See also: last week's Linux in the news page.

Linux in the news

ZDNet's Jesse Berst doesn't think much of Sun's plan to buy StarDivision. "The idea would be to promote Linux (and possibly Sun's Solaris operating system) as a viable competitor to Microsoft on the desktop. [Sun President Scott McNealy is] not interested because it makes business sense; he's interested because he's obsessed with Bill Gates and can't resist a chance to attack him. Hang on, give me a second? I'm thinking... I'm trying to decide if that's the dumbest idea I've heard this year." (Thanks to Cesar A. K. Grossmann).

Here's a ZDNet column by Evan Liebovitch about AOL's withdrawal of their TiK instant messaging program, which had been released under the GPL. "AOL's vain attempt to take back what it started indicates that it may not really have ever known what it was dealing with....Even if AOL stopped further distribution of TiK from its own Web site, it can't stop those who already have it from freely passing it around. If Microsoft wanted a copy, I'm sure they already have it. The damage is done."

Linux vs. Microsoft:

Here's an ABC News article about the Microsoft and LinuxPPC "hack this box" contests. "It should be noted that the Linux machine is getting one-tenth the number of attacks that the Microsoft server has endured - and that the Windows 2000 operating system is still in beta, and is due for more debugging once it has been released."

Computer Reseller News ran this article on Microsoft's approach to Linux. "IT departments are saying they will evaluate the technology, but not much beyond that, [Microsoft product manager] Edwards said. In the corporate space in particular, Microsoft has a more compelling story than Linux, based on performance, reliability and track record."

Here's a ZDNet article about Compaq's abandonment of Windows NT on the Alpha processor. "[Marketing VP] Borkowski added that Linux has taken hold on the Alpha architecture far more quickly than most vendors anticipated." (Thanks to Cesar A. K. Grossmann).

Why do computers not improve the overall productivity of industry in the U.S.? According to Fred Moody in this ABC News column, it's all Windows' fault. "In other words, we're fighting a losing battle by throwing more computing power at our worker-productivity problem. The more computers we bring into the workplace, the more resources we spend repairing system-crash damage and the more overall productivity is lost." Unfortunately, he doesn't see fit to mention the existence of more reliable systems. (Thanks to Ted Ede).

Microsoft is polling the German press about Linux, according to this Heise Newsticker article (in German). They are looking for perceived strengths and weaknesses in Linux, presumably so they know where to attack it. English translation available via Babelfish. (Thanks to Lenz Grimmer and Fred Mobach).

Is Microsoft opening up? asks Sm@rt Reseller. "If Microsoft wants to test the open-source business paradigm, it needs to go all the way and truly open source its technologies. If the company merely wants the credit for being 'open,' it should be very clear about the fact that the company does not plan on being an open-source contender." (Thanks to Cesar A. K. Grossmann).

C't Magazine has run a lengthy summary of the "Wizards of OS" conference held in Berlin last July. "Those who simply call Stallman a nutcase are taking it too easy on themselves: The numerous Open Source projects, Netscape's releasing its source code, the close co-operation between IBM and Apache Group and the stir the success of free software has caused at Microsoft ... are proof of how much is in motion at present." (Thanks to Fred Mobach).

Here's a Salon Magazine article about alternative operating systems in "free" PC's and "appliance" systems. "After all, the interface of an 'appliance' doesn't necessarily have to look like a traditional desktop; each interface could be customized for the purpose of the machine, so a user wouldn't care whether it's running on Windows or Linux -- if, that is, the free PC makers succeed in making the back-end operating system invisible." (Thanks to Paul Hewitt).

Can Linux live up to the hype? asks PC World. "...be wary of getting caught up in the Linux hype machine. Like any promising farm league rookie, Linux needs seasoning before making it in the big leagues."

Linux Can't Handle Life As A Corporate Client says Internet Week. "And what about file and print services? The other half of the last ATM Lab Test Linux experience was getting three new Linux machines to see our lab's two printers. Let's just say that Linux, Samba books and bits of the lab director's hair were flying all over the place. And I don't think those machines ever did print."

Linux will never dominate the desktop, according to this osOpinion piece. "Linux was not designed for general PC use, and trying to fit the square peg of extensive functionality and accessibility does not fit into the round hole of usability."

More Red Hat IPO:

Will success spoil Linux? asks E-Commerce Times. The article is really about the Red Hat IPO and the community offering difficulties. "If Red Hat really wants to show the world that it is not just another money-grubbing corporation, it should find some other way to pay back those programmers whose hard work made its IPO such a hit on Wall Street."

