LONG [News Digest] Linux News Digest for the 24hrs preceding 23-04-07
Mark Kent
* Speculations About Dell's Choice of Distro/s to Preinstall
* New Guide Shows How GNOME Can Mimic Mac OS X; Another Vista Runaway
* Microsoft on the Run (from GNU/Linux), Admits Vista is a Failure
* Microsoft's Last Chance: Making Web Apps Windows-only
* Most French Presidential Candidates Favour Free Open Source Software
* Op-Ed: Ubuntu Takes Java to Become Competitive with Rad Hat
* Microsoft Gets Scummier in Anti-Linux Attacks
* Vistagami Leaves People Bemused, Ubuntu UMPCs to Fill the Void
* IEEE Spectrum on OLPC; New Version of Dutch Linux Distribution
is Launched
* Ubuntu GNU/Linux a "Top-notch Product"
* Office 2007 "Ribbon" Interface a Usability Nightmare?
* DoubleClick REJECTED Microsoft Despite High Bid
* Microsoft Says Toshibas Are DESIGNED for Windows
* Reliability Monitor -- Screenshot Shows The Sorry State of Windows
Vista
* Microsoft's Cash Cow (Office) Under Stress from Competitors,
OpenDocument
* Propsing a Truly Open and Free Replacement for Flash
* Analysing the Cost of Free Software
* Machead Recommends GNU/Linux
* Marvell Plays Nice(r) with Linux, OpenBSD Takes on XBox
* Author of 'Sorry State of Open Source' Criticised, Retires (Sort of)
* Network of Linux Application/Addon Sites Grows Up, Expands
* Open Source Medical Software Wins Wired Award
* Microsoft's Suicide a Result of Underestimating GNU/Linux
This is a digest of the previous 24 hours (GMT day) of [News] postings
in comp.os.linux.advocacy. If you have any comments, suggestions or
remarks, please reply to this message and I will take account of all
that I can. The digest is created from my leafnode news spool, which is
pre-filtered, so some poster's articles might not appear.
Try the faq at: http://www.faqs.org/faqs/linux/advocacy/faq-and-primer/
for more information about cola.
Just like other public, unmoderated discussion fora, cola has
its share of disruptive posters. This blog has been created by
a concerned cola netizen to assist newcomers in identifying them:
http://colatrolls.blogspot.com/
In order to find the last week's digests, try:
http://groups.google.co.uk/groups/search?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&num=10&q=group%3Acomp.os.linux.advocacy+insubject%3Alinux+insubject%3Anews+insubject%3Adigest+author%3Amark.kent%40demon.co.uk&as_drrb=q&as_qdr=w&safe=off&qt_s=Search
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message-ID: <3326046.Z...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Speculations About Dell's Choice of Distro/s to Preinstall
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2007 02:16:35 +0100
Which Linux will Dell offer?
,----[ Quote ]
| I think Dell will start by offering several Linuxes. I'm betting it
| will be RHEL WS 4, SLED 10, and Ubuntu 7.04.
`----
http://desktoplinux.com/news/NS2855663460.html
Related:
Red Hat Linux Not Likely To Be Offered On Dell Desktop PCs, Pacific Crest
Says
,----[ Quote ]
| Dell does sell some workstations with Red Hat Linux already installed;
| but CEO Michael Dell indicated recently that the company has been
| reluctant to back any particular variety of Linux for the desktop.
| In an interview with the Web site DesktopLinux.com in March, he
| indicated that the Ubuntu version has lately been the most popular
| choices of its users seeking to use Linux.
`----
Michael's [Dell] Got a New Notebook...
,----[ Quote ]
| I just heard that Michael's added a new notebook to his hardware
| collection. It's a Precision M90 mobile workstation with Ubuntu
| 7.04 and a list of open-source applications. He's also running
| an NVIDIA Quadro FX 3500 graphics card with 512MB RAM.
`----
http://direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2007/04/18/12261.aspx
------------------------------
Message-ID: <2638765.4...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] New Guide Shows How GNOME Can Mimic Mac OS X; Another Vista Runaway
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2007 02:21:06 +0100
[This one is new]
Linux desktop imitating OSX
,----[ Quote ]
| Ok, there are almost always misunderstandings when people modify
| their OS to look some other OS. This is NOT about "I want a mac" or
| "I want OSX". If I would want a mac, I would go and buy one of those
| No, this is simply about having fun by imitating and finding the
| limits of Gnome desktop.
`----
http://www.taimila.com/osx-guide-2.php
Ubuntu 7.04 - Time to switch?
