Open Source > Linux > LQ
July 21, 2004 3 Comments
Always interesting to see what Windows users think of Linux. I have been using Linux exclusively on my desktop for years now, and I think it's more ready then it's ever been (although admittedly not quite ready for everyone). What do *you* think – is Linux ready for the desktop?
–jeremy
July 21, 2004 Leave a comment
A win for Open Source in Asia, less than a month after Gates' high-profile roadshow through the area. The Malaysian government has mandated the in-house deployment of Open Source software (OSS). More details available at ComputerWorld.
–jeremy
July 20, 2004 Leave a comment
This article from The Register details Novell's latest debt offering and what they may do with the $600 Million war chest they have amassed. MySQL and Levanta are both mentioned as possible acquisitions and Red Hat gets a “probably not going to happen” nod. What would you do?
–jeremy
July 20, 2004 1 Comment
Seems an interesting (albeit 2 year old) internal HP memo has surfaced. This article includes the full memo, a comment from Eben Moglen and a very canned response from HP.
–jeremy
July 19, 2004 Leave a comment
The Milestone Group has posted an interesting interview with Brad Silverberg, Managing Partner Ignition Partners and former chief of Microsoft Windows division. He comments on MSFT taking on Open Source, Google, partnering with MSFT and the wireless market. From the interview:
“Milestone: How does Microsoft deal successfully with the open source threat?
Silverberg: I don't think they have figured that out yet, I think that is clear. They are struggling with not so much open source, per se, but rather they are no longer the low price solution. In the past Microsoft was the low cost solution and Microsoft was then competing and attacking expensive proprietary systems from below. Now for the first time the tables are turned and it's Microsoft that's being attacked from below by a lower price solution. Microsoft needs to figure out how it can demonstrate better TCO to justify its higher prices. Another aspect to that, which is an area I think Microsoft is also struggling with, which is when you are as successful and dominant as they are, how do you continue to foster that ecosystem? What really propelled Microsoft Windows success was an ecosystem that they created that allowed other people to benefit from your success. Actually your success was really a side effect or byproduct of their own success. If they saw a way that they could develop your platform, make money for themselves and build big businesses. Now that Microsoft has expanded into so many different areas there is reluctance from some developers to continue to invest in a Microsoft platform because they wonder how do they build a business? How does it become their business and not Microsoft's business? ”
Is the fact that Microsoft usurped many ideas and technologies from partners finally coming back to bite them?
–jeremy
July 19, 2004 Leave a comment
Looks like the case between Microsoft and Linspire has been settled. The link includes all the gory details, but basically:
– Linspire agrees not to use the Lindows name in any country
– Linspire will not use any word with -indows or -indoze in it (no, this is not a joke)
– Linspire will remove copyrighted “Windows Media Files” from the distro
– Linspire will agree not to post on its website any links or directions to other locations from which users may download unauthorized copies of the Windows Media Files from other sources (Xine and Mplayer are mentioned here)
– Microsoft will license the Media Player SDK to Linspire
– Linspire accepts Microsoft's claim that “Windows” is a valid Microsoft trademark (this one is a bit disturbing to me)
– Both parties agree to drop any pending lawsuits
– and last but not least, MSFT will pay $20Million
IANAL and may have missed something, but that is the gist of it. It's interesting to see that the “Windows” trademark was validated by Linspire here as, if I recall, the judge already made statements that alluded to the fact that “Windows” was indeed too generic a term (which I agree with). It's clearly this fact, and not the fact that someone might confuse Lindows for Windows, that made MSFT want to settle this. $20M is small change in their eyes to keep the monopoly in tact I guess.
–jeremy
July 19, 2004 Leave a comment
Looks like you can win some cool stuff, including a trip to Spain, if your entry is selected in one of the following categories:
– Greatest Benefits Realized from Migration
– Best Migration Plan
– Most Practical Migration Tips
…so you can migrate to Linux *and* win great stuff!
–jeremy
July 15, 2004 Leave a comment
In this post-Enron world it is interesting to see just how sensitive investors are to things like this. RHAT has dropped sharply on the news that they are restating some numbers. Looking into those numbers though, this looks like they are just moving from counting subscriptions on a monthly basis to amortizing them on a daily basis. While this will shift some revenue from the beginning of the contract to the end, it should have vary little impact on the end numbers and *appears* to be a shift from one acceptable accounting practice to a different acceptable accounting practice. IANAL (or a CPA) though and since revenue should be booked when it is “earned” it would seem that a subscription model could get a bit complicated. It's unfortunate that on the heel of this, a class action lawsuit was also announced. While it would seem Red Hat did nothing deceptive, it may still cost them a bundle to defend themselves. What do you think?
–jeremy
July 14, 2004 Leave a comment
For those of you who do not regularly listen to The Linux Show, last nights show was a must listen. The guest was Ken Brown, from the Alexis de Tocqueville Institution. I won't spoil the surprise and give away any of what was said, but it was a very interesting listen ;) You can listen to the show using the LQ mirror.
–jeremy
July 14, 2004 Leave a comment
If you use IE, watch out (again). 4 more vulnerabilities, including one that allows execution of arbitrary script code in the context of another website, which means it could potentially allow execution of arbitrary code in other security zones too.
–jeremy
Jeremy's Blog 
You must be logged in to post a comment.