In today's digest, we have:
* GNOME 3 Main Menu Candidate - Preview
* Jeremy Allison: Vista Continues to Catch Up With GNU/Linux
* Promoting Web Sites Using Windows Zombies
* Undisclosed API Debate Leads to Another Microsoft Antitrust
* Linux-based Collaboration Server Gets $15 Million Investment
* Linux Device Released to Defend Windows
* Windows the Most Common Cause of Computer Problems
* Linux Gets Support for Yet Another Architecture
* Sam Varghese: Novell Should Not Sponsor Linux conference
* Microsoft's New Scheme: If The World Wants Open Source, We'll
Pretend to Be Open Source And Corrupt the Term
* "C# Isn't Going Anywhere"
* '3-D' Menu for KDE
* The Vendor-neutral Certification, with Linux
* The Real Long-term Threat to Linux are BSD, UNIX, Solaris
* Computer Cluster Monitoring Software Released as Open Source
* OpenXML is a Microsoft "Monopoly Enabler"
* Docvert 3 Released; Liberates Data from Microsoft Shackles
* Company Releases GPL'ed Browsing Proxy Software
* Sun Pulls a Fast One to Combat Red Hat Linux
* Tactless Ballmer Laughs at iPhone
* Bugs Abound: Vista Sends 49,693-Page Job to Printer?
* Latest Microsoft Patches Cause Outlook to Crash
* 8 Out of 10 New Features in Office are 'Borrowed' from WordPerfect
* Red Hat Gets an Upgrade
* Fedora Core 6 Respin ('Service Pack') Released
* Linux in the Mainstream, Gaining Momentum
* 8 Steps to Making Linux More Attractive
* Windows Worm Spreads Heavily Around Europe, Creates Zombies
* Microsoft Releases Patch to Resolve Bug in Last Week's Patch
* Looking Glass Coming to Mandriva Linux
* [SOT] Music Industry Going Mad, Punishes Everyone
* Storm Virus hits hard
* Sun Microsystems Uncertain About GPLv3?
* Has the Linux Revolution Arrived?
* Homegrown Chinese PC's Run Linux, Begin Shipping
* Moving to SOA, Boosting Linux
* Vista Marketing Blitz (Brainwash) to Hurt Microsoft Profits
* Vista vs. SuSE Sites Officially Launched; KDE vs. GNOME
* Review of AmaroK - KDE Music Player
* Mandriva Chooses Short Lifecycle Path - 6 Months
* Company Release Linux App Development IDE; GPL Wiki Updated
* Taking the Windows Approach to Installation in Linux
* Interview with Linux-friendly HDTV Card Manufacturer's CEO
* Motorola New Linux Phone Marks a Breakthrough
* Vista Upgrade: "Just Lovely"
* IPTV Digital Media Gateway Runs Linux
* OOXML Too Dangerous to Go Through as an International Standard
* Microsoft Blooper - Recommends MySQL, Not MSSQL

This is a digest of the previous 24 hours (GMT day) of [News] postings
in comp.os.linux.advocacy. If you have any comments, suggestions or
remarks, please reply to this message and I will take account of all
that I can. The digest is created from my leafnode news spool, which is
pre-filtered, so some poster's articles might not appear.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message-ID: <3028234.omAyCLh99z@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] GNOME 3 Main Menu Candidate - Preview
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 09:16:41 +0000

Gimmie 0.2.0, the Applet

,----[ Quote ]
| Now people can easily experiment with replacing their existing panel
| launch menu with something a little more interesting. And you can
| still run the standalone (or "totally awesome like the future" as
| some call it) version of Gimmie too, if you want to track th
| progress of development.
`----

http://www.beatniksoftware.com/blog/?p=53

There's also SLE[D|S] GNOME menu and http://telepathy.freedesktop.org/wiki/ ,
among more. For KDE:

Tasty Menu

http://kde-apps.org/content/show.php?content=41866

Kickoff Start Menu Research - Sneak Preview (Flash animation)

,----[ Quote ]
| OpenSUSE 10.2 will have a redesigned KDE start menu created by the KDE
| and usability team at SUSE, after doing usability testing with other
| start menus. We now have a working prototype, code-named 'Kickoff'
| (started during world soccer championship, obviously), which is
| currently being tested with real users in the SUSE usability lab.
`----

http://home.kde.org/~binner/kickoff/sneak_preview.html

------------------------------

Message-ID: <2804175.xBvFlAZQI0@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Jeremy Allison: Vista Continues to Catch Up With GNU/Linux
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 09:43:56 +0000

Vista at the tipping point

,----[ Quote ]
| Where are the new features?
|
| Why is Vista such a catastrophe and how does this affect the Open
| Source/Free Software community? Part of the problem, I think, is that
| Vista essentially does nothing new, and has no new features that are
| of interest to the general computer using public. The veteran IT
| journalist Nicholas Petreley (now editor of Linux Journal) created
| his first law of computer journalism, which is "No technology
| exists until Microsoft invents it". This held true while Microsoft
| systems were so primitive that every new release was a vast
| improvement on the previous one. The public "oohed" and "ahhed"
| over such exciting new features as multi-tasking, and overlapping
| windows; even as people in the industry tried to point out that
| every new feature was merely copied from other, more sophisticated
| systems. The problem for Microsoft is that most of this copying has
| already been done. Windows XP actually has most of the features of
| Linux and the Mac, though I'd complain they're implemented poorly
| in Windows. Even if Vista has improved on the implementation, what
| kind of a marketing message is "we now do things properly"?
`----

http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9590_22-6151049.html

Related:

The Redmond Copying Machine?

,----[ Quote ]
| My recent video, which tweaked Microsoft for crowing about its
| "innovation" in Windows Vista (without acknowledging its huge debt
| to Mac OS X), triggered plenty of reaction. It probably comes as no
| surprise that your comments quickly devolved into "which is better"
| bickering, which will proably never end.
|
| [...]
|
| Then this e-mail message, which arrived today from a guy who says
| he worked as a Microsoft temp employee from 2003 to 2004. I've
| agreed not to publish his name.
|
| [...]
|
| "Around the corner was another grid, showing the RealPlayer
| application. This grid was the same: grid A1 was the front userv
| iew of the application, mirroring what was on the iTunes wall/grid.
|
| "Around the next corner was another grid, this one showing Windows
| Media Player version 9 !! This one was missing a few tiles in the
| grid, but you could actually see the progress as each feature [of
| iTunes and RealPlayer] was copied, square for square.
|
| "Amazing. New software is put out, a manager sees it and decides that the
| creative part of their day is making color screen captures of the
| software and presenting it to the copying--er, engineering team."
`----

http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/12/18/the-redmond-copying-machine/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDNuq94Zg_8

NT influenced by Unix

,----[ Quote ]
| (Gates:) "And through Windows NT, you can see it throughout the design.
| In a weak sense, it is a form of Unix. There are so many of the
| design decisions that have been influenced by that environment. And
| that's no accident."
|
| In light of the recent saber rattling about Linux and patents, the "There
| are so many of the design decisions that have been influenced by that
| environment" sentence is particularly interesting if these patent
| threats include things that are prior Unix art. "In a weak sense, it
| is a form of Unix" is also telling. I said before that I don't think
| that's the case; I think the patent stuff is talking about things like
| Samba and Mono, but even there the "influenced by that environment"
| could be important in the court of public opinion if not in actual
| law.
`----

http://aplawrence.com/Unixart/gates_quote.html

Windows Vista vs. Mac OS X: The Copycat Olympics

,----[ Quote ]
| In Microsoft's defense, though, why wouldn't you want to "borrow" ideas
| from other successful products? Vista, Leopard, and Linux are all
| competing against each other, although in reality, each one is better for
| a different set of users. Apple may go on and on about the similarities
| between Tiger and Vista, but they're there for a reason. When
| innovation fails, then you need to try and learn from the best, and
| that's what Microsoft is doing. However, they're a little late to the
| game, and the competing follow-up usually isn't as good as the original.
`----

http://www.osweekly.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2300&Itemid=44...

All the Myth about Microsoft!

,----[ Quote ]
| * Microsoft was first with graphical user interface
|
| * Microsoft designed BASIC Language
|
| * Microsoft designed visual basic
|
| * Microsoft invented DOS
|
| * Microsoft designed the first spreadsheet - Excel
|
| * Microsoft designed the first word processor
|
| * First with Internet browser
`----

http://196.2.70.231:8080/ict_blog/open-ict-hacks/microsoft-myth

------------------------------

Message-ID: <1272421.VPxG7HQH6n@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Promoting Web Sites Using Windows Zombies
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 10:14:38 +0000

Four arrested in Japan over dating site spam blizzard

,----[ Quote ]
| Four men suspected of sending an internet-congesting 5.4 billion spam
| emails to promote a dating website have been arrested in Japan.
|
| [...]
|
| "China ranks as the second-worst country in the world for relaying
| spam, but that doesn't mean that the spammers themselves are based
| ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
| there," said Graham Cluley of the anti-virus software firm Sophos.
| ^^^^^
| "Spammers may make use of computers in China to make investigations
| more complicated and to take advantage of lower infrastructure
| costs."
`----

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01/18/japan_dating_spam_arrest/

China takes a lot of criticism for SPAM, but it is actually Microsoft's
fault.

Related:

=== Begin quote ==

"The cost of these steps could reduce our operating margins. Despite
these efforts, actual or perceived security vulnerabilities in our
products could lead some customers to seek to return products, to reduce
or delay future purchases, or to use competing products. Customers may
also increase their expenditures on protecting their existing computer
systems from attack, which could delay adoption of new technologies. Any
of these actions by customers could adversely affect our revenue. In
addition, actual or perceived vulnerabilities may lead to claims against
us. While our license agreements typically contain provisions that
eliminate or limit our exposure to such liability, there is no assurance
these provisions will be held effective under applicable laws and
judicial decisions."

Ah, from the horse's mouth: Microsoft just might be held legally responsible
for selling software that is insecure.

== End quote ==

http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20061122235224396

------------------------------

Message-ID: <1385826.u5XbVEiiWV@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Undisclosed API Debate Leads to Another Microsoft Antitrust
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 10:18:03 +0000

'Microsoft broke anti-trust agreement,' prosecutors claim

,----[ Quote ]
| It's claimed Microsoft's engineers used at least 500 undocumented APIs
| to ensure Microsoft's applications worked better with Windows than
| those of competitors.
`----

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01/18/microsoft_breached_antitrust/

Related:

FLOSS Weekly 14: Jeremy Allison of Samba

,----[ Quote ]
| 'In the section of the interview from around 33m30s to 39m00 Jeremy
| Allison reports how he was told that the Microsoft team implementing
| SMB2 were ordered to "f**k with Samba".'
`----

http://www.twit.tv/floww14

Microsoft used undocumented Windows APIs - Iowa testimony

,----[ Quote ]
| 'All I can say is holy API batman...I'm not kidding...we are talking
| about literally 500-800 APIs here, no joke,' he wrote.
|
| Alepin had earlier claimed that Microsoft ran special demonstration
| programs whose sole purpose was to crash rival products and alleged
| that the company had subverted developers who used Microsoft's
| version of Java 'thinking they were developing multi-platform
| applications, but were actually developing Windows-specific
| applications'.
`----

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/101947/microsoft-used-undocumented-windows-apis-iowa...

http://groups.google.com/group/comp.os.linux.advocacy/msg/cc1ad063dcc0400d

,----[ Quote ]
| Wow, this is absolutely devastating! As near as I can tell, the poor
| guy at Microsoft has been trying to support open standards against
| management. He doesn't say much about the history, i.e. the fact that
| Microsoft didn't do anything with IE until they were recently forced to
| by Firefox competition. The feedback is amazing. Example:
|
| Quote:
| -------------
| So if you believe that the reason for IE's lack of standards support is
| something other than malice of forethought to strangle other browsers,
| you are wrong. If you have followed the anti-trust trial you would have
| seen the actual evidence for these decisions. Microsoft is an
| anti-competitive company run by unethical shitheads.
|
| This won't change until the workforce is slashed and the entire company
| culture changes. Steve Ballmer is the king of the shitheads, so when he
| goes things might get better. But until then, expect MS to only do the
| absolute minimum to defuse the worst criticism. Remember my words:
| unethical shitheads.
| -------------
| End quote
|
| Erik cited this same guy's blog a few days ago to support the notion
| that Microsoft is dedicated to standards compliance and is doing the
| reasonable thing (I think that's why he cited it). The way this story
| has developed, it shows exactly the opposite, and is very revealing
| about sentiments out there in the developer world.
`----