,----[ Quote ]
| With the great advancements that's been made in the user friendliness in
| Ubuntu 7.04 - I believe it's now finally, after all these years, to at
| least make a partial switch to Linux. I don't think I'll install
| Vista on this laptop ever again.
`----
http://olmweb.com/ubuntu-704-time-to-switch/
Related;
[Opinion] Switch to Linux? No. Get a Mac Clone.
,----[ Quote ]
| I'm a marketing guy, and I look at everything in my world from a marketing
| perspective. From that perspective I think this whole "Switch to Linux"
| thing is unnecessarily hard work - so I take an easier approach to help
| people move in that direction.
|
| [...]
|
| And to finish this article, Kudos to Linux. I get two reactions when
| people look at the desktop on my Laptop and Desktop. One is.. "Er.. is
| that a Mac?" and the other is "Why don't you just buy a Mac?". Well
| kudos is due, because I don't NEED to buy a Mac. I can get the Mac
| look and feel, which I like, and the massive productivity boost of
| the desktop cube ( and enjoyable extras ) even on my three year
| old HP laptop.
`----
http://linuxscorecard.blogspot.com/2007/03/switch-to-linux-no-get-mac-clone.html
http://tinyurl.com/3bsk5l
------------------------------
Message-ID: <1319352.3...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Microsoft on the Run (from GNU/Linux), Admits Vista is a Failure
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2007 02:28:10 +0100
This week in Windows: Microsoft on the run
,----[ Quote ]
| In a way, Microsoft's Windows is kind of like the foul weather that
| we've been having here on the East coast for the last couple of
| weeks. None of us enjoy it, we just accept it as a fact of life.
| Given Microsoft's control of the market and complete dominance of
| the enterprise, it's no surprise that Windows often seems more
| like force of nature and less like a product.
|
| [...]
|
| I'm not saying that this time next year, we'll all be using Ubuntu
| and OS X at work. Microsoft's stranglehold on the enterprise is
| likely to last for some time to come. But it's nice to see
| open-source making strides and being adopted by major players
| like Dell and Intel. We're certainly seeing more legitimate
| business interest in Linux now than we've seen in years past.
`----
http://www.dailytechrag.com/story/this-week-in-windows-microsoft-on-the-run/2007-04-20
Microsoft admits Vista failure
,----[ Quote ]
| With two overlapping events, Microsoft admitted what we have been saying
| all along, Vista, aka Windows Me Two (Me II), is a joke that no one
| wants.
|
| [...]
|
| This is classic abusive monopoly behaviour, Microsoft wrote the modern
| book on it. It pulled all the major OEMs in by twisting their arms
| with the usual methods, and they again all fell into line. Never
| before has anyone backpedalled on this, to do so would earn you
| the wrath of Microsoft.
`----
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=39087
Related:
Allchin's 'Buy a Mac' E-Mail Exposed
,----[ Quote ]
| "I must tell you everything in my soul tells me that we should do
| what I called plan (b) yesterday. We need a simple fast storage
| system. LH [Longhorn] is a pig and I don't see any solution to this
| problem. If we are to rise to the challenge of Linux and Apple, we
| ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
| need to start taking the lessons of 'scenario, simple, fast' to
| heart. Jim"
`----
http://www.microsoft-watch.com/content/operating_systems/allchins_buy_a_mac_email_exposed.html?kc=MWRSS02129TX1K0000535
http://tinyurl.com/y5cuu6
Microsoft admits Vista screwed - report
,----[ Quote ]
| Vista SP1 is code named "Fiji", presumably after a pretty looking
| island which is paralysed by coups.
|
| In a statement regarding the service pack Microsoft admits that
| Vista has "high impact" problems.
`----
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=37125
,----[ Quote ]
| "Up to 60% of the code in the new consumer version of Microsoft new Vista
| operating system is set to be rewritten as the Company 'scrambles' to fix
| internal problems a Microsoft insider has confirmed to SHN... Microsoft has
| also admitted that it has major problems in it's Windows division and has
| has immediately initiated a total restructure of the division..."
`----
http://www.smarthouse.com.au/Computing/Platforms?Article=/Computing/Platforms/R7G5G6U4
As Microsoft looks ahead, will Vista be the end of an era?
,----[ Quote ]
| Once installed in the post, Mr Ozzie wrote an internal company
| memo that mapped out the challenges that face Microsoft. The
| message was clear: get Google, get with the internet and wean
| Microsoft off Windows as we know it.
|
| "Through Google's focus they?ve gained a tremendously strong
| position," he said. "[Microsoft] must respond quickly and decisively
| . . . It's clear that if we fail to do so, our business as we know
| it is at risk."
