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LXer Features

The Butterfly Effect Part II: Inside the Chinese Firewall
By Charles Spencer - Jan 14, 2006

This is the second part of my series on the Internet in China. I recently returned from a year teaching at a Chinese University. During my time in China, I had the pleasure of getting to know the state of the Internet in China, both directly and indirectly, through my own use of the Internet and the classes. In my last article, The Butterfly Effect: Microsoft, Security, and the Developing World, I dealt with the effect of pirated software and security and its impact on development. In this article, I would like to cover my experience of the Chinese Firewall from the inside and the way we contribute to censorship in China.

It's Microsoft Tax time again.
By Sal Paradise - Jan 14, 2006

It's nearly time folks, are you excited? That's right, the "new" version of Windows is almost upon us and down at Redmond the coffers are being readied. Microsoft are getting ready to collect another pile of money from your children, your governments, your hospitals and your paycheck.

Microsoft Getting Closer to the Fire
By Tom Adelstein - Jan 12, 2006

A dispute that has kept the House Ethics Committee from considering Majority Leader Tom DeLay's activities may have ramifications for Microsoft. When one begins to untangle the remarkable political organization created by Microsoft and lobbyists Preston, Gates Ellis et al, you find some uncanny coincidences.

Does the DoJ Use Microsoft as a Shill Against Linux?
By Tom Adelstein - Jan 12, 2006

Have fears of a resurgence of communism led the DoJ to suspect GNU/Linux communities of having anti-capitalistic agendas? If so, have they allowed Microsoft to engage in anti-trust to stop Free Software?

Is Microsoft Buying Anti-Virus Companies to Undermine Linux? You Decide
By Tom Adelstein - Jan 12, 2006

By Quashing Linux Anti-Virus Software Support, has Microsoft Taken to Tactics in Restraint of Trade?

Did Bill Gates Invent Linux and Has He Erased the Evidence?
By Tom Adelstein - Jan 12, 2006

Someone has started rearranging content on the Internet to suit their own purposes and the culprit might be a convicted monopolist. This article examines some compelling evidence and asks Congress to investigate.

A Year Without (MS) Windows: Completing the Conversion of a Windows User
By DC Parris - Jan 12, 2006

Many people aspire to run a pure GNU/Linux environment, but often complain that some device or program is stopping them. LXer's Don Parris shares his transition from a pure Windows environment to a pure GNU/Linux environment, and how he has fared over the past year. Does he see a need to go back to dual-booting?

Following Bill Gates' Linux Attack Money
By Tom Adelstein - Jan 12, 2006

Recently, we witnessed the power of Microsoft's political machine when one of the champions of free and open source software, Peter Quinn resigned as CIO of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In my opinion, Microsoft just blinked and everything went south. Other writers have also commented on the chain of events in Massachusetts. For example, Andy Undegrove writes a farewell piece in his blog to the maligned public servant. Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols also writes an article about this issue in Microsoft Wins, Open Standards Lose. Steven writes: "CIO Peter Quinn's story tells us that if you go up against Microsoft, you can expect everything and the kitchen sink to be thrown at you."

Well Steven, as much respect and admiration as I have for you, Microsoft didn't even breathe hard. They looked in the direction of bean town and people started doing their bidding. That's what happens when you own a country.

One of the top stories of the year at LXer warned mightily of Microsoft's capabilities. So, I brought it back out and rewrote it. It you don't get it this time, you never will.

Anyone doubting the power of Microsoft, should consider what we said at the end of June 2005. We've also added the preceding article to this text - and made some changes. But the documents we uncovered are still in place. The people within Microsoft's grasp politically are still listed. This isn't a story you scan. This is one you read.

The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic State itself. That in its essence, is Fascism - ownership of government by an individual, by a group or by any controlling private power.

What if the Microsoft trial was rigged?
By Tom Adelstein - Jan 12, 2006

We're reviewing evidence, which with collaboration could demonstrate that Microsoft went around the legal system to influence the courts, that Linux was used as a straw man and our esteemed leadership not only knows it but fixed it. Keep in mind, all of this exists in theory. No proof exists and people who subscribe to the belief that these situations are true have nothing on which to rest but a conspiracy theory. In fact, no collaboration has ever come forth.

Microsoft and Abramoff: Influence in an Anti-Trust Outcome?
By Tom Adelstein - Jan 12, 2006

[Ed note: This article went into embargo right after publication. We brought it back after finding new evidentary material on which we will report soon.]