Liberation covers (in French) the Red Hat IPO with attention to the community offering difficulties (described as "catastrophic"). English text available via Babelfish. (Found in NNL).

News.com predicts downward mobility for Red Hat's stock. "Red Hat's success may imperil the company's relationship with the programmers who work on the program and maintain the source code.... One of Red Hat's strengths today is its brand name. That reputation could be tarnished if Linux programmers decide that Red Hat is becoming too much like Microsoft in trying to dominate the Linux market."

More Business:

Here's an Information Week article about open source software in e-commerce applications. "Among application servers, two packages, PHP and ZOPE, are starting to gain a following. Since custom coding is a necessity with application servers, there's a big win if you can have access to the source."

Computer Reseller News writes about the use of Linux at International Trucking Specialists. "The reseller demonstrated that Linux has major security advantages over other flavors of Unix..."

Why do computers not improve the overall productivity of industry in the U.S.? According to Fred Moody in this ABC News column, it's all Windows' fault. "In other words, we're fighting a losing battle by throwing more computing power at our worker-productivity problem. The more computers we bring into the workplace, the more resources we spend repairing system-crash damage and the more overall productivity is lost." Unfortunately, he doesn't see fit to mention the existence of more reliable systems. (Thanks to Ted Ede).

Penguinitis' Sweeps Monterey UNIX Consortium says Sm@rt Reseller. "While the partners involved in the Monterey Project--the initiative between SCO, IBM, Intel, Sequent Computer and Compaq Computer Corp. to create a high-volume unified UNIX--were upbeat on Monterey's prospects, they still had Linux on the brain."

PC Week looks at SCO's entry into the Linux services field. "...the move, like so many other commercial vendors' moves into the open-source realm, shakes up the company's business model and may lead users to think more deeply about the different hats their vendors will be wearing once Linux is added to the fold."

Reuters ran this article about Corel and its Linux plans. "Ottawa-based Corel has not seen the spillover it expected from the wildly successful initial public offering of Linux firm Red Hat Inc. Red Hat's sought-after shares, which debuted at $14, closed at $72.31 on the Nasdaq on Thursday. In contrast, Corel closed at C$6.65 on the Toronto Stock Exchange on Thursday, up just 5 Canadian cents from the August 11 launch of the Red Hat shares."

Here's a couple of osOpinion pieces: An open business plan for Red Hat suggest how Red Hat should move forward with their pot of money. It includes buying SCO.... And Microsoft Linux is an interview with Mariko El-Nabi on when and how Microsoft will move into the Linux business.

Federal Computer Week looks at Linux use in the U.S. government. "GSA's Heffernan said he has been amazed at how quickly Linux has become competitive in the operating system market. He chalks that up to the open-source philosophy -- not necessarily the fact that the operating system does not cost anything but the fact that the source code is totally open to anyone." (Found in NNL).

Also:

It's the top ten Linux-related web sites on LinuxPlanet - an Internet.com site. Happily LWN is one of the top ten. "Of course, I haven't included our own LinuxPlanet.com, which is certainly one of the most useful and informative Linux sites on the Internet. However, if you for some unknown reason ever feel like looking elsewhere, here are a few places you might want to check out....."

Network Computing ran this article complaining about the security of Unix systems. "For the time being, Unix security is relegated to those who want to revolve their life around security bulletins and patches. Not to mention putting up with some downtime and rebooting to activate some of the patches." There's not much talk about which alternatives (MacOS??) are better...

MacWeek says that the PowerPC will become the RISC chip of choice for Linux users. "Assuming someone takes IBM up on its offer and builds inexpensive PowerPC boxes for Linux, Alpha won't be the RISC favorite for Linux much longer. And indications of this shift are already appearing."

The Boston Globe looks at Loki Entertainment Software and Linux games. "Backers of the upstart Linux operating system like to joke that their ultimate goal is world domination. They're getting there. In fact, anyone with a Linux computer can create an interplanetary empire, sort of."

This column in Christian Computing Magazine looks at finding hardware and software for Linux systems. "While there is plenty of software for the general public available for Linux, finding software specifically tailored to Christian needs is a little more difficult. For example, I am writing this column using WordPerfect 8 (which is free for personal use on Linux.) But at this time there is not a piece of software for Linux specifically for church management."

Section Editor: Rebecca Sobol

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