`----
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13129-2494732,00.html
Why Vista might be the last of its kind
,----[ Quote ]
| Imagine this. One of the world's most powerful monopolies puts 10,000
| people to work for five years to create one new product. And nobody
| is really sure if anyone wants it. How's that for a gamble?
|
| That's what we have with Windows Vista, the new computer-operating
| system from Microsoft that debuted last week for businesses and,
| next month, for consumers.
`----
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003460386_btview04.html
Vista: Microsoft's Last 'Big Bang' Operating System?
,----[ Quote ]
| Yet for all the design missteps, overly ambitious plans, and
| personnel changes that led to a five-year lag between versions
| of Windows, questions about the future of Microsoft's software
| are top of mind for customers and partners. Ballmer swears to
| never let as much time elapse between Windows versions; the
| question now is how the company can keep churning out
| innovative products on a compressed timetable.
`----
http://newz.byethost31.com/Microsoft_vista_last_big_bang_operating_system.htm
Is Vista the End of Windows as We Know It?
,----[ Quote ]
| The five-year long march to developing Windows Vista exposed just how
| broken Microsoft's Windows-development process is. It took far too
| long, major features were dropped along the way, and it was wrapped up
| in more red tape than the IRS. That's why I think that Vista will be the
| last of the "big-bang" Windows releases.
`----
http://www.oreillynet.com/windows/blog/2006/11/is_vista_the_end_of_windows_as.html
Life After Vista: Can Microsoft Retool for Web?
,----[ Quote ]
| In a similar tug of war in the late 1990s, one internal faction
| lobbied to use Microsoft's Internet browser software to radically
| retool Windows for the Internet. But that faction lost out to a
| more PC-centric view of the Windows mission -- an outcome that some
| Microsoft insiders say is one reason the company fell behind in the
| Internet services Google and others now lead.
`----
http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB116459728069433263-K0zAOblcMz_...
http://tinyurl.com/yjngqj
Windows Vista the last of its kind
,----[ Quote ]
| Vista will be the last version of Windows that exists in its current,
| monolithic form, according to Gartner.
|
| Instead, the research firm predicts, Microsoft will be forced to
| migrate Windows to a modular architecture tied together through
| hardware-supported virtualisation. "The current, integrated architecture
| of Microsoft Windows is unsustainable - for enterprises and for
| Microsoft," wrote Gartner analysts Brian Gammage, Michael Silver and
| David Mitchell Smith.
`----
http://www.techworld.com/news/index.cfm?RSS&NewsID=6718
------------------------------
Message-ID: <1555412.Z...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Microsoft's Last Chance: Making Web Apps Windows-only
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2007 04:06:37 +0100
Web 2.0 wave starts to take hold
,----[ Quote ]
| In a basic way it demonstrates how web browsers are gradually
| being used by consumers for far more than just looking around
| in cyberspace.
`----
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/click_online/6574839.stm
SaaS: Offers the most customer value?
,----[ Quote ]
| The question, of course, is what happens if it doesn't. This is
| where open source provides value long after a customer has decided
| to leave a given project behind. If SaaS could be open in value,
| but also open data, then I think it just might trump the value
| offered in a licence used to locally install software.
`----
http://weblog.infoworld.com/openresource/archives/2007/04/saas_offers_the.html
Firefox WMP plugin and Microsoft's Flash rival intend to add a Windows-only
element to this new phenomenon. Be wary. Even the BBC is now used by
Microsoft to spread the MS-DRM infection.
Related:
Microsoft Releases Media Player for Firefox
,----[ Quote ]
| The plug-in, available on Firefox's add-on site, is compatible with
| the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the XP SP2 and Vista OSes.
`----
http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/20070417/tc_pcworld/130816
Microsoft's Silverlight Promises to Disrupt Linux Web Users
,----[ Quote ]
| Just as it seemed that Linux users (especially 64-bit users) would
| finally be able to enjoy streaming content with a minimum of
| hassle, Microsoft's new Silverlight software promises to throw a
| wrench in the works. Because of sites like Google Video and
| Youtube, Flash video has become a common means of streaming
| multimedia over the Internet.
`----
http://www.daniweb.com/blogs/entry1418.html
Microsoft's 'Everywhere' excludes Linux
,----[ Quote ]
| This browser add-on enables rendering of WPF content, but
| "Everywhere" doesn't include Linux.
