michelle Delio reports from New York. [Wired News]

Thu, 31 Jan 2002 04:49:14 GMT

LinuxWorld: Caldera to deliver Web-based management system [IDG InfoWorld]

Thu, 31 Jan 2002 04:48:13 GMT

Linux Journal Launches New Forum for Vendors to Publish Press Releases: pr.linuxjournal.com. SEATTLE, WA -- SSC Publications, publisher of the award-winning monthly magazine Linux Journal, is proud to announce the launch of pr.linuxjournal.com. The web site is dedicated to the disbursement of information about Linux-related products, services and events to the Linux community. [Linux Journal]

Thu, 31 Jan 2002 04:47:23 GMT

LinuxWorld: Linux will free proprietary strongholds, change e-business, IBM exec says [IDG InfoWorld]

Thu, 24 Jan 2002 03:59:34 GMT

A Cluster System to Achieve Scalability and High-Availability with Low TCO. The authors describe a commercialized version of the Linux Virtual Server. [Linux Journal]

Sat, 19 Jan 2002 20:13:09 GMT

Holy crap, Batman! Now this combination would produce a company worthy of taking on Microsoft blow for blow.

Washington Post: AOL in Negotiations to Buy Red Hat. AOL Time Warner Inc. is in talks to buy Red Hat Inc., a prominent distributor of a computer operating system, an acquisition that would position the media giant to challenge arch rival Microsoft Corp., according to sources familiar with the matter. [Tomalak's Realm]

Wed, 16 Jan 2002 05:37:06 GMT

It is interesting that Microsoft has placed so much focus on Lindows. User interface and supported software are the two major things Microsoft clings to in the desktop environment. If the operating system becomes commoditized, they will surely be replaced by cheaper, faster, better operating systems. It is becoming increasingly clear that Microsoft much transform itself from a software company to a software services company.

Lindows seeks to dismiss Microsoft suit. The start-up, which is developing software that would let Windows programs run on Linux computers, asks that Microsoft's trademark-infringement suit be dismissed. [CNET News.com]

Wed, 16 Jan 2002 05:28:20 GMT

So, Linus, got some extra time on your hands lately?

USB 2 arrives in Linux test version. Linus Torvalds, founder and leader of the operating-system project, releases the newest version of the core software. [CNET News.com]