Comes v. MS Antitrust Trial Begins in Iowa

,----[ Quote ]
| Here's part of what Allchin said about how to deal with the competitive
| threat from Novell then:
|
| "We need to slaughter Novell before they get stronger....If you're
| going to kill someone, there isn't much reason to get all worked up
| about it and angry. You just pull the trigger. Any discussions
| beforehand are a waste of time. We need to smile at Novell while
| we pull the trigger."
|
| [...]
|
| Conlin used a variety of computer-generated illustrations,
| including one that showed 15 icons, each representing what she
| said was an illegal action taken by Microsoft in pursuit of its
| bid to become and remain a monopoly. The icons had titles like
| "exclusionary contract," "technical sabotage," "buying out the
| ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
| competitition"...
`----

Jury Hears Microsoft Competition Suit

,----[ Quote ]
| A judge on Friday told jurors they must accept as fact that a
| federal court found in 1999 that Microsoft holds a monopoly over
| computer operating systems and that it restricted computer
| manufacturers' ability to use competing systems.
|
| [...]
|
| She said she'll show that the company used its monopoly power
| to exclude competition and control prices and that it conspired with
| other companies to restrain trade, maintaining what she called a
| chokehold on software competitors and computer manufacturers.
|
| "It isn't illegal to be successful," Conlin said in opening
| remarks. "We applaud that. ... But you can't freeze out competitors
| and punish and retaliate against people who cooperate with
| competitors. Microsoft did all that and more."
|
| Conlin warned jurors that she would say some unflattering things
| about Microsoft and its billionaire founder Bill Gates, who
| serves as company chairman.
|
| [...]
|
| Conlin's first 3 1/2 hours of opening arguments delved deeply into
| computer industry history and how Microsoft fought off competitors
| attempting to design rival software.
`----

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/061201/microsoft_trial.html?.v=1

------------------------------

Message-ID: <8932210.0PlUkPDWY0@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Linux-based Collaboration Server Gets $15 Million Investment
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 10:22:57 +0000

Exchange Buster Grabs $15M

,----[ Quote ]
| PostPath, a three-year-old startup with a "drop in" alternative
| to Microsoft's Exchange Server, has gotten a fresh $15 million to
| continue its uphill battle.
`----

http://www.byteandswitch.com/document.asp?doc_id=114939&WT.svl=news2_1

Not Open Source.

------------------------------

Message-ID: <1728995.4U1TyXSykg@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Linux Device Released to Defend Windows
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 10:24:21 +0000

Palm-sized Linux gadget secures Windows laptops

,----[ Quote ]
| Yoggie Security Systems is now shipping its credit-card-sized,
| Linux-based security device for mobile and remote workers. The
| Yoggie Gatekeeper Pro is said to offer in-depth enterprise-level
| protection for PCs operated outside of corporate computing
| environments, regardless of what OS is running on the PC.
`----

http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS2319765902.html

------------------------------

Message-ID: <3983912.C2Ec1uU1aY@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Windows the Most Common Cause of Computer Problems
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 10:29:26 +0000

Windows Is the Number One Source of Computer Problems

,----[ Quote ]
| According to the data published in the RESCUECOM Top Five Computer
| Problems Report, in 2006, 22.3%% of all consumer reports were based
| on Windows issues. Hardware problems come in at a close second with
| 18.1%% of the customer complaints.
`----

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-is-the-Number-One-Source-of-Computer-Problems...
http://tinyurl.com/386anu

------------------------------

Message-ID: <1895903.pAy4SR1OcC@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Linux Gets Support for Yet Another Architecture
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 10:34:50 +0000

Themis and Terra Soft Offer 64-bit PowerPC Linux Board Support Package

,----[ Quote ]
| Themis Computer announced its collaboration with Terra Soft
| Solutions to deliver a complete Linux distribution for the
| TPPC64, Themis' first in a new family of 6U VMEbus single
| board computers based on the IBM PowerPC 970FX superscalar
| RISC processor.
`----

http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=204051

On hardware support:

Kernel Comparison for Linux (2.6.18) verses Windows (2003 R2)

,----[ Quote ]
| Architectures: Linux Windows
| PC x86 Y Y
| PC AMD64 Y Y
| PC IA-64 Y Y
| Alpha Y N
| PPC Y N
| PPC64 Y N
| SPARC32 Y N
| SPARC64 Y N
| ARM Y N
| HP PA-RISC Y N
| Motorola 680x0 Y N
| MIPS Y N
| MIPS (DEC) Y N
| PowerPC Y N
| IBM S/390 Y N
| others Y N
| Cell Y N
`----

http://widefox.pbwiki.com/Kernel%%20Comparison%%20Linux%%20vs%%20Windows

Is There Perfection in The Linux Kernel?

,----[ Quote ]
| In a perfect world, you could compile a brand-new Linux kernel
| without the need for much configuration and without error.
|
| According to Linus Torvalds, the new 2.6.19 Linux kernel is such
| an entity.
|
| "It's one of those rare "perfect" kernels," Torvalds wrote in a
| Linux kernel mailing list posting announcing the new kernel.
`----

http://www.internetnews.com/article.php/3646456

HP all-in-one device works great with Linux

,----[ Quote ]
| Once the ink cartridges have been installed and aligned --
| the unit first prints an alignment page, then scans it to
| check for needed adjustment -- Windows and Mac OS users are
| told to load their respective CDs to install the drivers.
| Linux users can scoff at the intellectual property
| handcuffs imposed on their non-free brothers and sisters
| and simply configure the unit from the friendly confines of their
| distribution.
`----

http://www.linux.com/article.pl?sid=06/10/03/203206

Linux Hardware Support

,----[ Quote ]
| Here's the problem with that argument: Most hardware does not
| work "Out of the box" in Windows. When people say their hardware
| worked "Out of the box" I don't think they are talking about "Out
| of the blue Windows XP box." What I think they mean is "Out of
| the Dell box."
|
| [...]
|
| The catch is that you must buy hardware that is supported by the
| software you intend to run on it. Is this really so unreasonable?
| Would you buy a Sun Spark workstation and try to run Windows on it?
`----

http://www.jeeperscats.com/?p=7

The Epson Stylus C88 Printer, works in Linux but not in Windows?

,----[ Quote ]
| Now, I'm confused. I installed Ubuntu on a spare machine
| because my printer started printing all wrong. I just
| completed sharing it with CUPS and Samba and what happens?
| It still prints all wrong from Windows!
|
| [...]
|
| Just so you know, I did go back and install the drivers that
| came on the CD-ROM, same problem. I then downloaded the most
| recent drivers from Epson, same problem.
`----

http://hmtk.com/blog/index.php?/archives/82-The-Epson-Stylus-C88-Printer,-works-in...

------------------------------

Message-ID: <1365008.RCBU7CSxsn@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Sam Varghese: Novell Should Not Sponsor Linux conference
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 10:44:04 +0000

Thirty pieces of silver

,----[ Quote ]
| "I'd rather they hadn't accepted a Novell sponsorship. It wasn't very
| clueful of them, given Novell's recent collaboration with Microsoft
| in spreading fear and doubt about Linux and software patents"
| Perens said.
|
| [...]
|
| "And since Novell is sponsoring at the lowest level, with a great many
| higher-level sponsors about, I can't think that money was the concern.
| They might as well accept SCO and Microsoft sponsorships now."
`----

http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/8716/1090/1/1/

Related:

Microsoft sponsors interoperability???

http://www.techxworld.com/registration/index.cfm?fuseaction=dynamic&v=0&p=5069&code...

PHP, Windows: Not an Oxymoron?

,----[ Quote ]
| Though Microsoft is a sponsor of the php|works conference, Stagner noted
| for the record that Microsoft did not pay for him to speak and he wasn't
| lost and knows that the conference isn't TechED.
`----

http://www.internetnews.com/dev-news/article.php/3632136

LinuxChix Brazil Meeting - Webcast, teachers and sponsors

,----[ Quote ]
| To make all this possible, we this year have the support of several
| companies and people, and two major sponsors: Caixa Economica Federal and
| ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
| Microsoft. The Caixa, as a Brazil federal institution, has always been
| ^^^^^^^^^
| involved in supporting development projects. And to go ahead with its
| "let's talk" movement, Microsoft supports the Meeting, as well will also
| be open to talk about their recent actions to cooperate and interoperate
| with Open Source community. We invite all attendees to debate with the
| representants their ideas and give suggestions.
`----

http://www.linuxchix.org.br/?q=node/72

Microsoft Ships IronPython 1.0

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2012641,00.asp

Microsoft's IIS 7 will aid PHP developers' Linux deployments

http://searchopensource.techtarget.com/columnItem/0,294698,sid39_gci1218130,00.h...
http://tinyurl.com/n656f

ToorCon ("Firefox security is a mess") sponsored by Microsoft

,----[ Quote ]
| Lately, I read the headline: "Open Source browser Firefox is so
| critically flawed that it is impossible to fix, according to two
| hackers." Further on, in the ZDNet article I read: "The hackers claim
| they know of about 30 unpatched Firefox flaws. They don't plan to
| disclose them, instead holding onto the bugs."
|
| Since that sounds suspicious, I decided to start searching for
| connections with MS. Easy enough, here it is...
`----

http://lxer.com/module/newswire/view/70873/index.html

It was a hoax of course. But a damaging one...

,----[ Quote ]
| "Microsoft says open-source software is un-American. Has the
| company completely lost its mind?
|
| - - - - - - - - - - - -
| By Andrew Leonard
|
| Feb. 15, 2001 | Once upon a time, Microsoft executives confined
| their criticism of Linux and free software to old-fashioned FUD
| -- fear, uncertainty and doubt. Linux wasn't good enough for
| enterprise-class systems, they declared. You couldn't get
| quality support, and it was too hard and clunky for average users.
|
| Fair enough. But now, judging by comments made Wednesday by
| Microsoft's operating systems chief Jim Allchin (and reported
| by Bloomberg News), it turns out that free and open-source
| software is something far worse than anyone could possibly have
| imagined. It is nothing less than a threat to the American
| way of life! "
`----

http://archive.salon.com/tech/log/2001/02/15/unamerican/index.html

------------------------------

Message-ID: <4538821.6HfPaEb4B5@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Microsoft's New Scheme: If The World Wants Open Source, We'll Pretend to Be Open Source And Corrupt the Term
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 11:12:54 +0000

More attempts to corrupt the term. Now that the EC wants Open Source,
Microsoft will try to confuse everyone. The Novell deal was only the start.

Fake. Fake. Fake. Fraud. Corruption. Marketing Ploy.

Microsoft and Open Source: The Real Deal?

,----[ Quote ]
| Sure looks like it, based on the company's partnership with Novell.
`----

http://redmondmag.com/reports/article.asp?EditorialsID=416

Why Microsoft should open-source SQL Server and SharePoint

,----[ Quote ]
| This time, the former Softie is making a case for why Microsoft
| should consider open-sourcing some of its crown jewels, includingS
| QL Server and SharePoint.
`----

http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=206

Aras Ushering in 'Microsoft Enterprise Open Source'

,----[ Quote ]
| Aras Innovator 8 requires Microsoft Windows Server 2003 with .NET
| 2.0 and Microsoft SQL Server 2005. The software is freely available
| from the Aras website. The software's CodePlex project page is
| located here.
`----

http://www.enterpriseitplanet.com/networking/news/article.php/3654756

Previously:

Using open source as a marketing ploy

,----[ Quote ]
| This is typical trend riding fluff. If you go the Aras website you
| read about "Microsoft Enterprise Open Source Solutions", which is
| comical in and of itself.
`----

http://weblog.infoworld.com/openresource/archives/2007/01/more_open_sourc.html

Soft sell for open source apps

,----[ Quote ]
| When vendors aren't counting licenses, they're free to concentrate on
| quality code
|
| [...]
|
| Schroer says there's no contradiction between open source and the
| Microsoft software ecosystem. "Microsoft has a particular business
| model that works for them. But around that they're encouraging open
| source development," he explains.
`----

http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/01/15/03OPopenent_1.html

A New Evangelist for Microsoft

,----[ Quote ]
| When I first heard about this? let's call it "rumor," I have to admit
| that I was rather shocked at the very prospect of Microsoft wanting
| to bring on an "open source" evangelist into their ranks.
`----

http://www.osweekly.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2432&Itemid=44...