`----
http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/7794/53/
ECIS Accuses Microsoft of Plotting HTML Hijack
,----[ Quote ]
| An industry coalition that has represented competitors of Microsoft
| in European markets before the European Commission stepped up its
| public relations offensive this morning, this time accusing
| Microsoft of scheming to upset HTML's place in the fabric of
| the Internet with XAML, an XML-based layout lexicon for
| network applications.
`----
http://www.betanews.com/article/ECIS_Accuses_Microsoft_of_Plotting_HTML_Hijack/1169824569
Software rivals say Microsoft's Vista illegal in Europe (at CNNMoney.com)
,----[ Excerpt ]
| Software manufacturers, citing 2004 European Commission finding,
| contend the operating system violates server laws in Europe.
|
| [...]
|
| "Vista is the first step of Microsoft's strategy to extend its market
| dominance to the Internet," the ECIS statement said.
|
| It said Microsoft's XAML markup language was "positioned to replace HTML,"
| the industry standard for publishing documents on the Internet.
|
| Microsoft's own language would be dependent on Windows, and discriminatory
| against rival systems such as Linux, the group says.
|
| They said a so-called "open XML" platform file format, known as OOXML, is
| designed to run seamlessly only on the Microsoft Office platform.
`----
,----[ Quote ]
| From: Bill Gates
| Sent: Saturday, December 05, 1989 9:44 AM
| To: Bob Muglia (Exchange); Jon DeVaan; Steven Sinofsky
| Cc: Paul Mariz
| Subject: Office rendering
|
| One thing we have got to change is our strategy -- allowing Office
| documents to be rendered very well by OTHER PEOPLES BROWSERS is one of the
| most destructive things we could do to the company.
|
| We have to stop putting any effort into this and make sure that Office
| documents very well depends on PROPRIETARY IE capabilities.
|
| Anything else is suicide for our platform. This is a case where Office has
| to to destroy Windows.
`----
http://www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/2000/PX02991.pdf
Windows Vista Product Guide: Free to Download, $149 to Read
,----[ Quote ]
| 'Windows Vista Product Guide' was released in two formats:
|
| Microsoft Office Word 2007
| The standard .doc format isn't good enough, you need to be able to
| read a .docx file, so all those users of Office XP are just plain
| out of luck on
| this one.
|
| XPS
| What the heck is XPS? I hadn't heard of it before now, (a quick
| Google tells me XPS is Microsoft's proprietary rival to PDF)
| but apparently you need a special reader for it (which is
| kindly enough built into Vista, but nothing else).
`----
http://itsvista.com/2006/12/windows-vista-product-guide-free-to-download-149-to-read/
Adobe could still sue Microsoft: paper
,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft's new Vista software, due to be released early next
| year, contains a version of fixed document formats which would
| compete with Adobe's PDF format. Microsoft has pledged to make
| changes to its version.
`----
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061118/tc_nm/adobe_microsoft_dc
Vista to give HD Photo format more exposure
,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft is looking to supplant the ubiquitous JPEG with an image format
| of its own--and it's hoping the debut of Windows Vista will help do the
| job.
`----
http://news.com.com/Vista+to+give+HD+Photo+format+more+exposure/2100-1045_3-6153730.html
------------------------------
Message-ID: <1433336.A...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Most French Presidential Candidates Favour Free Open Source Software
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2007 04:11:18 +0100
French presidential candidates on free software, related issues
,----[ Quote ]
| The only question on which most candidates differed sharply was whether
| they were in favour of governments promoting open standards and free
| software. Yet, even here, the difference was mostly a matter of
| emphasis. Besancenot, Bové, Buffet, Le Pen, and Voynet all declared
| that they would encourage both open standards and free software,
| differing only on whether they would simply "encourage" them, as
| Le Pen promised, implement a policy favouring them, as Voynet suggested,
| or develop an agency to promote them, as Buffet suggested. By
| contrast, Bayrou and Royal, the two major candidates who responded,
| were more cautious, suggesting that such advocacy had to be tempered
| by the standards of responsible government. Bayrou in particular
| suggested that such principles as "good use of public funds," "freedom
| of access," and "equal treatment" were more important than promoting
| open standards and free software.
`----
http://enterprise.linux.com/article.pl?sid=07/04/21/007248&from=rss
Related:
French students to get open-source software on USB key
,----[ Quote ]
| French authorities will give out 175,000 USB memory sticks
| loaded with open-source software to Parisian high-school
| students at the start of the next school year.
