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KWTm writes "The Independent (UK) newsletter has put out an article comparing Linux to Windows, with a surprisingly positive view for a non-tech-focused publication reviewing desktop Linux. It says about Linux: "It's faster than Windows, it fights viruses — and it's free." In case you were wondering about Whether Linux Is Ready For The Desktop, the author, Jimmy Lee Shreeve, notes "Linux Ubuntu comes with everything you need. There's a powerful office program with desktop publishing, an e-mail/organiser, a web browser and instant messager. You can use your iPod with it, too." Another example of the changing public perception of Linux on the desktop."

Pysslingen writes "The swedish vote concerning OOXML was declared void. One participant in the group has been accused of casting their vote twice. Sweden will in all probability abstain from the vote on September 2nd. Link in Swedish only. IDG article: http://www.idg.se/2.1085/1.118680 (in Swedish only) SIS (Swedish standards) link: http://www.sis.se/pdf/OOXML0830_Final.pdf (also in Swdish only)"
http://www.sis.se/pdf/OOXML0830_Final.pdf

At PC World, we've got a story today on salespeople at Best Buy and Circuit City pushing consumers to pay the stores' technicians to create recovery discs for their new laptops. Recovery discs are important to have, of course, but the fact is that they're easy to make yourself. Or you can get them from the manufacturer of your PC, often for half of what Best Buy and Circuit City charge you. The salespeople often tell you that you can buy from the manufacturer — but they claim you'll pay twice as much as the stores charge.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,136496/article.html

fiannaFailMan writes "The Economist has an extensive article about Google. The main points are: the core advertising business is doing well, there are privacy concerns, they have built a massive infrastructure that allows them to easily launch new experimental products, creative employees have come up with cool products like GMail and Google News, but others have come through acquisitions like Google Earth and YouTube. There are satisfied employees who love the college atmosphere and disgruntled ex-employees who resent aspects of the regime, the concentration of geeks means a lot of clever people in the same place don't necessarily get along, and it'll be interesting to see how well it does when it faces a big crisis."