The truth (among "cancer" and "communism"):

,----[ Quote ]
| "Microsoft says open-source software is un-American. Has the
| company completely lost its mind?
|
| - - - - - - - - - - - -
| By Andrew Leonard
|
| Feb. 15, 2001 | Once upon a time, Microsoft executives confined
| their criticism of Linux and free software to old-fashioned FUD
| -- fear, uncertainty and doubt. Linux wasn't good enough for
| enterprise-class systems, they declared. You couldn't get
| quality support, and it was too hard and clunky for average users.
|
| Fair enough. But now, judging by comments made Wednesday by
| Microsoft's operating systems chief Jim Allchin (and reported
| by Bloomberg News), it turns out that free and open-source
| software is something far worse than anyone could possibly have
| imagined. It is nothing less than a threat to the American
| way of life! "
`----

http://archive.salon.com/tech/log/2001/02/15/unamerican/index.html

------------------------------

Message-ID: <1384202.5PN6Sql0LS@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] "C# Isn't Going Anywhere"
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 11:54:03 +0000

C#: Is the Party Over?

,----[ Quote ]
| Conclusion
|
| Is the C# party over? If the plan of C# was to slow the defection of
| Visual C++ developers to Java, then it was certainly better than
| nothing. The long-term savings for Microsoft in sharing a CLR
| between projects was more than worth the initial effort. However,
| C# is still not the de facto choice for Web site or enterprise
| development and other languages such as Python and PHP, which are
| bringing in a new generation of developers who don't have a need to
| migrate Visual C++ applications. C# isn't going anywhere soon but
| its best days may be behind it.
`----

http://linux.sys-con.com/read/117741_p.htm

On the other hand:

COBOL Today and Tomorrow, Part 1

,----[ Quote ]
| The acronym COBOL has its share of humorous expansions --
| "completely obsolete, burdensome old language" is one -- but if
| you think it's dying, take another look. A Gartner study found
| COBOL in about 75 percent of enterprise business processes,
| acting as the solid, transaction-focused foundation for the
| world's core business processes.
|
| It's no secret that Linux at the server level is growing fast
| in the business world.
|
| It's stable, it's infinitely customizable, it has the kind of
| support that an enterprise demands and its return on investment
| is amazing to people more accustomed to the costs of other
| approaches. So, you find it everywhere these days.
|
| You discover something else everywhere, too: common
| business-oriented language, or COBOL, the computer's
| original business language.
`----

http://www.linuxinsider.com/rsstory/55216.html

Related:

Developers Embrace Java, Drop Visual Basic

,----[ Quote ]
| Use of Visual Basic has dropped 35%% since the spring, says a
| poll of more than 430 North American developers done by research
| company Evans Data.
|
| [...]
|
| Developers have abandoned Microsoft's Visual Basic in droves
| during the last six months, and they're using Java more than any
| other development language, according to a recently published
| survey.
`----

http://www.informationweek.com/software/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=196600515

Study: Developers Favor Linux

,----[ Quote ]
| "Regardless of what kind of developer you are, you're still trying to
| make a living, and target the operating system that?s controlling the
| market."
|
| However, in the most recent survey, the developers' forecast of their
| target platform has changed. For the first time, these developers said
| that in the next 12 to 18 months they expect to be developing more Linux
| apps than Windows apps.
`----

http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/osrc/article.php/3645766

TIOBE Programming Community Index for November 2006

,----[ Quote ]
| Java 20.400%%
| C 17.198%%
| C++ 11.055%%
| (Visual) Basic 9.470%%
| PHP 9.209%%
| Perl 6.228%%
| Python 3.641%%
| C# 3.023%%
| JavaScript 2.310%%
| Delphi 2.252%%
| SAS 2.210%%
| Ruby 1.717%%
| PL/SQL 1.223%%
| D 0.684%%
| ABAP 0.637%%
| Lisp/Scheme 0.586%%
| COBOL 0.564%%
| Ada 0.546%%
| Pascal 0.516%%
| Visual FoxPro 0.431%%
`----

http://www.tiobe.com/index.htm?tiobe_index

Expert Testimony of Ronald Alepin in Comes v. Microsoft - Embrace, Extend,
Extinguish

,----[ Quote ]
| You'll hear some emails read aloud, one of Bill Gates's, an email from
| 1996 about Java, where he says he was losing sleep over how great
| Java was, and you'll see a strategy he suggested -- "fully
| supporting Java and extending it in a Windows/Microsoft way".
|
| [...]
|
| Well, when applets are cross-platform, it expands the number of
| applications that are available to you so you can go to a website.
| And if you have a Linux computer or a Macintosh computer or a Windows 3.1
| computer, you can get an application and it will run.
|
| You don't have to either select a specific application or hope that the
| independent software vendor or the website created the application for your
| platform. So it would increase the number of applications available to you.
`----

http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20070108020408557

------------------------------

Message-ID: <3347615.B7n61pgZls@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] '3-D' Menu for KDE
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 12:02:47 +0000

KBFX Preface

,----[ Quote ]
| KBFX is an alternative to the classical K-Menu button and it's menu.
| It improves the user experience by enabling the user to set a bigger
| (and thus more visible) start button and by finally replacing the
| Win95-like K-Menu. But if you still want the old menu, because you're
| used to it, it is still available as an option in KBFX. We recommend,
| however, that you give the Spinx bar a try.
`----

http://www.kbfx.org/staticpages/index.php?page=20060224122723802

Screenshots:

http://www.kbfx.org/staticpages/index.php?page=20060224124413545

------------------------------

Message-ID: <12855353.o7c00JtnlT@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] The Vendor-neutral Certification, with Linux
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 12:14:16 +0000

Linux Certification: Vendor-Specific or Vendor Neutral?

,----[ Quote ]
| Talk to anyone who follows hiring trends in IT and they'll tell
| you the same thing: having Linux proficiency is growing
| increasingly important in getting and keeping a job in IT.
`----

http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/career/article.php/3654606

Why tie your certification to a single company that's struggling (e.g. MSCE)?

Related:

Hot skills: From hobby to ubiquity, Linux continues to expand

,----[ Quote ]
| Hot skills: open source OS offers growing job opportunities
`----

http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2007/01/17/221232/hot-skills-from-hobby-to...

2007: Where the Tech Jobs Are

,----[ Quote ]
| ...open source and Linux skills are very hot. ?Linux is one of the fastest
| growing, if not required, then recommended skills that most of the
| sysadmins and operations people have,? Melland says. ?If you?re a systems
| administrator and you don?t have Linux experience, you might want to seek
| that out.?
|
| [...]
|
| All this migration to Linux and open source means that job openings are
| zooming. Based on Dice statistics, Linux as a recommended skill is up 51%%
| this year, and roughly 150%% in the last two years.
`----

http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/career/article.php/3649436

Linux and Open Source: How They Affect HR Professionals

,----[ Quote ]
| Linux and other open source applications are finding increasing acceptance
| in the global marketplace by small and large companies alike. Statistics on
| the growth of a few open source programs-like Apache (a Web server), Linux
| (an operating system), FreeBSD (an operating system), and PostgreSQL (a
| database server)- demonstrate this. This column considers why open source
| is growing so fast, and what it means to human resources professionals.
|
| [...]
|
| With the growth in the OSS marketplace, led by Linux, more and more
| companies will be using OSS as a portion of their IT infrastructure,
| particularly in the arena of servers. As more applications become
| Web-based, there will be less and less reason for people to use Windows
| or Macintosh desktop computers. Companies like NumSum.com and Writely
| (just acquired by Google) provide traditional applications akin to Excel
| and Word through a Web browser interface. Windows isn't going away any
| time soon, but its days are numbered. OSS is shrinking Windows lifetime
| for servers and eventually it may do so for desktop machines as well.
| And that should provide interesting developments for all of us to watch.
`----

http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/637577/linux_and_open_source_how_they_af...

Linux jobs abound, tech job service says

,----[ Quote ]
| Online IT job clearinghouse Dice Inc. has some interesting statistics
| to accompany LinuxWorld. As of August 1, there were 7,000 jobs
| opportunities on Dice.com for technology professionals with Linux
| experience. This is up 35.6 percent from the beginning of the year
| and 55 percent higher than 12 months ago, the service reports.
`----

http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS3892050451.html

City of Munich is looking for additional Linux specialists (technical system
integration)

,----[ Quote ]
| You can join the limux client team! The City of Munich published four
| job vacancies on their official homepage! If you?ve always been a fan
| of the open-source movement, want to take part in an ambitious project
| and be part of a great team and have appropriate knowledge of free
| software generally, as well as Debian GNU/Linux and OpenOffice.org
`----

http://www.marsmenschen.com/index.php/2006/12/22/city-of-munich-is-looking-for-additional.../

------------------------------

Message-ID: <1269688.AIW0ZWlsOd@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] The Real Long-term Threat to Linux are BSD, UNIX, Solaris
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 12:17:55 +0000

While Windows goes nowhere, other players mature.

FreeBSD 6.2: Polished, More Stable

,----[ Quote ]
| Developers on the free version of the BSD Unix operating system hope
| it will help build momentum for what is arguably the most popular BSD
| variant in use.
`----

http://www.internetnews.com/dev-news/article.php/3654371

GNU/Solaris - the Free OS of the Future?

,----[ Quote ]
| We'll have to wait and see what happens, but this looks a positive
| step in the direction of Freedom by Sun.
`----

http://www.libervis.com/article/gnu_solaris_the_free_os_of_the_future

------------------------------

Message-ID: <3445867.xzksVOh8TG@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Computer Cluster Monitoring Software Released as Open Source
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 12:20:26 +0000

Sandia's "OVIS" Now Available as Open-Source Software

,----[ Quote ]
| The initial version of "OVIS" -- a software tool developed by Sandia
| National Laboratories that provides intelligent, real-time monitoring
| of computational computer clusters...
`----

http://www.linuxelectrons.com/News/Application/Sandias_OVIS_Now_Available_as_Ope...

------------------------------

Message-ID: <3539369.vYu99ALeDc@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] OpenXML is a Microsoft "Monopoly Enabler"
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 12:24:21 +0000

Searching for Openness in Microsoft's OOXML and Finding Contradictions

,----[ Quote ]
| ...I learned this week that despite Microsoft's promises of a new
| openness and its assertions regarding interoperability for its
| OOXML (formerly known as OpenXML and also known as EOOXML) and
| despite having offered it as a *standard*, it seems that it's
| another case of promises, promises. From what I've been reading,
| which I'll share with you, I think it's time to ask ourselves
| some serious questions: does OOXML really qualify as a standard?
| Or is it yet another monopoly-enabler in the guise of a standard?
`----

http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=2007011720521698

------------------------------

Message-ID: <1245612.kFR8W02Df8@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Docvert 3 Released; Liberates Data from Microsoft Shackles
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 12:28:56 +0000

Docvert version 3.0 - 16th January 2007

,----[ Quote ]
| This web service software takes multiple word processor files
| (typically .doc) and converts them to Oasis OpenDocument and HTML.
`----

http://holloway.co.nz/docvert/

------------------------------

Message-ID: <23390955.rQ25PFGn0c@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Company Releases GPL'ed Browsing Proxy Software
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 12:33:26 +0000

Psiphon secure browsing proxy released

,----[ Quote ]
| Last month, Toronto-based civic activists at The Citizen Lab released
| a new open source secure Web browsing tool designed to let people
| in repressive countries tunnel through government Internet filters.
`----

http://business.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=07/01/09/1846256&from=rss

Free software for freedom of speech.