`----
http://news.yahoo.com/s/infoworld/20070202/tc_infoworld/85707
PSA Peugeot Citroen Chooses SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop From Novell
,----[ Quote ]
| Giant French Automaker to Deploy Linux Desktops, Citing Cost,
| Usability, Integration and Support
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/070130/sftu114.html?.v=76
Mail and Safari banned from the French gendarmerie
,----[ Quote ]
| The Macs' future in the Gendarmerie has become ever gloomier since
| the very day this institution decided to get rid of Microsoft
| software. From now on the gendarmes will be using Linux-running
| PCs. Since you can't get a Mac without OSX, the fight can be
| ^^^
| considered as lost. At least, this was a place where Apple has
| been surviving longer than Microsoft...
`----
http://www.hardmac.com/news/2007-01-27/#6362
French consumer protectionists are demanding PCs without preinstalled
software
,----[ Quote ]
| The consumer protectionists of the French organisation UFC-Que Choisir
| are demanding of the IT group Hewlett-Packard and the vendors Auchan
| and Darty that they offer PCs without preinstalled software.
|
| [...]
|
| UFC-Que Choisir last year also took action against Sony and Apple,
| taking the two companies to court for allegedly putting their
| customers at a disadvantage through proprietary DRM technologies
| and curtailing their choice of devices.
`----
http://www.heise.de/english/newsticker/news/82605/from/rss09
French consumer group attacks PC software bundling
,----[ Quote ]
| UFC-Que Choisir legal officer Sandra Wouhling said current
| practice effectively forced ordinary consumers to buy computers
| using Microsoft operating systems whereas companies anda
| dministrations were offered a real choice.
`----
http://yahoo.reuters.com/news/articlehybrid.aspx?storyID=urn:newsml:reuters.com:20061214:MTFH94365_2006-12-14_14-49-22_L14537403&type=comktNews&rpc=44
http://tinyurl.com/yf7kfu
France pins hopes of growth on open-source software
,----[ Quote ]
| The French government plans to make the region around Paris a centre of
| excellence for open-source software development, the French Minister of the
| Economy, Finance and Industry, Thierry Breton, said Monday.
`----
http://open.itworld.com/4915/061205franceopen/page_1.html
French National Assembly switches to Linux
,----[ Quote ]
| Linux, OpenOffice and Firefox favoured
|
| [...]
|
| One deputy in favour of the move is Bernard Carayon, commissioned by
| the Prime Minister earlier this year to report on how European
| businesses could play a greater role in developing global industrial
| standards, in order to reduce Europe's economic dependence on other
| regions.
`----
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=7687
Bull to Supply the Most Powerful Civil Supercomputer in France to the
CCRT, the Centre for Research and Technology Computing
,----[ Quote ]
| The system will be operated via an HPC platform specially optimised
| by Bull and featuring, notably: the Linux(R) operating system
`----
http://lxer.com/module/newswire/view/76313/index.html
Free Ubuntu laptops for French students
,----[ Quote ]
| Five thousand French students now have laptops running
| Ubuntu, thanks to a local government initiative.
`----
http://fridge.ubuntu.com/node/597
http://linuxfr.org/2006/10/16/21479.html
------------------------------
Message-ID: <2061725.P...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Op-Ed: Ubuntu Takes Java to Become Competitive with Rad Hat
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2007 04:14:52 +0100
Ubuntu and Sun vs. Red Hat and JBoss?
,----[ Quote ]
| Of course, Red Hat and JBoss are already there. Since Red Hat acquired
| the Java application server company, Red Hat has been integrating it
| deeper both into its Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) distribution and
| into its business plans.
|
| Still, Shuttleworth said, "We don't want to eat up our way up the
| development stack; we partner with the best people." That said, "It
| [Ubuntu/Sun vs. Red Hat/JBoss] is an interesting contrast. Red Hat
| feels they need to own the brand, while we partner."
`----
http://www.linux-watch.com/news/NS8037937963.html
Java on Fiesty Ubuntu - will anyone notice?
,----[ Quote ]
| However, how many Ubuntu users will be actively looking for Sun Java.
| Maybe a clean install will ask but I think many developers will be
| oblivious to this new effort.
`----
http://weblogs.java.net/blog/calvinaustin/archive/2007/04/java_on_fiesty.html
Related:
Sun, Ubuntu maker certifying Linux on x86 servers
,----[ Quote ]
| Sun Microsystems and Canonical have nearly completed work to certify
| that the Ubuntu version of Linux runs smoothly on Sun's x86 servers,
| sources familiar with the situation said.
