LXer Weekly Roundup for 02-Sept-2007

LXer Feature: 02-Sept-2007 Microsoft is under the microscope with the FSF looking into GPLv3 violations, and news that there will be a Gnome Desktop for the Windows API, Carla Schroder writes about 802.11n, HP launches Linux desktop in Australia, Mandriva Benelux is launched and I finally start getting tired of of the constant FUD coming from Matt Hartley. All this and more in this weeks LXer Weekly Roundup.

Microsoft is under the microscope with the FSF looking into GPLv3 violations, and news that there will be a Gnome Desktop for the Windows API, Carla Schroder writes about 802.11n, HP launches Linux desktop in Australia, Mandriva Benelux is launched and I finally start getting tired of of the constant FUD coming from Matt Hartley. All this and more in this weeks LXer Weekly Roundup.

How to Install Windows XP / Vista on Xen: This short guide describes how to install Windows XP or Windows 2003 Server on Xen. It provides an overview of the Debian Linux Etch installation, and detailed steps for installing and configuring Xen and starting the Windows XP or Windows 2003 Server installation.

Microsoft Set for Lock-in-backed Hijack (and Novell Helps It): Time after time we warned that with the arrival of Windows Vista comes an novel lock-in strategy. This strategy of lock-in stretches well beyond file formats. It also creates lethal and viral (as in “transferable”) integration of the server side and the desktop side. As mentioned many times before, all of this is happening quietly. It’s happening quietly for a reason. You never yell when approaching a rabbit.

Report: Moving Closer to 802.11n: Since Carla Schroder's previous peek at the state of wireless networking in Linux, which is moving forward in an excellent fashion, the new unified Linux wireless stack (mac80211) has been accepted into the mainline 2.6.22 kernel. This is the new common base for all Linux wireless drivers. There are no drivers yet that use mac80211, but inclusion in the kernel is a huge step forward. Linux developers are hard at work porting old drivers and writing new ones, and this should attract participation from additional developers who now have a nice unified wireless networking stack to build on, instead of the previous mish-mash.

From Zero to Holy $&*#!: Thomas Holbrook writes, "My friend Dan Marshall once told me, "Evil will screw you over. Stupid will screw everybody over." In the name of "national security" in America, it is quite possible that Linux and FOSS could become illegal if Microsoft were to have its way..."

German Universities Tap Novell for Infrastructure Needs: Forty percent of German university students now have access to Linux and management solutions from Novell

X.Org 7.3 Preview: Among the new features for X.Org 7.3 include the Xorg server 1.4, an application for adjusting a display's backlight, updated display drivers, and support for font catalog directories. Version 1.4 of the X.Org server contains such features as RandR 1.2 support, input hot-plugging, KDrive enhancements, Solaris DTrace support, and EXA improvements. In this article today, we will briefly go over some of the changes found in X.Org 7.3 and we will follow up with some benchmarks in early September.

Another Linux user. Our ranks grow.: The author relates how he helped a roomate make an old Dell laptop usable again by installing Linux on it.

Think again, FSF tells Microsoft on GPL3: The Free Software Foundation (FSF) appears to be polishing up its legal sabers over possible violations of the General Public License (GPL) by Microsoft.

Mandriva Benelux is launched: Mandriva Benelux NV (Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg) was launched on August 16th 2007 as the sole Benelux partner for Mandriva S.A, offering Mandriva Linux operating systems. Our target areas are corporate applications and solutions to individuals, educational institutions, public and private organizations, ISVs and OEMs all over the Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg region.

Looking Ahead: GNOME Desktop a Windows Implementation for the Linux Kernel?: Roy Schestowitz sounds off on a Gnome Desktop for the Windows API.

HP launches Linux desktop in Australia: Hewlett-Packard and Red Hat have started selling a new Linux-based desktop PC targeting small and medium businesses. The dx2250 HP desktop ships with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 Desktop pre-loaded, which includes Firefox, OpenOffice and the Evolution e-mail client. Red Hat will handle technical support for the system.

Six Great Linux Productivity Apps: A short look at six great programs that make productivity simple in Linux. From graphic editors, to text editors, and even some entertainment to keep you motivated.

SCO CEO McBride Speaks Out On Novell, Finances, And Groklaw: "SCO CEO Darl McBride is not popular among many segments of the IT industry, thanks to his aggressive methods for defending his ownership rights to the Unix operating system. McBride on Aug. 28 sat down with InformationWeek editor-at-large Paul McDougall to discuss a broad range of topics relating to the company's legal battle against Novell, and what the future might hold for the company in light of its recent courtroom and financial setbacks."

Microsoft Antitrust Settlement Is a Success!: Its not quite FUD but SJVN decides to rehash some old news and insert some "new" opinion.

Torvalds confirms there will be no Linux kernel 3.0: In our first FUD article we have an author who really wants you to believe that Linus is just going to stop working on the kernel. That way Linux will just stop being developed and fade away. Talk about trying to propagate a pipe dream.

PC-BSD Meets Software Piracy?: It has been suggested that we quit giving Matt Hartley's articles space on the newswire and in our weekly roundup. I believe that to be informed you have to know the facts from the non-facts, but I am beginning to agree that his articles are not worth the time.