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Novell

Submission + - Dell has been re-assimilated

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: Article: Dell joins Microsoft, Novell in Linux pact

Microsoft said on Monday Dell had joined a business collaboration it had with Novell to allow open-source Linux software to work with Windows.

The move makes Dell the first major systems provider to join the Microsoft-Novell collaboration, which consists of a broad set of business and technological agreements to make their products work together better to serve corporate customers using both Linux and Windows computer servers.

Under the latest agreement, Dell will purchase Suse Linux Enterprise Server certificates, Microsoft said. Suse Linux is Novell's operating system.

Dell will also establish a services and marketing program to migrate existing Linux users who are not Dell Linux customers to Suse Linux, Microsoft said.

Linux is the most popular variant of open-source software. Unlike proprietary software, open-source software lets developers share code and add functions, and users only pay for custom features, maintenance and technical support.
Microsoft

Submission + - Dell will be assimilated (Dell joins MS/Novell)

Submitted by
mw13068
mw13068 writes: "Here's an AP story about Dell joining the MS and Novell deal. An excerpt:

On Sunday, Microsoft and Novell said Dell has agreed to buy Suse Linux Enterprise Server certificates from Microsoft and that the computer maker will set up a services and marketing program aimed at getting users of open-source platforms to switch to the new Suse Linux offering.

"Dell is the first major systems provider to align with Microsoft and Novell in this collaboration, and we intend to lead in this space," Rick Becker, a vice president in Dell's product group, said in a statement."
Programming

Submission + - An Interview with Leslie Lamport

Submitted by Mihai Budiu
Mihai Budiu writes: Leslie Lamport is a legendary figure of computing. While he is probably most well-known because of the open-source typesetting LaTeX macro package and book, arguably his most important contributions are in the domain of distributed systems; this is also the subject of this interview.
Republicans

Submission + - O'Reilly propaganda techniques analyzed

Submitted by
Franso6
Franso6 writes: "The Indiana University published a paper analysing the (ab)use of propangada techniques in O'reilly's show (press release , full article (PDF) ).

In brief, the study applies a classification of techniques in seven categories (Name calling, Glittering generality, transfer, plain folks, testimonial and bandwagon) and then count the occurences of using these.
It appears that O'Reilly's favorite technique is 'name calling' (anyone surprised?)
All the tables here
Interesting insight for those of us who're interested in how to analyse that kind of "journalism"

For example, FTFA
"O'Reilly used all seven of the propaganda devices in his commentaries, but name calling is the backbone of his communication strategy (see Table 1). Results show O'Reilly employed name calling 8.88 times a minute, which is close to once every seven seconds.
On average, O'Reilly used six of the propaganda devices 12.91 times a minute, which means almost seven out of every 10 devices he employed was name calling"



All right, maybe I've written his name too many times now and that would count as propaganda, wouldn't it?"
Linuxcare

Submission + - Is brand name Ubuntu over hyped ?

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: When you go by the readings in diverse media, you are sure to find only eulogies of Ubuntu — a linux distribution which has been very popular as a neophytes Linux distribution. But this provocative article asks whether, after all is said and done, is not the brand name Ubuntu over hyped to the extent of over shadowing other Linux distributions including Ubuntu's parent distribution Debian? Because as this author has experienced, the succeeding Ubuntu releases after 6.06 has only gone down a gradual incline in the quality department.
Microsoft

Submission + - FS activist slams Gates in Beijing ceremony

Submitted by luxiake
luxiake writes: According to local newspaper (jingling wanbao), on 21th of april 2007 Bill Gates was publicly contestated by a Linux developer during an official ceremony at Beijing University. The man interrupted Mr. Gates speech by jumping onto the stage and waving a banner with the words "Free software, Open Source" written in english, and shouting in both languages "Long life to free software, Chinese need Free software". He was apprehended by guards and handed over to local police.
Pictures can be found at Xinhua
(http://news.xinhuanet.com/forum/2007-04/21/conten t_6007049.htm)
Mozilla

Submission + - Firefox usage close to 25% in Europe.

Submitted by
donstenk72
donstenk72 writes: "Firefox cannot be stopped: close to 25% of the Europeans use the open source browser, according to the Xiti monitor.

http://www.xitimonitor.com/en-us/browsers-baromete r/firefox-march-2007/index-1-2-3-77.html.

In Slovenia usage tops 40% whilst France, Germany and Finland show a percentage that is much higher than the world average.