`----
http://news.com.com/2100-1010_3-6132211.html?part=rss&tag=6132211&subj=news
Sun injects NetBeans into Ubuntu
,----[ Quote ]
| Ian Murdock, Sun's recently appointed chief operating systems
| platform officer, said the goal is to make Sun's Java technology
| more accessible to the Linux community. "The fact it's integrated
| and available through the Ubuntu management technology is an
| important part of it," he said.
`----
http://www.regdeveloper.co.uk/2007/04/19/ubuntu_sun_netbeans/
------------------------------
Message-ID: <11347813....@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Microsoft Gets Scummier in Anti-Linux Attacks
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2007 04:20:08 +0100
Your Product, Your Customer
,----[ Quote ]
| When Microsoft tried to promote its new Vista operating system,
| it sent laptops to influential bloggers. They were trying to
| control the conversation by seeding their version of the story
| with powerful voices online. It didn't work. Instead, it provoked
| a firestorm, with some claiming that Microsoft was trying to
| bribe bloggers.
`----
http://www.forbes.com/free_forbes/2007/0507/090.html?partner=yahoomag
Those who sent out the laptops are now facing a boycott.
Microsoft Money Machine Launches Full Frontal Attack on Linux
,----[ Quote ]
| There is no doubt that Linux has the potential to free millions
| from the tangled trap of proprietary software. It would be a
| small number of Linux users that disagree with this statement.
| Some of us feel it is our duty to make that happen.
`----
http://linuxlock.blogspot.com/2007/04/microsoft-money-machine-launches-full.html
------------------------------
Message-ID: <1232244.6...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Vistagami Leaves People Bemused, Ubuntu UMPCs to Fill the Void
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2007 04:26:57 +0100
There's promise for UMPCs yet
,----[ Quote ]
| The launch of the Origami platform at CeBIT 2006 was greeted with
| curious bemusement by most hacks, and it turned into the literal
| version of ROFL when we learned that Microsoft was indeed not
| joking. This year they Continued the deceased equine aggression
| with the launch of Vistagami, a case study in how to make something
| so awful no one wanted it in the first place quite a bit worse.
| This is a great success in MS terms.
|
| With that in mind, Intel did the one thing that has a chance to
| save the whole concept, it threw Microsoft out. Yup, there will be
| Ubuntu and Red Flag Linux on Silverthorn UMPCs! Suddenly the expensive
| flop with a short battery life becomes a possible contender. It is
| amazing what a little total hardware and software change can do
| for a PC.
`----
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=39086
Related:
Whatever Happened To The Origami?
,----[ Quote ]
| Ultimately Origami is a classic example of how a viral buzz can
| work against a product release. Expectations were too high and the
| final product was puzzling and didn't fulfill any specific consumer
| demand. By the time the systems were actually released the hype had
| died down and there was practically zero consumer awareness. I've
| actually considered the possibility that the viral Origami campaign
| was a warm-up for the Zune campaign that followed later in the summer.
`----
http://www.medialoper.com/hot-topics/hardware/whatever-happened-to-the-origami/
Intel debuts Linux-based "Mobile Internet Device"
,----[ Quote ]
| The chip giant projects a global market of 180 million units annually
| by 2010 for "Mobile Internet Devices" (MIDs), which are conceptually
| similar to Nokia's N800 tablet.
`----
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS8166710404.html
,----[ Quote ]
| That software effort does not have the support of Mr. Otellini, who
| is concerned about incurring Microsoft's wrath, the executive said.
| The two companies have a long history of tension over who controls
| the hardware and software direction of the "Wintel standard." Intel
| has said it is supporting both operating systems.
`----
------------------------------
Message-ID: <1489109.U...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] IEEE Spectrum on OLPC; New Version of Dutch Linux Distribution is Launched
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2007 04:28:32 +0100
The Laptop Crusade
,----[ Quote ]
| Within the next 12 months, as many as 10 million laptop computers
| will be distributed to children in Argentina, Brazil, Libya,
| Nigeria, Pakistan, Rwanda, and Uruguay. Countless youngsters who
| live in remote villages, perhaps without electricity, who may not
| have access to clean water or health care, will suddenly have
| computing power pretty close to that of businesspeople and
| college students.
`----
http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/apr07/4985
Version 4.2 of Nonum is out:
http://www.nnlinux.com/nieuws.html
------------------------------
Message-ID: <3001293.E...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Ubuntu GNU/Linux a "Top-notch Product"
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2007 04:30:44 +0100
Ubuntu 7.04 Upgrade First Impressions
,----[ Quote ]
| If you're considering the switch away from Windows, there is now even more
| incentive to make the switch. What are you waiting for!