------------------------------

Message-ID: <1200114.g28QNms0s9@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Sun Pulls a Fast One to Combat Red Hat Linux
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 12:40:24 +0000

Sun disguises price-hike as Red Hat discount

,----[ Quote ]
| While it is undeniable that Solaris support is cheaper than that of
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ("about half that of equivalent offerings
| from Red Hat", according to Sun, the fact is Sun has actually *increased*t
| he price it is charging to support Solaris.
`----

http://www.businessreviewonline.com/os/archives/2007/01/sun_disguises_p.html

------------------------------

Message-ID: <4377225.bAGZNoTBa7@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Tactless Ballmer Laughs at iPhone
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 13:39:31 +0000

It's all right to criticise, but watch his behaviour.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5oGaZIKYvo&eurl=

Is this guy a CEO of a large company...?

------------------------------

Message-ID: <1864510.fDsKe0CO1U@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Bugs Abound: Vista Sends 49,693-Page Job to Printer?
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 13:48:17 +0000

Vista sends 49,693 page print job to printer

,----[ Quote ]
| Well obviously I didn't intend for this to happen. I chose file->print
| inside Firefox 2.0.0.1 running on Vista Enterprise. I just assumed
| it printed the one page I requested, but when I went to the printer
| in the next room, I discovered it was spewing out pages with nothing
| but the header and footer from Firefox. Great work, Microsoft. Or
| maybe it is Firefox's fault? Who the hell knows.
`----

http://www.hinerman.net/blog/?p=63

Still a dangerous territory. Use Vista at your own risk.

Related:

Vista Bug re-appears

,----[ Quote ]
| Nice... minus one million, three hundred eight thousand, two
| hundred fifty nine bytes... how is that any where near or
| mathematically altered to 2.11 MB?
`----

http://jadeallen.com/toms/index.asp?DoAction=ReadDay&ID=359

Windows Vista's Hideous Wakeup Support

,----[ Quote ]
| One thing we just can't wrap our mind about is the terrible,
| broken, and completely pitiful support for waking Vista up from
| a Deep Sleep or hibernation.' Any time you attempt to wake Vista
| up from Hibernation or "Deep Sleep" (S3-induced sleep mode), it
| dies. It's either a BSOD, or a driver error, or a broken network,
| no DWM, lack of sound... the list goes on, and on. So much for an
| operating system to "power" the future! (No pun intended!) That's
| with properly-signed drivers and no buggy software on
| multiple PCs...
`----

http://neosmart.net/blog/archives/299

TI won't rush into Microsoft Vista readily

,----[ Quote ]
| Corporate American, no, make that corporate everywhere is treating Vista
| like a dead animal found in the woods, they will poke it with a stick,
| but there is no way they will take it home. Take TI for instance, it
| is not going to touch the wonder OS for another two years or so.
`----

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=36259

Installing A PS/2 Mouse Turns Off Firewall, Huh!

,----[ Quote ]
| I plugged in the PS/2 mouse, rebooted the PC and on restart XP found the
| PS/2 mouse and suggested rebooting again, which I did. When it restarted
| the Microsoft Firewall had been switched off. How do I know, because it
| told me I had no firewall.
`----

http://crunchysoftware.wordpress.com/2006/12/09/ps2-mouse-turns-off-firewall/

Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) 7.0 Sucks!

,----[ Quote ]
| I know Microsoft's release of IE 7.0 is in beta, but I still didn't
| expect it to be such a big piece of crap and cause hours of misery.
|
| [...]
|
| What Microsoft hoped would help it win back Firefox "switchers" has
| done nothing but add one more to their growing ranks.
`----

http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2006/02/microsoft-ie-70-sucks.html

Just One Question For Vista: Does It Simply Work -- Like An Apple?

,----[ Quote ]
| Jim Allchin responds over on his blog regarding a recent news report
| quoting him as saying that he would have bought a Mac if he weren't
| working for Microsoft in an email to Steve Ballmer and Bill Gates.
|
| [...]
|
| So the challenge for Microsoft, and in some ways to an even larger
| extent Allchin himself personally, is to ship Vista in a state that
| is as bug free as the Mac.
|
| Vista is Allchin's final legacy at Microsoft. After a long successful
| career this is his last hurah and in order to be successful it simply
| must be perfect.
`----

http://biz.yahoo.com/seekingalpha/061213/22341_id.html?.v=1

Life with Vista - Is this dogfood really for the dogs?

,----[ Quote ]
| I'm an absolute freak when it comes to .NET technologies. My blog
| is called the ".NET Addict", so it should be pretty obvious that
| the day Vista's RTM build came out, I downloaded it and installed
| it on every Vista-capable machine I had in my possession. I've
| been using Vista for several weeks now and I've come to a couple
| of conclusions that I think might startle and shock some of you.
`----

http://dotnetaddict.dotnetdevelopersjournal.com/vista_dogfood.htm

He claims RTM is in the state of a beta.

Vista Breaks Applications

,----[ Quote ]
| The big secret at Redmond is that existing applications and new
| products will not work with Vista.
|
| Microsoft really doesn't want you to know this, but many of your
| existing applications won't work with Vista. In fact, some brand
| new products won't work with Vista.
`----

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2062318,00.asp

Vista... Don't Try to Copy and Paste

,----[ Quote ]
| Vista gave me the following when trying to copy a
| file:
|
| Error 0x800705AD. Ohh, well of course... I should have known error
| 0x800705AD means the user tried to COPY AND PASTE. Are you shitting
| me?! Insufficient quota? WTF are you talking about Vista. First
| let's check that I have enough disk space:
|
| Ok, now by my calculations 413 MBs < 22.8 GBs. I can normally
| figure out almost any computer related problem.
`----

http://buckwheats.wordpress.com/2006/12/12/vista%%e2%%80%%a6-don%%e2%%80%%99t-try.../

Vista: Behind the scenes

,----[ Quote ]
| Some of the glitches were already known. Many were things that have
| already been fixed, and a few were too new and need investigating.
| None appeared to be a show-stopper.
`---- ^^^^^^^^^^^^

http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9590_22-6133491.html

Analysts: Microsoft Changes Meaning Of 'Release Candidate'

,----[ Quote ]
| Two industry watchers say Microsoft is corrupting the term, leading to
| major confusion among customers and others about whether the operating
| system is truly ready to evaluate.
|
| Two analysts Thursday accused Microsoft Corp. of changing the meaning
| of "release candidate" by pushing out a version of Windows Vista that
| still needs major work.
|
| [...]
|
| Joe Wilcox, an analyst with JupiterResearch, said that Microsoft's
| corrupted the term.
`---

http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=192700055&cid=R...

------------------------------

Message-ID: <4947878.Bmk5pOcIUO@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Latest Microsoft Patches Cause Outlook to Crash
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 14:45:36 +0000

outlook.exe faulting module outllib.dll

http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.outlook/browse_thread/thread/cc3...#38d04aa5c8ef73e0
http://tinyurl.com/2pkf4e

Seen it reported elsewhere. Apparently it affects many people...

------------------------------

Message-ID: <4046259.QStc7YGvRm@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] 8 Out of 10 New Features in Office are 'Borrowed' from WordPerfect
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 14:51:22 +0000

Is Imitation The Sincerest Form of Flattery?

,----[ Quote ]
| As many as 8 of the top 10 benefits of Microsoft Office 2007
| provide capabilities that have already been addressed by Corel
| WordPerfect Office X3. Some "new" features of Microsoft Office
| 2007 have even been part of Corel WordPerfect Office for
| close to a decade!
`----

http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite?c=Content_C1&cid=1166553933785&lc=en&pagename...
http://tinyurl.com/2key74

Related:

The Redmond Copying Machine?

,----[ Quote ]
| My recent video, which tweaked Microsoft for crowing about its
| "innovation" in Windows Vista (without acknowledging its huge debt
| to Mac OS X), triggered plenty of reaction. It probably comes as no
| surprise that your comments quickly devolved into "which is better"
| bickering, which will proably never end.
|
| [...]
|
| Then this e-mail message, which arrived today from a guy who says
| he worked as a Microsoft temp employee from 2003 to 2004. I've
| agreed not to publish his name.
|
| [...]
|
| "Around the corner was another grid, showing the RealPlayer
| application. This grid was the same: grid A1 was the front userv
| iew of the application, mirroring what was on the iTunes wall/grid.
|
| "Around the next corner was another grid, this one showing Windows
| Media Player version 9 !! This one was missing a few tiles in the
| grid, but you could actually see the progress as each feature [of
| iTunes and RealPlayer] was copied, square for square.
|
| "Amazing. New software is put out, a manager sees it and decides that the
| creative part of their day is making color screen captures of the
| software and presenting it to the copying--er, engineering team."
`----

http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2006/12/18/the-redmond-copying-machine/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDNuq94Zg_8

NT influenced by Unix

,----[ Quote ]
| (Gates:) "And through Windows NT, you can see it throughout the design.
| In a weak sense, it is a form of Unix. There are so many of the
| design decisions that have been influenced by that environment. And
| that's no accident."
|
| In light of the recent saber rattling about Linux and patents, the "There
| are so many of the design decisions that have been influenced by that
| environment" sentence is particularly interesting if these patent
| threats include things that are prior Unix art. "In a weak sense, it
| is a form of Unix" is also telling. I said before that I don't think
| that's the case; I think the patent stuff is talking about things like
| Samba and Mono, but even there the "influenced by that environment"
| could be important in the court of public opinion if not in actual
| law.
`----

http://aplawrence.com/Unixart/gates_quote.html

Windows Vista vs. Mac OS X: The Copycat Olympics

,----[ Quote ]
| In Microsoft's defense, though, why wouldn't you want to "borrow" ideas
| from other successful products? Vista, Leopard, and Linux are all
| competing against each other, although in reality, each one is better for
| a different set of users. Apple may go on and on about the similarities
| between Tiger and Vista, but they're there for a reason. When
| innovation fails, then you need to try and learn from the best, and
| that's what Microsoft is doing. However, they're a little late to the
| game, and the competing follow-up usually isn't as good as the original.
`----

http://www.osweekly.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2300&Itemid=44...

All the Myth about Microsoft!

,----[ Quote ]
| * Microsoft was first with graphical user interface
|
| * Microsoft designed BASIC Language
|
| * Microsoft designed visual basic
|
| * Microsoft invented DOS
|
| * Microsoft designed the first spreadsheet - Excel
|
| * Microsoft designed the first word processor
|
| * First with Internet browser
`----

http://196.2.70.231:8080/ict_blog/open-ict-hacks/microsoft-myth

Vista at the tipping point

,----[ Quote ]
| Where are the new features?
|
| Why is Vista such a catastrophe and how does this affect the Open
| Source/Free Software community? Part of the problem, I think, is that
| Vista essentially does nothing new, and has no new features that are
| of interest to the general computer using public. The veteran IT
| journalist Nicholas Petreley (now editor of Linux Journal) created
| his first law of computer journalism, which is "No technology
| exists until Microsoft invents it". This held true while Microsoft
| systems were so primitive that every new release was a vast
| improvement on the previous one. The public "oohed" and "ahhed"
| over such exciting new features as multi-tasking, and overlapping
| windows; even as people in the industry tried to point out that
| every new feature was merely copied from other, more sophisticated
| systems. The problem for Microsoft is that most of this copying has
| already been done. Windows XP actually has most of the features of
| Linux and the Mac, though I'd complain they're implemented poorly
| in Windows. Even if Vista has improved on the implementation, what
| kind of a marketing message is "we now do things properly"?
`----

http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9590_22-6151049.html

History's Lesson: Microsoft May Use Novell to Kill OpenOffice, ODF

,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft Faces New Antitrust Probe Over Corel Deal... Another
| case of acquiring your competitors to elbow rivals out of the
| way, eh? Novell is Microsoft's weapon against the Linux community.
`----

http://boycottnovell.com/2006/11/30/corel-linux-odf/

------------------------------

Message-ID: <7015765.h2vibqmYId@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Red Hat Gets an Upgrade
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 17:10:55 +0000

Red Hat Earns Upgrade

,----[ Quote ]
| The firm lifted its rating on Red Hat to sector-outperformer
| from sector-performer and set a $26 price target on the stock.
| CIBC believes that recent competitive initiatives from Oracle,
| along with Microsoft and Novell, haven't yet cut into Red
| Hat's business.
`----

http://www.thestreet.com/_yahoo/newsanalysis/techsoftware/10333451.html?cm_ven=YAHOO&...
http://tinyurl.com/2fmagf

Not even Sun has done anything other than confuse journalists.