As a news organization, we first reported back in June that we had suspicions that ties existed between Jack Abramoff and Microsoft. Our initial report tied together research when the Washington Post disclosed that Preston Gates had paid an invoice for a trip made by Tom DeLay to play gold in Scotland. (Sorry that's a Freudian slip. I meant golf.)

Abramoff's guilty plea of last week helps us make our case and allows us to demonstrate our suspicions regarding Microsoft's ties to the Bush administration. The guilty plea also allows us to question whether Microsoft received favorable treatment by the Bush Justice department by paying Abramoff and his aides and partners, starting with Ralph Reed.

Our main concern deals with whether or not our government can use Microsoft's status as a monopoly and possible ties to a slew of politicians to stop its global attack on Linux.

Leaked memo from Intel shows Major Linux Effort
By Tom Adelstein, Carla Schroder - Jan 11, 2006

LXer received a document from a source with the message "I read your article on linuxJournel about countries growing use of Linux. The attached article was posted in Intel's intranet site." It reveals that Intel expects to sell hundreds of millions of Linux-based computers in rural China. If Intel can sell a Linux computer in rural China, why can't they do the same thing in the United States?

Is it such a risk? Look at IBM in the US, they have committed to Linux with facilities, staff, sponsorships of projects. Was the risk so great for IBM? Obviously not. So, Intel, put up!

[Ed: Original published in November and updated in light of new reports. -tadelste]

Time to Cull Proprietary Software from Open Source Branding
By Tom Adelstein - Jan 08, 2006

For all the good the Open Source concept has done, perhaps we need to start thinking about more restrictive terms. I just rejected an article from IT Week that demonstrated the depths to which people will go to get on the train. The writer seemed to praise Microsoft's UNIX Services as a step toward killing Linux by bridging the gap.

That's why I believe it's time for a culling as GNU/Linux and the Open Source Craze draws proprietary companies to take on the brand.

Time to Bar Windows From the Enterprise
By DC Parris - Jan 07, 2006

LXer Feature: 5-Jan-06

LXer editor, Don Parris, responds to Scott Bekker's article, Seven Reasons Not To Bar Windows From the Enterprise". Bekker's article considers a general mistrust of Microsoft, along with more "practical" (read technical) reasons why Microsoft has not earned a spot in the enterprise workplace. If you're an enterprise customer, there is one solid reason to bar Windows, Office, and Microsoft in general from your business.

Digg Story

Comment of the Day - January 5, 2006 - Fundamental Mistake in Article About Ubuntu
By SNF - Jan 07, 2006

SNF comments on Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols article: "First, the good news: although they go by different names, there's really no fundamental difference between the Ubuntu brothers. "

[ed: While Steven is one of our readers most popular newswire authors, he writes alot. In this case, I agree with SFN's comment. -tadelste]

Related to:
Reviewer finds Ubuntu good, but not good enough

Comment of the Day - January 3, 2006 -
By Fritz - Jan 07, 2006

Fritz writes: Here's my conspiracy theory of the day.

Microsoft writes insecure buggy code on purpose.

Related to:
Don't wait for Microsoft to fix WMF flaw

Basic Autotools
By Jason (Jay) R Fink - Jan 07, 2006

Setting up software for distribution can be a daunting task. Most of the the time, a well written makefile does the trick. Sometimes a little more is needed - or even expected. The GNU autotools for setting up a software distribution can help iron out some of the problems a programmer might run into.

Password-less Encrypted Connections with OpenSSH
By Jason (Jay) R Fink - Jan 07, 2006

Believe it or not a lot of users out there do not know how to set up password-less encrypted connections with OpenSSH.

Comment of the Day - January 4, 2006 - Why SCOX got another $10M
By number6x - Jan 07, 2006

number6x writes: Am I certain they are criminals? I believe so, and stated that it is my opinion. I believe that Ralph Yarro and others involved in the Canopy companies engaged in activities that will not stand up to investigation by authorities. But I guess that they are not technically criminals, until they are convicted. By law they are innocent until proven guilty.

Related to:
SCO out to kill SuSE

Slush Funds, Litigation for Linux Advocates
By Tom Adelstein - Jan 07, 2006

Opinion: Microsoft cannot afford to lose in their Office Productivity Suite and their influence in Government. Microsoft executives have always referred to Office as their cash cow. They cannot let the OpenDocument Format kill the goose laying the golden eggs.

Secondly, if any governments switch away from Microsoft products, Redmond would lose the lynch pin of its upgrade revenue. So, they just cannot allow someone else to become entrenched where they hold all the keys. They're playing an interesting game in these two areas which few understand.

iAudio Follow-Up: Using GNU/Linux to Make Video For iAudio
By DC Parris - Jan 07, 2006