`----
http://technical-itch.co.uk/2007/04/20/ubuntu-704-upgrade-first-impressions/
Earlier today I came across a figure that's 20 million downloads.
------------------------------
Message-ID: <5016705.Q...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Office 2007 "Ribbon" Interface a Usability Nightmare?
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2007 05:31:26 +0100
Poor Design by Microsoft - "Save As" Button in 2007 Excel has been located!
,----[ Quote ]
| In an experiment 4 out of 5 users took longer than 2 minutes to find
| the SAVE AS button. And 3 of those users needed to use the PAPER CLIP
| (CLIPPY). This is clearly poor design upon Microsoft. They never think
| about the end user. The menu structure is horrific and it has been
| proven inefficient!
`----
This received a lot of attention yesterday.
Related:
Bold Redesign Improves Office 2007 But Learning Curve May Be Too Steep for
Some Users
,----[ Quote ]
| "it requires a steep learning curve that many people might rather avoid.
| In my own tests, I was cursing the programme for weeks"
http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB116786111022966326-T8UUTIl2b10DaW11usf4NasZTYI_20080103.html
Office 2007 may be Microsoft's Titanic: former Government IT boss
,----[ Quote ]
| Bill Gates has been talking up Office 2007 ahead of its business launch
| on November 30. However, the recently departed deputy CIO of one of
| Australia's biggest government Microsoft sites believes introducing
| the new version of Microsoft Office may be the company's biggest
| ever disaster.
`----
http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/7234/53/
Question: why do I need to upgrade to Office 2007?
,----[ Quote ]
| Much has been said and written about Microsoft's "bold", "gutsy",
| and "innovative" initiative of releasing Office 2007, an office
| productivity suite with a totally new user interface. However, the
| question that is bound to be on the lips of every user will be: "why
| do I need to upgrade?" Microsoft doesn't really have a good answer.
|
| [...]
|
| Microsoft, however, claims to have come up with something better
| and more intuitive - the Ribbon. Such a claim begs the question:
| "If the new user interface of Office 2007 is so intuitive, why does
| it have a learning curve?" And it does have a learning curve - a
| very steep learning curve.
`----
http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/8561/1023/
Office 2007 Review: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back - Part 1
,----[ Quote ]
| I've been using Office 2007 for a couple of weeks and I'm convinced
| that Microsoft missed an opportunity to change the way we relate to
| software by taking one step toward radical change, but ultimately
| failing when it came to implementation.
`----
http://byronmiller.typepad.com/byronmiller/2007/04/office_2007_one.html
Vole redesigns our Office space
,----[ Quote ]
| It's hard to define, but the new office suite feels good and is
| comfortable to use. That said if your requirements don't stretch
| beyond the normal usage of the odd letter, a spreadsheet to
| balance your budget and some email then there isn't a lot to
| recommend forking over cash for Office 2007, when there are
| several free options out there are increasingly attractive
| and compatible with Office documents.
|
| The Good
| Ribbon interface quite intuitive
| Interface is attractive and easy to use
|
| The Bad
| Quite expensive
| Free applications available that can perform the same tasks
| No major improvements over previous versions
|
| The Ugly
| Too many components seem solely designed to leverage synergies or something
| No option to revert to old interface
`----
http://uk.theinquirer.net/?article=37376
Is Imitation The Sincerest Form of Flattery?
,----[ Quote ]
| As many as 8 of the top 10 benefits of Microsoft Office 2007
| provide capabilities that have already been addressed by Corel
| WordPerfect Office X3. Some "new" features of Microsoft Office
| 2007 have even been part of Corel WordPerfect Office for
| close to a decade!
`----
http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite?c=Content_C1&cid=1166553933785&lc=en&pagename=CorelCom%2FLayout&trkid=wpe0107ft
http://tinyurl.com/2key74
------------------------------
Message-ID: <6391816.g...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] DoubleClick REJECTED Microsoft Despite High Bid
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2007 05:36:29 +0100
News Analysis: Microsoft General Counsel on DoubleClick and Antitrust
,----[ Quote ]
| This raises a very important question - why didn't Microsoft match Google's
| $3.1 billion offer. Smith would not comment on this, but I can report from
| very good sources that in fact the company did offer to match it, and was
| willing to pay even more to insure that Google did not corner the online ad
| market. But for whatever reasons, the private equity firm that owned the
| majority of DoubleClick's shares decided to go with Google.
|
| [...]
|
| I asked Smith about the irony of Microsoft asking the government to
| support it on antitrust. His response was interesting.