Not really a surprise, many Europeans are open to alternatives, particularly when they work well!"
Operating Systems

Submission + - Korea launches a switch to open source

Submitted by
An anonymous reader writes:
Thousands of computers in ministries, government-linked organizations and universities in South Korea will replace Microsoft's Windows operating system and Office productivity suite with open-source alternatives under the plan, according to the country's Ministry of Information and Communication.

Twenty percent of desktop software and 30 percent of server software will be changed to open source by 2007, said a representative from the Ministry of Information and Communication.
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-5084811.html
Software

Submission + - Open Source for the masses

Submitted by gbjbaanb
gbjbaanb writes: The BBC broadcast a programme on Radio 4 all about Open Source. I think F/OSS doesn't get much attention in the media for the uninitiated into all things software, so how they have portrayed OS software is of interest to us all. The blurb says:

Paul Bennun finds out how Free and Open Source software is making its impact felt across the world, fuelling development and saving businesses millions of pounds. Produced by a global network of software enthusiasts and freely given away, community created computer programs can compete with big business. Their creators are driven by an ideology as much as price, challenging traditional intellectual property rights and placing power in the hands of the public rather than private corporations.
The radio programme is available on the BBC's excellent Listen Again service, at least for the next week. (for those who don't know, Radio4 is an intelligent, 'highbrow' talk radio channel. Try some of its truly excellent comedy shows)
Censorship

Submission + - AMD's New DRM

Submitted by
DefectiveByDesign
DefectiveByDesign writes: "Remember how AMD said they'd make use of ATI's GPU technology to make better technology? Well, not all change is progress. InfoWorld is reporting that AMD plans to block access to the framebuffer in hardware to help enforce DRM schemes, such as allowing more restricted playback of Sony Blu-Ray disks. They can pry my print screen key out of my cold, dead hands."
GNU is Not Unix

Submission + - BBC program on Free Software

Submitted by
xiox
xiox writes: "The BBC devote a 30 minute radio program to Free and Open Source Software, related projects such as Wikipedia, and community projects in Brazil. Interviewees include RMS, Alan Cox, Microsoft representatives, and Jimmy Wales."
Software

Submission + - Should schools use Openoffice.org?

Submitted by
monkeyshark
monkeyshark writes: "'Even if you believe that OpenOffice.org isn't as good as MS Office, it's hard to argue with that price. As school budgets become tighter and tighter due to rising energy costs, health care costs, or new requirements under NCLB [No Child Left Behind], OpenOffice.org will look better and better.' Should school districts switch to Openoffice or Linux in order to save money?"
Businesses

Submission + - Open Source as the Cure for Proprietary Woes

Submitted by
Anonymous Coward
Anonymous Coward writes: "There is a syndrome that has lately been plaguing the "Big 4" proprietary vendors. I will call it the "Acquisition/Confusion Syndrome." It can be severely damaging, and anyone exposed to it is susceptible to infection. The point of exposure occurs when a "Big 4" vendor acquires a smaller, focused start-up in the hopes of expanding their offerings to their customers. It is shortly after this that the "Big 4" carrier becomes contagious and contaminates their customers, who begin showing symptoms almost immediately. It starts with a feeling of claustrophobia, of being locked-in to a vendor, and the customer breaks into cold sweat as he is forced to dig deep into his pockets and cough up large sums of money for new, complex product offerings. When IBM acquired Micromuse, Tivoli announced the End Of Life (EOL) of their existing monitoring solution and began transitioning customers into their NetCool offering for an added cost. Customers were required to re-purchase the new NetCool/Micromuse technology rather than acquire it through an upgrade- essentially buying a new product altogether. Word on the street is that after HP acquired Mercury, they strongly "encouraged" their channel partners and end users to deploy the Sitescope product. Then come the neurological symptoms- dissatisfaction, anger, confusion, and disorientation. IBM's and HP's customer base no doubt felt all of these as they were forced to spend more and learn a complicated, brand new product. Even though the customers exhibit the brunt of the symptoms, the "Big 4" are not left unscathed, although the disease does have a longer incubation period on the vendor end. As their customers become sicker and begin to die out over time, these large, strong, monolithic vendors weaken and, eventually, risk complete economic paralysis. But there is treatment. Daily use of open source software, with its lower costs and higher flexibility, could ease the symptoms of ailing midsized businesses and, as a result, relieve some of the pressure from the "Big 4." Open source could be the simple, effective, speedy cure for this growing epidemic."

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