Linux News
The world is talking about GNU/Linux and Free/Open Source Software

LXer Features

The Real Cost of Retraining for OpenOffice.org
By DC Parris - Nov 03, 2005

One of the most frequently voiced objections when discussing a migration to OpenOffice.org is the cost of retraining the users. The argument is raised as a cost barrier, and essentially amounts to claiming that it would be cheaper to upgrade to the next version of Microsoft Office than to retrain users on OpenOffice.org. It's an attempt at the old "libre software isn't gratis" argument. Let's examine this argument closely to find out why it doesn't hold water.

Comment of the Day - November 3, 2005 NT Open System
By Paul Ferris - Nov 03, 2005

Paul remembers the migration of applications from UNIX to NT following the NT being declared an "Open System". He writes: " I was an engineer making a living installing CAD/CAM applications on Unix systems (joy). Anyway, the apps all fell to NT over the space of about a year or so, many of the vendors promised to continue support for Unix, only to have those promises fall through."

Related to the article: How Microsoft Got its OS Declared an "Open System" and wound up in Government

How Microsoft Got its OS Declared an "Open System" and wound up in Government
By Tom Adelstein - Nov 02, 2005

Six years ago, one of the most incriminating articles I had read about "dirty tricks" disappeared from the Internet. I made the article the center piece of an investigative piece I wrote concerning how I thought Microsoft attempted to destroy UNIX and would go after Linux.

By a stroke of luck, I saw a link to it while doing research in the Way Back Machine.

I found a link to the article on the cover of an archived front page of "ConsultingTimes.com" dated March 2, 2001. But the link didn't work. I keep searching and finally found Steve Walli's article entitled "Open Systems, POSIX and NT".

If you read this article, you will recognize the players even though ten years have passed. These games have not stopped and may never stop. History repeats itself. Monopolists are almost impossible to unseat without the will of Congress, the Administration and the Courts and ultimately each and every one of us.

Related Story: Did Bill Gates Invent Linux and Has He Erased the Evidence?

Sony's (Non-Existent) Corporate Conscience
By Carla Schroder - Nov 02, 2005

WHAT ON EARTH are the "fine" folks at Sony thinking? Are they insane? Morally bankrupt? How can any reasonable, thinking, moral person think that installing this sort of invasive junk on a customer's computer is OK? Yes, I am questioning both their intelligence and morality. This is beyond outrageous, it should be criminal.

Lycoris, Mandriva Fumble Source Code Release
By D.C. Parris - Nov 02, 2005

A recent post on OSNews.com raised questions about the availability of GPL'ed source code from the former Lycoris distribution. Accusations have flown both ways and much confusion has ensued, leaving many concerned about whether the source code will ever be made available.

Comment of the Day - November 2, 2005 Why People Switch to LXer
By AndyCooll - Nov 02, 2005

AndyCooll writes about his experience trying Firefox and OpenOffice.org. He writes: "I saw that the quality of these products were excellent. And I was hooked. It was only a small step then to trying Linux."

From the article: Why People Switch to Linux

Linux in Action: Understanding Federated Identity Management Business Drivers
By Tom Adelstein - Nov 01, 2005

Aside from some obvious business benefits, some government regulations require Federal Identity Management

The Venture Capital Reluctance Toward Linux
By Tom Adelstein - Nov 01, 2005

Aside from the general unwillingness of VC's to invest in startups, Linux is a no go. Many factors come into play with the primary lack of an exit strategy topping the list. When will Linux companies see the light at the end of the tunel? Or will they?

Sun's JDS Linux Desktop: Author Calls it a Throw-away
By News Staff - Oct 31, 2005

People say, " Don't look a gift horse in the mouth." But what if the horse is long in the tooth? Sun wants to salvage something out of the money and ill-will it spent and created on the Java Desktop System build for Linux. But really, who wants Sun's leftovers?

A Firefox Extension called Fasterfox is a Must Have
By Tom Adelstein - Oct 31, 2005

Fasterfox by Tony Gentilcore was released on October 26, 2005. It provides real "performance and network tweaks for Firefox. Fasterfox allows you to tweak many network and rendering settings such as simultaneous connections, pipelining, cache, DNS cache, and initial paint delay. "

The Hercules System/370, ESA/390, and z/Architecture Emulator
By Tom Adelstein - Oct 31, 2005

The web site reads: "Hercules is an open source software implementation of the mainframe System/370 and ESA/390 architectures, in addition to the new 64-bit z/Architecture. Hercules runs under Linux, Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Mac OS X 10.2 and later."