So, while Sun Microsystem, Oracle and Microsoft are among the giants who
suffer from and fear OSS, Google and IBM seem to lend it a hand. A Linux
battle brings together the world's titans who can't even defeat a company as
small as Red Hat. Interesting.

Related:

Red Hat profit tops Wall Street view, shares soar

,----[ Quote ]
| "Open-source is not going away and Red Hat is the leader," Chowdhry
| said in a telephone interview. "Oracle is a nonevent when
| it comes to open source."
`----

http://yahoo.reuters.com/news/articlehybrid.aspx?storyID=urn:newsml:reuters.com:20061221...
http://tinyurl.com/y57we9

------------------------------

Message-ID: <5889932.tKNgICTTQt@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Fedora Core 6 Respin ('Service Pack') Released
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 17:19:19 +0000

Fedora Core 6 (Zod) Re-Spins from Fedora Unity

,----[ Quote ]
| Fedora Unity has taken up the Re-Spin task to provide the community
| with the chance to install Fedora Core with recent updates already
| included. These updates might otherwise comprise more than 700MB
| of downloads for a default install.
`----

http://www.linuxlookup.com/2007/jan/19/fedora_core_6_zod_re_spins_from_fedora_un...

------------------------------

Message-ID: <97448907.ilf7l18U3N@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Linux in the Mainstream, Gaining Momentum
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 17:31:14 +0000

Linux and Open Source: One Step Closer to the Mainstream

,----[ Quote ]
| What is certain -- now more than ever -- is that community-based
| development and open source methodologies have transformed the
| software industry in a way that can never be reversed, and is
| still gaining momentum.
`----

http://www.linuxinsider.com/rsstory/55241.html

Written by one is is typically an Open Source skeptic/basher.

------------------------------

Message-ID: <3043539.SH7ofQuCxR@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] 8 Steps to Making Linux More Attractive
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 17:45:41 +0000

8 steps to world domination for Linux

,----[ Quote ]
| LSB supported in more distributions
| LSB binaries released for the majority of FOSS programs
| Smart Package Manager
| More Open drivers/specifications for hardware
| QT becomes more pervasive
| KDE 4 becomes the ultimate DE
| [...]
`----

http://www.chuckdanda.ourgodfather.com/

It seems as though s/he's still editing the page at the moment.

Related:

Is There Perfection in The Linux Kernel?

,----[ Quote ]
| In a perfect world, you could compile a brand-new Linux kernel
| without the need for much configuration and without error.
|
| According to Linus Torvalds, the new 2.6.19 Linux kernel is such
| an entity.
|
| "It's one of those rare "perfect" kernels," Torvalds wrote in a
| Linux kernel mailing list posting announcing the new kernel.
`----

http://www.internetnews.com/article.php/3646456

------------------------------

Message-ID: <1519268.eprm32FYGt@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Windows Worm Spreads Heavily Around Europe, Creates Zombies
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 17:58:16 +0000

'Storm Worm' rages across the globe

,----[ Quote ]
| The new "Storm Worm" is baiting people with timely information
| about a real-life, deadly front in Europe and is creating one of the
| larger worm attacks in recent years, security researchers said
| Friday.
|
| [...]
|
| "The e-mail was started 15 hours ago, when the storm was peaking in
| Central Europe," Hypponen said. "This is unusual in that it was very
| timely."
|
| The attached file contains malicious code. That e-mail, via the
| botnet, has quickly spread the worm.
|
| The worm is already close to being as large as the bigger ones of
| 2006, Hypponen said, though it's still smaller than Sasser and
| Slammer.
|
| [...]
|
| Hypponen told Reuters that most people would not notice the malicious
| software, which creates a back door to a computer that can be exploited
| later to steal data or to use the computer to post spam.
`----

http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-6151414.html

My sister sent me an E-mail a while ago:

"...Anyhow, I heard there are huge storms over there, 46 people died in
england and germany - please stay inside while this is going on and keep
safe! "

------------------------------

Message-ID: <1398174.cpYb6t2s7i@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Microsoft Releases Patch to Resolve Bug in Last Week's Patch
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 18:04:36 +0000

Microsoft reissues Excel security update

,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft on Thursday reissued its for Excel 2000 security update,
| which is designed to resolve a software bug that prevents users
| from opening files created in certain foreign languages.
`----

http://news.com.com/2110-1012_3-6151252.html?part=rss&tag=2547-1_3-0-20&subj=new...

This has happened before (even quite recently in fact):

The secret update -- the patch for the patch is now patched

http://www.heise-security.co.uk/news/78112

------------------------------

Message-ID: <3083290.265EZZttgF@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Looking Glass Coming to Mandriva Linux
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 18:10:04 +0000

Looking Glass meets Mandriva

,----[ Quote ]
| Looking Glass is an open source development project based on and
| evolved from Sun Microsystems' Advanced Development division. It
| supports running unmodified existing applications in a 3D space,
| as well as APIs for 3D window manager and application development.
`----

http://www.linux-tip.net/cms/content/view/278/26/

Related:

Linux Live CD is in development for the Wii

,----[ Quote ]
| WiiLi will be based off MandrivaONE, you can expect it to look like this...
`----

http://www.nwiizone.com/nintendo-wii/nwii/linux-live-cd-is-in-development-for-the.../

Rotating the compiz cube using a Wiimote

,----[ Quote ]
| Today, David has brought his Wiimote at Mandriva office so that we
| make some experiments with the Wiimote linux drivers. I've started
| with WMD, which is a python program that can generate input events
| based on the info sent by the Wiimote (on Bluetooth).
`----

http://blino.org/blog/mandriva/wiimote-compiz.html

Looking Glass on Ubuntu

,----[ Quote ]
| The Sun's Looking Glass Project for a 3D GUI running on
| Ubuntu Linux (Dapper).
`----

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjQ4Nza34ak

------------------------------

Message-ID: <64970769.Dt4G92lDeQ@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] [SOT] Music Industry Going Mad, Punishes Everyone
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 18:19:08 +0000

Music industry guns for ISPs

,----[ Quote ]
| The music industry is telling ISPs to shut down whoever it reckons
| is a pirate, without recourse to a court, or even evidence.
`----

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=37055

Legal Affairs committee votes on criminalising downloading

,----[ Quote ]
| Monday January 29 and Tuesday January 30, 2007, the European
| Parliament's Legal Affairs committee will discuss and vote on
| a proposal by Mr Manders, MEP, to criminalise downloading.
`----

[ Ah - now we have owned MPs just like the yanks - didn't take long for
such corruption to arrive here, did it? Ed. ]

http://www.ipred.org/download

This relates to discussions about DRM and the fact that the technology will
die without Linux ever having to adopt it. It's just about boosting profits
and taking away the freedoms that the Internet gives.

In related news today, political bloggers in America must soon have to
register or face jail. Kind of like in countries with totalitarian
regimes...

Related:

Sony 'deceived' on music

,----[ Quote ]
| Sony has been convicted of misleading the French public and told
| to pay damages to a consumer watchdog for selling downloadable
| songs that only run on its own music players.
|
| France's Union Federale des Consommateurs (UFC) took Sony's
| French and British subsidiaries to court in February 2005 over
| the music download site Sony Connect. The lawsuit also targets
| Apple, maker of the popular iPod, whose case is expected to
| reach the courts later this year.
`----

http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,21026144%%5E15322%%5E%%5Enbv%%5E...
http://tinyurl.com/y7hk7w

Cost analysis of Vista DRM: Part II

,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft doesn't merely use DRM. To all intents and purposes it
| is DRM, better known as Digital Rights Management, Digital
| Restrictions Management or or just plain CRAP for Content
| Restriction, Annulment, and Protection, as ZDNet's David
| Berlind called it, eventually deferring to Richard Stallman's
| Cancellation, Restriction, and Punishment. We call it, simply,
| CCG, short for Consumer Control Gear.
`----

http://p2pnet.net/story/10827

The Longest Suicide Note in History

,----[ Quote ]
| On the same podcast Gutmann scotched suggestions Microsoft were held
| to ransom by Hollywood;
|
| [...]
|
| The genie's out of the bottle before the operating system has even
| been released! But that doesn't mean Vista users in particular - and
| the computer community at large - won't end up paying for Microsoft's
| DRM folly. At the risk of repeating myself repeating myself, yet
| another reason to move to Linux.
`----

http://blogs.pcworld.co.nz/pcworld/tux-love/2007/01/the_longest_suicide_note_in_hi...

Peter Gutmann on Vista DRM

,----[ Snippet ]
| Leo: So the insane paranoia really comes from Hollywood, not from
| Microsoft.
|
| PETER: It's hard to tell what goes on inside Microsoft. But if you
| read the technical specs, I think any technical person that reads
| those specs would say this is never going to work, and half of the
| stuff is nuts. On the other hand, it could well be high-level managers
| inside Microsoft who don't understand the technology and who
| completely agree with Hollywood and who think we should do this
| even though other people have told me it's impossible, we're
| going to do it anyway.
`----

http://www.grc.com/sn/SN-074.htm

Apple faces suit over iPod-iTunes link

,----[ Quote ]
| As if its options woes weren't trouble enough, Apple Computer Inc.
| said Friday it is facing several federal lawsuits, including one
| alleging the company created an illegal monopoly by tying iTunes
| music and video sales to its market-leading iPod portable players.
`----

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061230/ap_on_hi_te/apple_lawsuits

------------------------------

Message-ID: jason.websterscafe.com>
From: Handover Phist NOSPAMwebsterscafe.com>
Subject: [News] Storm Virus hits hard
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 19:21:41 GMT
--------------------------

------------------------------

Message-ID: <2592746.46SqA8TUVM@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Sun Microsystems Uncertain About GPLv3?
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 20:37:05 +0000

Sun holds off on GPL3 adoption

,----[ Quote ]
| Sun Microsystems will not make a final decision on whether to
| adopt the upcoming General Public Licence version 3 (GPL3)
| until after its release later this year.
`----

http://www.itweek.co.uk/vnunet/news/2172823/sun-kills-gpl3-rumours

------------------------------

Message-ID: <3431850.3BW6ke0kd4@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Has the Linux Revolution Arrived?
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 20:49:41 +0000

Has the free desktop revolution arrived?

,----[ Quote ]
| An oft-trumpeted home triumph in technology discussion sites is
| the conversion of friends or loved ones to a GNU/Linux desktop.
| "I was tired of fixing Windows on my kid's/grandmother's/in-law's
| computer, so I set up a Linux desktop. They love it! It's so easy
| to use, and I don't have to do anything to maintain it! No ad-ware
| or viruses, and best of all, it's free!" It sounds almost too good
| to be true.... has the free desktop revolution arrived? I recently
| found myself in a position to find out first hand.
|
| [...]
|
| My wife's final words on the subject: "I hope you put [Ubuntu] on
| my computer after you fix it."
`----

http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/blogs/has_the_free_desktop_revolution_arrive...

