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What is The Linux Vault? The Linux Vault is a new wiki project founded with the mission of creating a centralized GNU/Linux information website. It has just been created, so we are begging everybody to take part of it and make it the place for writing guides, how-tos, configurations, administration tips, tricks, tweaks or whatever else related to the GNU/Linux system. We are currently setting things up, and we still have yet to explain what's the difference between our project, and all the others, like http://www.howtoforge.com.

The numbers, clearly, point to a major industry trend. Take a look: Dice, the tech jobs site, reports that it had 9,631 Linux job listings in August. While this is a big number, what's truly eye-catching is the percentage growth since January: Linux job listing are up a robust 30 percent--three times the increase of overall tech job listings. (Since January, Dice job listings have grown by 10.2 percent, to a total of 96,548 tech jobs.)

If you want the old-time GNU/Linux experience, try configuring a Web camera. Unlike most peripherals, webcams are generally not configured during installation. Moreover, where printers have the Common Unix Printing System (CUPS) and its interfaces, with webcams you are generally thrown back on whatever resources you can find on the Internet and your own knowledge of kernel modules and drivers. These obstacles means that configuring webcams can be a challenge -- but with determination and thoroughness, and maybe a little luck, you can get your webcam running in less than an afternoon.

The story has a familiar ring. A vendor offers powerful, reliable new appliances to go with the open-source IP PBX (Private Branch eXchange) software it provides and supports. The new boxes make it easier for users to turn the software into business phone systems that are significantly cheaper than proprietary solutions. Given the enthusiastic reception small companies have been giving similar efforts, it might seem this idea can hardly miss.

HP selling Linux PCs? Surely this must be a mistake? Not necessarily, as Dell has demonstrated that there is a niche market of people who are full-time Linux users, but the lack of time to 'test out' various hardware with a Live CD, configure wireless cards and so on can be too much. Considering the enormous amount of competition between Dell and HP, seeing HP jump on the Linux bandwagon only makes sense for them. I guess that means they will hopefully stop using those awful Broadcom wireless chipsets they are so fond of.

Yesterday my brother Willi called from a friend’s place. He had called me a few days ago already, and asked my opinion about an all-in-one printer/copier/scanner/fax machine from HP, and I showed him the tests from the OpenPrinting database, which say about the HP OfficeJet 5610: “works Perfectly “.

KDE 4.0 continues to edge closer to completion with today's announcement of the Beta 2 release. Improvements have been made to Bluetooth support and blogging functions, and a freeze is in place so developers can begin working on bug fixes. Beta 2 also includes KOffice 2.0 Alpha 2 and a complete overhaul of remote desktop client KRDC.

Get a chance to meet the man in charge of managing government's free and open source software (FOSS) migration at this month's Open Tuesday event in Joburg. Arno Webb will talk on the opportunities that this migration will open up for those involved in open source.

Xandros has received a fair share of grief from the community who was not thrilled about the strong arm, er, I mean IP protection payments to Microsoft. As I have explained in the past, I understand Xandros' concerns over a potential legal battle, in addition to the issues of selling a product to customers when you have a constant legal threat to worry about. In that aspect, I 'get' why they gave in to the Redmond giant.

Today marked the mildly delayed new release of X.org version 7.3, which corresponds to server version 1.4. The X.org community has been working out the last of the bugs since their code-base became semi-frozen on August 1st (which they refer to as "Code Slush") and are now confident that the release will be worth the wait. The so-called killer feature of this version of X is the new support for hotplugging of input devices (such as keyboard, mice, touchscreens) as well as output devices (monitors, projectors, and so forth).

Mandriva readies for full release later this month by announcing Mandriva 2008 RC1, codenamed "Copernic". Mandriva 2008 RC1 is available as a three CD or one DVD Free edition (containing no non-free software or drivers) for the x86-32 and x86-64 architectures, with a traditional installer, and as a mini-CD edition for both x86-32 and x86-64 architectures.

"Completely fair scheduling is [a] really good thing, but if you want the best performance for certain applications you need to tune up some things," explained Michal Piotrowski in his announcement for the fifth version of hisDeskOpt daemon. The daemon is a Python script that helps to automatically tune the I/O scheduler and the process scheduler to offer better performance for certain applications such as games or audio applications. The script supports the default CFS process scheduler and CFQ I/O scheduler, as well as the anticipatory I/O scheduler and the deadline I/O scheduler.

The coalition comprising the Free Software Foundation and environmental activist organizations has gathered around 1500 signatures for their open letter calling on their members and other social activists to reject the resource-intensive Windows Vista in favor of the Free Software GNU/Linux systems.

It’s old news now, but ISO has announced that OOXML failed to meet both of the criteria for success in the Five Month Ballot Period. Andy Updegrove and Pam Jones have the details. Congratulations to all who worked to secure this result in the goal of high quality, non-vendor dictated open standards. The story is not over, of course, as the Ballot Resolution Meeting in February will attempt to get agreement on fixes to OOXML to make it acceptable. A lot will happen between now and then. Nevertheless, this was a truly historic vote and result. But that was so yesterday. What about tomorrow?

Linux is not a free version of Windows. The two systems differ not only visually, in the graphical user interface the user sees, but also functionally, as is frequently discussed, and legally to boot, which is constantly emphasized by the Free software community. The differences between them are so fundamental that drawing a comparison between them is nearly impossible. There are so many moot points that they could make up a very long list. This part of my article concerns the architectures of Windows systems.

On the last months people have been complaining a lot about the lack of contrast and the all white issues on the oxygen style, I have said also lots of times that it is mostly a pallet issue. But the message is not getting out, so... I will do what i always do... Show pretty pictures.

What do engineers do when they observe a problem? They start a project to fix it. A Swiss standard expert who got annoyed by the "Open XML bug" of ISO procedures launched OpenISO.org. "Generally speaking, the only way in which the world has ever been changed for the better is by small groups of dedicated people who (mostly) didn't have much in terms of financial resources but who went forward anyway... Right now OpenISO.org seems to me to be the only promising long-term strategy."

South African computer technology distributor Sahara is offering notebooks with pre-installed Linux operating systems. The company added this open-source option to its product range earlier this year, but it is unclear how successful the move has been. Currently Sahara is the only major supplier of computers pre-loaded with Linux in South Africa.

The real question Linux advocates need to answer is this. Can you go Microsoft-free and still get your work done? Mike Kavis is trying to find out. Back in May he dumped his Windows desktop for Ubuntu and now he has launched a pilot program to take his employer in the same direction. This type of experiment is going on in lots of places. As I noted previously, I’m engaged in the same process. Step by step, application by application, I am weaning myself away from Microsoft. I’m not Microsoft-free yet but if I can do it, you can too. If Mike can do it, so can your enterprise. I want to be like Mike. Do you?

"Nuxified.org and Cluenet.org are preparing to hold a Free Software gaming tournament. Its purpose is to promote gaming in the Free Software world, on operating systems such as GNU/Linux, and *BSD and show that gaming is not limited to proprietary platforms such as Microsoft's Windows. We would like to do this in a collaborative and open way so this first announcement serves as a call to everyone who may be interested to join us and help us build this tournament."