It runs best on Linux and it helps shops without mainframe access port their software to Linux on the S/390 and zSeries platforms.

Do not Buy a Laptop or Notebook Until January
By Tom Adelstein - Oct 30, 2005

You have your eye on that Media-Savvy Notebook for Christmas. You will even finance it if possible. It comes with Windows XP Media center software. Prices seem more reasonable than they have in years.

Abstinence is the best cure for your disease. Form a 12-step program if necessary or have an intervention: Notebooks Anonymous. Visit a mental health care professional. Otherwsie, in January, you'll experience buyer's remorse.

Ubuntu's Linux Wireless Utility Easier than Windows
By Tom Adelstein - Oct 29, 2005

If you try to find a Linux compatible wireless card, you might find that a challenge. I shop around frequently and haven't seen any "Linux Compatible" stickers on wireless card boxes. Recently, I bought one on eBay and it had an entry in a Linux compatibility list. It didn't work. The manufacturer kept the model number but changed the chipset.

In attempting to make it work, I discovered that in Ubuntu's new release 5.10, they've added a utility that makes it easy to get off-the-shelf wireless cards to work. Now, that's the way Linux innovation can trump other OSes. Here's a short article demonstrating this ingenious tool.

Getting Kids Into Computing
By Tuxchick - Oct 27, 2005

It's a given that children need at least basic computing skills. Should you encourage your kids to consider a computing career? What if they turn into fat, nearsighted, socially-impaired, tunnel-visioned geeks?

Comment of the Day - October 27, 2005 - Summary of Linux Distributions
By Abe - Oct 26, 2005

In responding to a reader's questions, Abe writes:"I think you made a good choice by starting with OpenSuse 10. Six years ago, I started using Red Hat Linux then I tried Suse. Today, Suse is still my main distro (distribution). It is complete good desktop/server that has everything and anything you can think of and available as part of FOSS (Free Open Source Software)."

Related to: An old hacker slaps up Slackware

Comment of the Day October 26, 2005 Microsoft admits it can no longer compete
By number6x - Oct 26, 2005

number6x writes: If I were an "un-biased" analyst I would write something like
Attention all investors! Microsoft admits it can no longer compete on technical merits.

From a comment on the article: Microsoft Lines Up Politician Support In Mass. Format Battle

Comment of the Day - October 25, 2005 Calculate the Optimal Size of a New Disk Drive
By Bjorn Stadil - Oct 25, 2005

In answering a question on the Linux metaforum here at Lxer, bstadil wrote a splendid comment about how to figure out the optimial size of a new disk drive. He wrote: the optimal replacement size of a disk drive is e = 2.7 times what you have.

Related to: http://lxer.com/module/forums/t/18462/">Why do people switch to Linux

LXer Feature: Strategic Alliance of MySQL AB and Oracle for Linux
By TxtEdMacs - Oct 25, 2005

Though not a prescription to destroy Microsoft, we could certainly level the field and return innovation and competition to Information Technology once again.

LXer Feature: Rant Mode Equals One: Microsoft Media Bias
By Paul (FeriCyde) Ferris - Oct 25, 2005

I'm a fan of GNU/Linux and Free/Open Source Software (FOSS). Most readers that write me, even ones that disagree with my perspective, count it toward the plus side. They understand my bias -- there's never been any question of it...

We, at LXer.com, don't have all of the answers. I'm not paid to give them to you and I certainly don't even begin to think that if I were, I would have them all. But I can speak about what I do know. I have some friends here that share the same opinions. They know that to speak the truth, to be true to your own beliefs -- to call them like they see them -- that is where the true power is.

LXer Feature: Survival Tactics For Women In FOSS, part 2
By Tuxchick - Oct 24, 2005

In Part 1 I offered some general advice and encouragement for women involved in FOSS, and women who want to be involved in FOSS. Part 2 is a partial resource guide, a list of women-oriented tech communities...These are great places to connect with other women in computing, to socialize, to get job and professional tips, and to get help and encouragement for everything from workplace and personal issues to technical help. For most of these groups the goal is not to provide a safe shelter to hide in and never come out, but to help women develop the skills and support to cope with everyday challenges, and achieve their goals.

« Previous ( 1 ... 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 ... 44 ) Next »