2007 Forecast: Open Source

,----[ Quote ]
| So in summary, the Open Source story is, like the curate's egg,
| good in parts. Linux is still a growing force and the commercial
| use of Open Source is becoming increasingly common in many areas.
| There was even a recommendation to use it from the EC recently,
| which stated quite clearly that the evidence is that Open Source
| reduces costs. Well, duh!
`----

http://www.it-director.com/blogs/Robin_Bloor/2007/1/2007_forecast_open_source.ht...
http://tinyurl.com/35demn

------------------------------

Message-ID: <1213661.3XMW0EnOF5@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Homegrown Chinese PC's Run Linux, Begin Shipping
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 21:03:37 +0000

Computers with home-grown Chinese CPU debut

,----[ Quote ]
| The computer, which uses a Linux operating system, comes with a
| 40-gigabyte hard drive and 256 megabytes of memory. It costs
| 1,599 yuan (about 200 U.S. dollars), and users have to buy the
| monitor, keyboard and mouse separately, the company said on
| its website.
`----

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-01/19/content_5627256.htm

Excellent stuff. Dependence on nobody else.

Related:

China Linux Market Will Grow at Annual Rate of 34%%, Says R&M

,----[ Quote ]
| It is predicted that in China, Linux market (both server and client)
| will grow with an annual rate of 34 %%. The client-side share growth
| will be comparatively faster.
`----

http://eb-asia.com/article.asp?id=7528

Hasee PCs Preinstall Linux Desktop

,----[ Quote ]
| Co-Create, founded in 2001, is a Beijing-based software company
| specializing in development, production and application of Linux
| and the cross-platform office suite sponsored by 8 Chinese
| well-known IT companies.
|
| Co-Create made great achievements in 2006 thanks to the
| regulations on the pre-installation of computer operating
| system software. Many computer manufacturers, including Lenovo,
| HP and Dell all cooperated with Co-Create. 23 Dell computer
| models sold in China all completely preinstall Linux operating
| systems.
`----

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?RSS&newsid=7969

http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/techbeat/archives/2006/01/a_big_step_for....

,----[ Quote ]
| "China has long been seen as a fertile ground for Linux and other open
| source software. In a country where more than 90%% of software in use
| is pirated, it seems like a natural fit."
`----

http://www.linuxinsider.com/story/50004.html

Linux Set to Soar in China

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2006/06/03/2003311446

Government says all new PCs must be Linux-friendly

China looks to open-source community for advice

,----[ Quote ]
| China is counting on senior members of the open-source community to
| help formulate policy ideas to promote open-source software, according
| to a local software executive.
|
| The China Open-Source Software Promotion Union (COPU), a government-backed
| industry group, has established a think tank comprised of 19 prominent
| open-source executives from overseas to develop a framework for better
| international cooperation.
`----

http://www.infoworld.com/article/06/05/18/78442_HNchinaopensource_1.html?source=rss&url...

,----[ Quote ]
| Many such vendors previously sold PCs with free operating systems such as
| Linux or none at all...
|
| Observers believe the Chinese vendors signed their deals with Microsoft
| in April under pressure from Beijing, which is trying to show it is
| making serious efforts to stamp out piracy -- a major complaint from
| many Western governments.
|
| In late March, the Chinese government went so far as to issue a
| decree requiring PC makers to install a licensed operating system on
| each machine before it left the factory.
`----

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060601/bs_nm/china_microsoft_dc

China's Linux Adoption Threat to Microsoft?

,----[ Quote ]
| Most recently, China has been placing their bets on Linux over Windows as
| the dominant OS for their needs. And one of the best examples of this on
| the desktop front would have to be with Turbolinux. The distribution has
| been so widely accepted by the Chinese that even HP has decided to begin
| selling PCs with the OS preinstalled for distribution. But it doesn't
| stop there. China has a distribution of its very own; you may know it as
| Red Flag Linux.
`----

http://www.osweekly.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2249&Itemid=44...

China to produce $125 (Linux) PC

,----[ Quote ]
| A Chinese outfit is hoping to release a PC which will hit the shops with a
| price tag of $125.
`----

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=34355

Xinjiang Clusters Panasas

,----[ Quote ]
| Currently, Xinjiang Oil Company is running 12 Panasas Storage Clusters
| in conjunction with 600-node Linux clusters at the company's Department
| of Earth Science in western China.
|
| [...]
|
| "The object-based Panasas storage solution totally turns things around
| by giving us the things we were looking for--high performance,
| expansibility, stability, dependability, and simplified management...
`----

http://www.byteandswitch.com/document.asp?doc_id=105015&WT.svl=wire2_1

China gets a lesson on Open Source Intellectual Property Rights

,----[ Quote ]
| The Open Invention Network (OIN) hosted a panel discussion in Beijing
| last Wednesday, October 11th... The emergence of organizations such as
| OIN and Open Source Development Labs (OSDL) is very positive to the
| Open Source Movement. It legitimizes the grass roots efforts of Linux
| Champions, such as Linus Torvalds and Richard Stallman.
`----

http://www.zdnetasia.com/blog/opensource/0,39060102,61959441,00.htm

Car PCs mount in dashboards, run Linux

,----[ Quote ]
| Hong Kong based mini-PC manufacturing specialist SD-Omega has added
| a pair of high-end models to its extensive line of more than 20
| Linux-friendly car PC models. The SD631C and PCI-slot-equipped
| SD631CH support Intel Pentium M and Celeron M processors at over
| 2GHz, and include car-specific features.
`----

http://www.linux.org//news/2006/10/31/0006.html

Behind the upsurge in Chinese open source communities

,----[ Quote ]
| Part of the momentum behind this change comes from the Chinese
| government, which now regards open source communities as a key to
| its software industry and will put more resources toward them in its
| eleventh Five-Year-Plan period (2006-2010). "As a banner of China's
| Linux industry, Red Flag no doubt has more responsibilities to
| advocate the government's new tactic.
`----

http://trends.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=06/10/27/1829255&from=rss

Ubuntu's official launch in China

,----[ Quote ]
| Mark Shuttleworth, founder of the Ubuntu project, was in Beijing
| last week for Ubuntu's official China launch. The event was
| overwhelmingly successful.
`----

http://www.zdnetasia.com/blog/opensource/0,39060102,61965081,00.htm

RPLinux: China's Answer to the $100 PC

,----[ Quote ]
| What do you think? Can China succeed in making a true seamless blend of
| their Linux distribution of choice with their home grown hardware? It's
| no small feat to be sure; however, I personally believe that they are
| likely up to the challenge.
`----

http://www.osweekly.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2350&Itemid=46...

Red Hat sees FY07 greater China sales up 100 pct

,----[ Quote ]
| Red Hat Inc., a distributor of open-source Linux software, expects its
| sales in the greater China region to double in fiscal 2007 and grow by
| 85 percent in fiscal 2008, an executive said on Tuesday. "Our plan is to
| have 100 percent growth this year, and 85 percent growth next year,"
| Michael Chen, general manager of Red Hat China, told Reuters in an
| interview.
`----

http://yahoo.reuters.com/news/articlehybrid.aspx?storyID=urn:newsml:reuters.com:20060926...
http://tinyurl.com/rdrsg

China's Digit Digit Adds Linux-based Flames

,----[ Quote ]
| The latest version of the VFX system - Flame 2007 - takes advantage of
| 64-bit multi-core computing, storage and networking technologies to
| provide large productivity gains for users performing compositing,
| tracking, color correction and visual effects.
`----

http://www.postmagazine.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=news&mod=News&mid=9A02E...
http://tinyurl.com/yggx4b

China has its own open document format

,----[ Quote ]
| Put this in your pipe and smoke it: China has its own open document
| format, the Uniform Office Format (UOF), that they are working to
| harmonize with ODF...
|
| All the plotting and planning here in the US was for absolutely
| nothing. ODF wins.
`----

http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20061108134931144

Converter Enables Conversion Between ODF & Chinese Document Format (UOF)

,----[ Quote ]
| Peking University recently released a program to convert office
| documents between OpenDocument Format and the Specification for
| the Chinese office file format based on XML (UOF for short).
`----

http://lxer.com/module/newswire/view/77350/index.html

Wake Up Morning Post

,----[ Quote ]
| Open Source companies in China can't look to the likes of IBM, SUN
| and Novell to bring them out of their closets through acquisition,
| partnerships or staunching Microsoft's growth. Chinese companies are
| going to have to learn to compete as their Western peers have.
`----

http://www.zdnetasia.com/blog/opensource/0,39060102,61966769,00.htm

Treachery In The Trenches

,----[ Quote ]
| I believe that most people do not grasp the immense entity of Microsoft.
| This is an organization and a man who commands the attention and bidding
| of world leaders. On a recent trip to America, the President of China
| spent his first evening in the United States, not with our President,
| but Bill Gates. He was the guest of the Gates mansion that first
| evening and the guest of honor for a dinner attended by over one
| hundred people. Why? To ask him to crack down on Software piracy
| and to insure that his computer manufacturers put Microsoft Windows
| on thier newly made machines instead of shipping them with no OS. He
| didn't see the President of the United States for over 36 hours...he
| spent that time with Bill Gates at his home and at the Redmond
| Campus.
`----

http://blog.lobby4linux.com/index.php?/archives/88-Treachery-In-The-Trenches.htm...

IBM to Shift China Focus Toward Tech, Linux

,----[ Quote ]
| "Our business is changing, so our investment in China will also
| change," said Michael Cannon-Brookes, IBM's vice-president of
| business development for China and India.
|
| He said the technology firm's investments will go to areas such as
| IT service, business transformation, Linux operating systems, and
| people. IBM has already invested billions of U.S. dollars in China.
`----

http://www.technewsworld.com/story/54277.html

Red Flag Linux may be next on IBM's agenda

,----[ Quote ]
| Jollans also addressed a question about why IBM did not release its own
| Linux distribution several years ago.
|
| "We thought that if IBM was in the market as an 800-pound gorilla, it
| would have a negative effect on the Linux market. We won't do something
| that sets us against the community," he said.
`----

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2006/092206-red-flag-linux-may-be.html

Dell's secret Linux fling

,----[ Quote ]
| Dell's love affair with Linux is a clandestine affair these days,
| conducted in secret, away from disapproving eyes. But now the pair
| have been spotted in China.
|
| When Michael Dell first saw the web-footed beauty, he fell head over
| heels. Six years ago Dell pledged a series of strategic investments
| in Linux companies, including Eazel and Red Hat. The romance
| attracted the disapproval of Microsoft however, and barely lasted
| weeks. Very quietly, Dell dumped the bird.
|
| It later emerged that Microsoft's OEM enforcer Joachim Kempin had
| promised Steve Ballmer that he'd be putting the screws on PCb
| uilders, or "hitting the OEMs harder" in his words.
`----

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01/09/dell_linux_china/

Microsoft loses top executive in China

,----[ Quote ]
| "Li Gong is currently exploring other career opportunities," Microsoft said
| in a statement to News.com.
|
| [...]
|
| In a September 2005 Business Week interview, Ballmer touted Gong as
| one of several key hires that Microsoft had made.
|
| Most recently, Gong has served as managing director of Windows LiveC
| hina and as Vice President of Microsoft China R&D Group.
|
| Gong's name came up in the case over Kai-Fu Lee, the top Microsoft
| executive whose hiring by Google sparked a multistate legal battle.
`----

http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-6149735.html

Will 2007 be the Year for Linux?

,----[ Quote ]
| Last question, where does China fit into all of this? Well, a
| market like China is great for new technologies and solutions
| to proliferate. I hope Microsoft is successful in its fight
| against piracy, as the Chinese, with their burgeoning salaries
| and hunger for an easier life won't be turning to bulky
| desktops and costly software. Stylish, cost effective and
| fully integrated solutions are what will dominate this market,
| as well as all the developing markets of this world.
`----

http://www.zdnetasia.com/blog/opensource/0,39060102,61981756,00.htm

------------------------------

Message-ID: <2045895.rP9BJ4vupA@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Moving to SOA, Boosting Linux
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 21:04:55 +0000

A new way to sell software

,----[ Quote ]
| Software-as-a-service is transforming the information technology
| industry. The innovation changes the way corporate customers and
| software creators invest in their businesses, though people who
| use the software might barely notice a difference
|
| [...]
|
| The rise of inexpensive open-source technologies such as
| Raleigh-based Red Hat's Linux operating system makes it more
| affordable for software companies to host products for
| customers.
`----

http://www.newsobserver.com/104/story/533936.html

------------------------------

Message-ID: <12076999.lGqBHMOL4O@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Vista Marketing Blitz (Brainwash) to Hurt Microsoft Profits
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 21:20:49 +0000

Microsoft's results to be hurt by Vista delay

,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft Corp. is expected to report a lower quarterly profit
| next Thursday, hurt by the deferral of $1.5 billion in revenue
| to help pay for a marketing program to boost demand for delayed
| versions of its key software products.
`----

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/microsofts-results-hurt-vista-delay/story.aspx...
http://tinyurl.com/2mydtd

The company is buying back its own stock behind the scenes.

A Dozen Stocks For '07

,----[ Quote ]
| Millen also thinks $36 billion in planned share buybacks
| will help the stock.
`----

http://www.forbes.com/2006/12/05/stocks-markets-investing-pf-ii-cz_ag_1205stockpicks...
http://tinyurl.com/yjzfbo

Microsoft's past stock options practice poses questions

,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft in 1999 announced that it would end a policy of awarding
| options at monthly lows and said it would take a $217 million charge,
| though many details of that discontinued practice haven't been widely
| known, The Wall Street Journal said Friday.
|
| Those details raise questions about how Microsoft began the practice,
| what prompted the company to end it and whether the way the options
| were dated--at 30-day lows the month after they were
| granted--influenced other companies, it said.
`----

http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-6084617.html

Commentary: Microsoft needs more than just buybacks to lift its shares

,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft shares, which have been dormant for the last few years,
| have been looking up over the last couple months. The Dow industrials
| component has gained about 20%% since hitting a 4-year low of $21.46 o
| June 13.
|
| To help move things along, Microsoft not only launched a $40 billion
| stock repurchase program that lasts through 2011, the company also said
| its previously announced 4-year, $30 billion stock buyback program was
| completed in just 2 years.
`----

http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid=%%7B685EFB89%%2D5791%%2D4E...

With All the Focus on Apple's Options Issues, When Will We Hear About
Microsoft's?

,----[ Quote ]
| But we haven't heard anything about Microsoft's similar practice,
| as documented in the Wall Street Journal this summer. Further, some
| have said that the practice at Apple was actually initially pioneered
| by Deloitte and Touche, Microsoft's auditor.
`----

http://biz.yahoo.com/seekingalpha/061228/23176_id.html?.v=1

Windows Vista "over-hyped": Torvalds

,----[ Quote ]
| With the imminent release of Windows Vista to consumers this month,
| Linus Torvalds, the father of Linux, has claimed Microsoft's latest
| desktop effort is over-hyped and not a revolutionary advancement.
`----

http://www.linuxworld.com.au/index.php/id;261269498;fp;2;fpid;1

Full Disclosure: Windows--New! Improved! Yada Yada Yada!

,----[ Quote ]
| Every Microsoft upgrade sets a new standard--in hype.
|
| [...]
|
| I'm not masochistic enough to test Microsoft's betas and release
| candidates. The final product is usually rough enough; and as I write,
| that's not yet available. But I've seen the demos and read the propaganda
| and first looks. Vista promises a lot of potentially useful new stuff. But
| for now I can think of only one reason to worry about the thing: It will
| come with your next PC.
`----

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,127927-c,vistalonghorn/article.html

------------------------------

Message-ID: <1309282.LNBxClCp7Z@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Vista vs. SuSE Sites Officially Launched; KDE vs. GNOME
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 21:46:05 +0000

Novell Launches Linux-vs.-Vista Comparison Site

,----[ Quote ]
| Novell claims that "With SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10, you receive
| over 90 percent of the functionality of Vista and Office for less than
| 10 percent of the price."
`----

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,2085750,00.asp?kc=ETRSS02129TX1K00005...

KDE or Gnome? Some useful advice for new users

,----[ Quote ]
| To be fair, the barriers between the two are decreasing as time
| goes by, saying KDE is for eye-candy is almost a redundant statement
| seeing as the Beryl/Compiz stuff can be added to Gnome
| environments... Conversely saying Gnome is faster than KDE is
| also a slightly odd statement, as certain precompiled KDE
| releases are notably faster than their Gnome equivalents...
| Not that I'm saying the content in this article isn't of any
| use, but I feel that it should be down to personal preference.
`----

http://www.seopher.com/articles/kde_or_gnome_some_useful_advice_for_new_users

------------------------------

Message-ID: <3461928.NSp7OB2KiU@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Review of AmaroK - KDE Music Player
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 21:47:55 +0000

Get your groove on with Amarok

,----[ Quote ]
| So, you got the new iPod that you wanted for Christmas, but you're
| no fan of iTunes. No problem -- you can cast off your iTunes chains
| and manage your music entirely with Linux using Amarok. Amarok
| gives you everything you need to manage your music, from playing
| to burning music CDs to managing your portable music player.
`----

http://www.linux.com/article.pl?sid=07/01/04/1916256

------------------------------

Message-ID: <2924328.LyuILZclLM@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Mandriva Chooses Short Lifecycle Path - 6 Months
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 22:12:02 +0000

Mandriva Linux new life cycle

,----[ Quote ]
| Customers and partners can sometimes make a difference. In accordance
| with their feedback and Mandriva's analysis of the overall advantages
| and drawbacks of the longer development schedule, Mandriva decided to
| adjust the life cycle of the consumer oriented products to a shorter 6
| month period.
`----

http://www.linuxlookup.com/2007/jan/19/mandriva_linux_new_life_cycle

------------------------------

Message-ID: <389769261.m7JqEeRdkc@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Company Release Linux App Development IDE; GPL Wiki Updated
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 22:19:01 +0000

Rapide++ - Accelerate Your Embedded Linux Development

,----[ Quote ]
| Applied Informatics - the experts in software development
| tools for cross-platform development - is announcing the
| pre-release of their integrated development environment (IDE) -
| Rapide - for embedded Linux application development under both
| Windows and Linux host systems.
`----

http://prweb.com/releases/2007/1/prweb498092.htm

Open Source Group Updates Free Wiki App

,----[ Quote ]
| Version 4.1, available free for download under GNU General Public
| License (GPL), includes application extensions that enable users to
| create what TWiki.org representatives call "Situational
| Applications."
`----

http://www.pcworld.in/news/index.jsp/artId=4915227

------------------------------

Message-ID: <3844032.Z0iEn7iszn@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Taking the Windows Approach to Installation in Linux
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 22:19:23 +0000

Two tools for building third-party installers

,----[ Quote ]
| Why create a third-party installer for GNU/Linux? After all, the
| operating system has its own package systems for software
| installation, notably dpkg and RPM. The answer is that
| independent software vendors (ISV) often believe that such
| installers are easier to support than the native package systems.
`----

http://applications.linux.com/article.pl?sid=07/01/12/1619212&tid=47

------------------------------

Message-ID: <1332328.huFUzQ76Qt@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Interview with Linux-friendly HDTV Card Manufacturer's CEO
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 22:22:07 +0000

Open Addict - Interview with pcHDTV CEO/Founder Jack Kelliher

,----[ Quote ]
| The Linux market is great! Although it's not large like the Windows
| market it is made up in general of savvy and intelligent users that
| are concerned about the freedom that open source can provide. We have
| found that Linux users cross all disciplines and careers and that
| working with the Linux community is both challenging and rewarding.
| I believe that it provides a very fertile and highly leveraged
| arena for starting entrepreneurs to grow new businesses and products.
`----

http://www.openaddict.com/interview_with_pchdtv_jack_kelliher.html

------------------------------

Message-ID: <1531686.AObMR4dtSx@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Motorola New Linux Phone Marks a Breakthrough
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 22:31:26 +0000

Motorola makes Linux breakthrough with RIZR Z6

,----[ Quote ]
| Motorola's first Linux handset for the US market, the RIZR Z6, is
| also likely to be the first in the industry to run an "open"
| operating system - Linux, Symbian OS or Windows on a single-
| rather than dual-processor architecture.
|
| This shows that Linux is making significant improvements in its
| suitability to be an operating system for mobile devices, and
| could give Motorola a significant headstart in the battle to
| create low power, low cost smartphones.
|
| [...]
|
| The RIZR Z6, demonstrated at the CES show and expected to ship by
| mid year, is said to be based on Freescale's i.MX31 system-on-chip,
| one of the first to use the ARM11 core. Motorola will also add a
| new, faster Linux user interface, called JUIX (pronounced "juice").
|
| As Linux becomes more mainstream in cellphones, many players are
| seeking to address its user interface shortcomings, notably Nokia,
| which has become a Linux convert of late, and Access, the Japanese
| browser maker that acquired Palmsource and is adapting the
| well-liked Palm UI for mobile Linux.
`----

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01/19/motorola_linux_phone/

Related:

FEATURE: Mobile Linux: Why it will become the dominant mobile OS

,----[ Quote ]
| I see the mobile Linux wave out in the ocean and am sounding the
| alarm--the mobile Linux tide is rising. Be prepared.
`----

http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/feature-mobile-linux-why-it-will-become-the-dominant...

Review: Motorola ROKR E2 Music Phone

,----[ Quote ]
| Conclusion
|
| I am really happy with the Motorola ROKR E2. I like its funky looks
| and I certainly love the new UI. I am glad that Motorola is finally
| shaping up and realizing all the shortcomings of its previous aging UI.
`----

http://www.mobileburn.com/review.jsp?Page=1&Id=2983

Motorola Begins Bringing Linux To Market

,----[ Quote ]
| Motorola today announced two upgraded devices it hopes will bring
| Linux into the hands of mainstream users - even in the US.
`---- ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

http://www.phonescoop.com/news/item.php?n=2021

Motorola A910 Linux Phone Gets FCC Approval

,----[ Quote ]
| The phone runs a special Linux-Java operating system and
| boasts WiFi connectivity over UMA. The A910 is equipped
| with a 1.3 megapixel camera and Lumi-LED Flash technology.
`----

http://www.mobilewhack.com/reviews/motorola_a910_linux_phone_gets_fcc_approval.h...
http://tinyurl.com/y5whve

Linux expected to be leading Smartphone OS market by 2010

,----[ Quote ]
| I just came across this research by Diffusion Group, which found
| that Linux is set to become the leading Smartphone OS by 2010.
`----

http://irfanhabib.wordpress.com/2006/12/10/linux-to-take-over-smartphone-os-market.../

EDN highlights Linux's success in phones

,----[ Quote ]
| Linux powered about a quarter of all "feature phones" shipped in
| 2005, according to market analysts cited by Webb. Linux grew
| fastest in Asia, in phones from NEC, Panasonic, and Motorola,
| he notes. Meanwhile, mobile subscribers worldwide are expected
| to grow from 100 million to about 350 million, thanks largely to
| cellular rollouts in India, he says.
`----

http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS3014094216.html

Mobile Devices Adopt Open Source

,----[ Quote ]
| You don't have to be completely immersed in the world of technology
| to know that we're in the middle of an open source revolution.
| Even people who don't know much about computers and technology
| can recognize that there's been a rising trend for people to
| customize existing products and openly share information that
| can benefit vast numbers of people and foster creativity. Instead
| of just using what's being given to us, we're starting to take
| control, and this has enhanced the markets and the communities.
|
| As time goes on, more and more people are desiring software that
| is open, and once they get a taste of what that's like, they then
| move on to desiring operating systems that are open, which has led
| to greater Linux adoption. Linux is an OS that is free and accessible
| to computer users, and if they choose to install and use it, then
| they can let their inner hacker roam free by customizing the OS to
| their liking on so many levels.
`----

http://www.osweekly.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2420&Itemid=44...

ITU: Mobile Linux gaining momentum

,----[ Quote ]
| There has always been a lot of drive behind Linux on the mobile
| in Asia where there is a more experimental attitude towards
| handset platforms, but the word at ITU 2006 in Hong Kong this
| week is that interest in the rebel operating system is bleeding
| over into Europe and the US.
`----

http://www.telecoms.com/itmgcontent/tcoms/require-reg.html?prevurl=/tcoms/news/articles/20017390585...@T-TopNews
http://tinyurl.com/yyp6sr

Open Source Goes Mobile

,----[ Quote ]
| A constant theme at the conference was the burgeoning role of open
| source in mobile phones, particularly "smart phones" (those with
| extended functionality like music players, document viewers, etc.).
| What was interesting to me was that most of the discussion about opens
| ource (Linux, really) seemed to be focused on the flexibility and
| cost reduction opportunities it provided for equipment and servicep
| roviders. There was, interestingly, no mention of a desire to
| avoid dependency upon Microsoft's offering; to me this seemed
| strange because Microsoft has a habit of entering markets --
| even hardware markets -- when they're big enough, and causing
| real pain to their partners who depend upon Microsoft for their
| software platform: can you say Zune? As I said, this was not
| mentioned even once, which to my mind indicates a blind spot,
| as I could easily see Microsoft deciding to enter the smart
| phone market when it gets large enough.
`----

http://blogs.cio.com/node/539

Linux makes Mot tops in PDA/smartphone growth

,----[ Quote ]
| Strong Linux smartphone sales in China helped Motorola achieve
| the highest overall year-on-year growth among the top five vendors
| in the PDA/Smartphone market, according to Gartner. In contrast,M
| otorola's Symbian- and Microsoft-based smartphones are "not
| making significant progress," Gartner reports.
`----

http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS8166328994.html

Chinese 3G TEM joins Mobile Linux Initiative

,----[ Quote ]
| Chinese government-owned TEM (telecommunications equipment manufacturer)
| and handset vendor Datang Mobile has joined the OSDL (Open SourceD
| evelopment Labs) and will participate in the Mobile Linux Initiative
| (MLI) to improve the Linux kernel for mobile phones. Datang markets
| 3G infrastructure equipment and handset designs in China and
| globally.
`----

http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS9290700765.html

Goodbye Razr, hello Linux-based Motofone

,----[ Quote ]
| Motorola is shipping the first model in its Scpl ("scalpel") line
| of Linux-based phones set to replace the ubiquitous Razr. The
| Motofone F3, available today in India, is an extremely low-end
| phone featuring an "electronic paper" display, breakthrough battery
| life, and usability features for the illiterate.
`----

http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS5567800205.html

Linux phone market opening up?

,----[ Quote ]
| Four vendors are helping change Linux-based phones from
| voice-focused appliances into multimedia computers, according
| to Sascha Segan of PC Magazine. OpenMoko, TrollTech, Nokia,
| and Motorola are each using open source to cut costs, add
| flexibility, and/or to attract community and commercial
| developers, writes Segan.
`----

http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS8591201260.html

Startup Promises First Linux Smartphone Based On Open Standards

,----[ Quote ]
| OpenMoko, a Taiwanese startup that develops mobile hardware and
| software, next month plans to start selling what it claims to
| be the first Linux smartphone based completely on open standards.
|
| [...]
|
| Access, a Japanese mobile software company that acquired PalmSource--the
| maker of the Palm OS--also is planning to introduce its commercial-grade
| Linux OS for smartphones in the first half of this year. But parts of it,
| including the user interface, are proprietary and closed to developers,
| says Moss-Pultz.
`----

http://www.techweb.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=196802206

Smartphones Now: Linux

,----[ Quote ]
| If you thought Linux-based OSes were for back rooms, hardcore
| geeks, and computer science grad students, you'd be right.
| Recently, however, its made great strides toward becoming much
| more "user friendly," even advancing to the point where
| they're usable as phones.
|
| [...]
|
| If you're a first-time smartphone buyer, and have never owned a
| PDA of any kind, then the learning curve for Linux devices isn't much
| different than that of Windows Mobile or Palm OS or Symbian devices...
`----

http://crunchgear.com/2006/11/03/smartphones-now-linux/

Linux prominent at Smartphone Summit

,----[ Quote ]
| An annual technical and business conference devoted to smartphones of
| all stripes, including Linux smartphones, is set for Sept. 11, in
| Los Angeles.
`----

http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS9359456843.html

Smartphone market takes off

,----[ Quote ]
| While new applications such as push email are driving enterprise demand
| for converged devices, they are also becoming popular with consumers,
| according to IDC. Additionally, high-level embedded operating systems such
| as Linux enable enhanced multimedia applications geared toward a richer
| video and imaging experience. As a result, vendors are increasingly
| characterizing these devices as "prosumer," IDC says.
`----

http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS3689767453.html

Linux on Your Smartphone - Motorola A1200

,----[ Quote ]
| If you are already a Linux user, you are probably used to glossing
| over a few inconveniences the rest of the world takes for granted.
| In this sense, the phone lives up to its Linux heritage. If you can
| put up with the minor inconveniences mentioned above, and use some
| simple workarounds, this Bluetooth and GPRS-capable phone may just
| grow on you.
`----

http://linux.wordpress.com/2006/10/08/linux-on-your-smartphone-motorola-a1200/

LEAKED: Motorola loves Linux - E690 PDA Phone

,----[ Quote ]
| It looks like Motorola is making another non-RAZR, which in itself
| is exciting news. The E690 is a PDA/phone that runs on Linux, yes, Linux.
| It has standard PDA touchscreen and writing functions, as well as some
| decent multimedia support - including every video and audio file you
| could want played through two "3D surround" speakers (where you actually
| store the media, we don't really know). The phone also supports
| Bluetooth, WPA with full Internet browsing, and Office App viewing.
`----

MOTOMING is The Best Linux Smart Phone From Motorolla

,----[ Quote ]
| On August 23, 2006. Motorolla launched MOTOMING, the best and newest smart
| phone by them. For his appearance, this clever cellular phone had elegant
| clamshell modern design with hidden antena.
`----

http://www.storeplace.net/2006/08/26/motoming-is-the-best-linux-smart-phone-from.../

,----[ Quote ]
| Within the next couple of years, Linux will power more than half of
| the phones shipped by number two global handset vendor Motorola...
`----

http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS7323967976.html

http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/cellphones/leaked-motorola-loves-linux-e690-pda-phone...

Orange first mobile giant off the mark with Linux program

,----[ Quote ]
| Ever since NTT DoCoMo and Vodafone lent their support to Motorola and
| Samsung to create an open Linux handset architecture, the open source
| platform has gained new credibility as the likely leading operating
| system for smartphones in the next generation.
|
| For the first time, Linux seemed to be gaining not just the political
| positioning, but the technical resources and unity, to be adequate in
| fighting off Microsoft Windows Mobile and possibly sidelining
| Nokia-backed Symbian.
|
| But Orange has leapfrogged those giants, becoming the first tier one
| mobile carrier to launch a Linux initiative, as opposed to supporting
| some isolated handsets.
|
| It is focusing its efforts not on the existing major mobile variants
| - notably MontaVista - but on the emerging Access Linux Platform,
| incorporates the former Palm user interface.
`----

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/08/23/orange_adopts_linux/

,----[ Quote ]
| Smartphones, such as those based on Linux, currently represent about a
| tenth of the wireless phone market, In-Stat says. The research firm
| expects smartphones to account for a quarter of mobile phone sales
| within five years, however.
`----

http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS2198773219.html

A Million Linux Smart Phones Shipped in China, Q2

,----[ Quote ]
| Sharp posted the highest growth among the top five vendors, with shipments
| of more than a million Symbian FOMA smart phones in Japan during the
| quarter. "Symbian has performed well in what many find a difficult market
| to crack," said Canalys analyst Nick Spencer, "Q2 saw it break the 10
| million cumulative shipment barrier there, thanks to significant volumes
| from not only Sharp, but also vendors such as Fujitsu, Mitsubishi and
| Sony Ericsson.
`----

http://www.technologynewsdaily.com/node/3904

------------------------------

Message-ID: <1473659.iqApzypsj2@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Vista Upgrade: "Just Lovely"
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 22:50:39 +0000

Vista -- The Upgrade: Not so much

,----[ Quote ]
| After about 20 minutes of grinding away, the Vista Upgrade was
| ready to reboot and continue the install.
|
| Upon reboot my lilo Linux boot loader, was gone - in its place
| a windows boot selector, with options to load the previous
| version of windows (XP Pro) or to continue the upgrade, when
| I selected continue I was greeted with the Blue Screen of Death;
| just lovely.
|
| I verified that my XP install was still intact - thank goodness,
| next let's scrap the upgrade and go with a fresh install.
|
| So about an hour or so invested to discover that just like
| many previous builds of Windows, in-place upgrades are nott
| he way to go :( .
`----

http://degen.net/index.php?p=26

------------------------------

Message-ID: <1535589.CqnY2O61Hn@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] IPTV Digital Media Gateway Runs Linux
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 23:10:28 +0000

3500 IPTV DMG - Digital Media Gateway

As usual, while the site doesn't bother to say so, it's actually "Linux
inside". It's becoming the norm to use Linux, so it's not even worth
boasting.

http://www.galaxymetalgear.com/Products/3500IPTV.html

------------------------------

Message-ID: <1339701.I0Vv6XdttB@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] OOXML Too Dangerous to Go Through as an International Standard
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 23:25:17 +0000

Open XML: Six thousand pages, one month, no chance...

,----[ Quote ]
| Weary of cynicism, I've tried to believe that Microsoft's
| approach to international open document standards really does
| have the user in mind. I want to believe: there's enough
| nonsense to worry about without having to worry about
| gratuitously complex, changing, proprietary standards.
| If Microsoft agrees, as it says it does, and is genuinely
| on the road to taking that worry away, then by gum I'll
| be happy never to think about it again.
|
| [...]
|
| The answer is to game the system. As part of this, the company
| has created (by itself, unlike Open Doc) a proposal for OOXML
| that is six thousand pages long, and then put it into the
| fast-track approval system with very minimal time for
| discussion and objection.
`----

http://community.zdnet.co.uk/blog/0,1000000567,10004805o-2000331777b,00.htm

Related:

The Open XML Lie

,----[ Quote ]
| The basic premise of Rob's article was that the Microsoft Open
| XML Specification was similar to creating a job description
| that would allow for only one qualified respondent. Such a
| job description might read as follows:
|
| * 5 years experience with Java, J2EE and web development, PHP, XSLT
| * Fluency in French and Corsican
| * Experience with the Llama farming industry
| * Mole on left shoulder
| * Sister named Bridgette
`----

http://3monkeyweb.com/3monkeys/2007/01/17/the-open-xml-lie/

The Formats of Excel 2007
http://www.robweir.com/blog/2007/01/formats-of-excel-2007.html

Is Open XML a one way specification for most people?
http://sutor.com/newsite/blog-open/?p=1145

Is Office Open XML A One-Way Standard? Ask Microsoft
http://blogs.adobe.com/shebanation/2006/12/open_xml_one-way.html

Signs That Your "Open Standard" May Not Be Open Enough
http://boycottnovell.com/2006/12/07/signs-that-your-open-standard-may-not-be-open.../

Novell's "Danaergeschenk", by Georg Greve
http://groklaw.net/article.php?story=20061208135621706

Sun slams Ecma's OpenXML OK
http://www.itweek.co.uk/itweek/news/2170681/sun-slams-ecma-openxml-ok

The Way Forward -- Georg Greve Responds to Groklaw's Comments
http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20061212025314700#comments

------------------------------

Message-ID: <1289771.rWt0lWjoQ2@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Microsoft Blooper - Recommends MySQL, Not MSSQL
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 23:34:36 +0000

Microsoft's own search engine does not believe it!

,----[ Quote ]
| So, Microsoft's search engine really screwed up this time. I want
| MSSQL, not MySQL, or I would have asked for it!
|
| [screenshot]
`----

http://personal.x-istence.com/node/60

Related:

Let Microsoft know they need to fix their search engine

,----[ Quote ]
| Many posts and pages turn up that link to BadVista.org, but no
| results from badvista.org itself appear...
|
| Is it deliberate? No way to know I suppose, though to their
| credit if you search for "badvista.fsf.org", you will get some
| (rather odd-looking) results. So perhaps this is some kind of
| technical problem with the interaction between their search
| bots and our site.
`----

http://badvista.fsf.org/blog/let-microsoft-know-they-need-to-fix-their-search-en...

------------------------------

End of Cola Digest