`----
http://battellemedia.com/archives/003561.php
Steve Soprano-Ballmer rejected? No wonder he is so angry.
Related:
Microsoft Befriends Google's Foes
,----[ Quote ]
| After a government- and monopoly-inspired period in which Microsoft had
| to pretend to be a gentle force for global good, the company is being
| forced to return to its ruthless roots. Ironically, it is doing this
| in part by decrying the unfair practices of a competitor and
| shamelessly sucking up to the Establishment.
`----
http://www.forbes.com/2007/03/06/microsoft-google-blodget-tech-cx_hb_0306blodget.html?partner=yahootix
http://tinyurl.com/3bewws
------------------------------
Message-ID: <4833468.o...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Microsoft Says Toshibas Are DESIGNED for Windows
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2007 05:43:43 +0100
Some Toshiba portable computers cannot be upgraded to Windows Vista?
,----[ Quote ]
| An article was added to Microsoft's Knowledge Base yesterday that I
| found rather curious. Titled Some Toshiba portable computers cannot
| be upgraded to Windows Vista, it says "These portable computers were
| originally manufactured and designed to support only Microsoft Windows
| XP".
|
| [...]
|
| Specifically designed for XP only? How do you do that? I looked at the
| specs for a few of these, and they seemed within reason to run Vista
| on. Enough RAM, enough processor, enough Hard drive. I noticed that
| one that I looked at listed a video card that had DirectX 8.1
| optimised drivers, where 'Vista Capable' requires at least DirectX 9.
| Is that one thing the deal breaker?
`----
http://itsvista.com/2007/04/some-toshiba-portable-computers-cannot-be-upgraded-to-windows-vista/
Related:
Warning! Microsoft's New Power-Grab
,----[ Quote ]
| Turns out that a main application did NOT work with Vista. I'm not sure
| about why, but it involved mounting a shared disk. So, I went back to
| Best Buy to buy a copy of XP (the full version since I would be
| installing from scratch.) After spending an hour loading XP, I realise
| that neither the wireless nor ethernet adapters worked, and the
| graphics card on the laptop was not supported. Groan. It HAD to
| be the network cards, didn't it!?
|
| [...]
|
| So, a bit frustrated, but ultimately satisfied with Best Buy, I promptly
| went home and ordered an equivalent Dell laptop (with XP) online.
|
| [...]
|
| If you purchase a PC, make sure that all your devices & applications work
| with Vista, or that you have the option of retro-grading the OS back to
| XP if you choose.
`----
http://jdwegner.net/blog/archives/12
WARNING!! There is windows in my.. BIOS!!!!
,----[ Quote ]
| From my laptop's Bios download page
|
| This BIOS is ONLY for use with Windows Vista. Please do not install this
| BIOS for use with Windows XP, or other Windows versions.
`----
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/showthread.php?p=2705017#post2705017
Amidst Boom, Warning Signs On The Horizon
,----[ Quote ]
| Reports about the crack started circulation online a few weeks
| ago. The method uses a feature that allows system builders to
| qualify new computers as licensed by inserting a short digital
| marker in the BIOS. Upon detection of this special marker,
| Windows XP and Vista bypass product activation and anti-piracy
| checks.
`----
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2187590/microsoft-mulls-counterattack
Intel to make major UEFI announcement
,----[ Quote ]
| "It takes a few years to unseat a legacy - it took 22 years to create
| it and it has taken a few years to unseat. New technology usually
| happens first in servers - all the server markers are now using
| UEFI -- and Microsoft has been working with us, it just takes a
| few years," he said.
`----
http://apcmag.com/5845/intel_to_make_major_efi_announcement_tomorrow
------------------------------
Message-ID: <3585063.u...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Reliability Monitor -- Screenshot Shows The Sorry State of Windows Vista
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2007 05:46:00 +0100
Watch this:
http://img475.imageshack.us/img475/1174/153mx4.jpg
Also see the new logo (humour):
http://mcni7e.dk/artwork/windows_cheese_small.jpg
And some IE humour:
http://zlotman2.blogspot.com/2007/04/top-10-images-making-fun-of-internet.html
------------------------------
Message-ID: <8924645.Z...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Microsoft's Cash Cow (Office) Under Stress from Competitors, OpenDocument
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2007 12:49:44 +0100
Google Apps Draw Converts
,----[ Quote ]
| What's winning over the first Google converts? Money. Consider
| realty company Prudential Preferred Properties in Chicago, which
| is feeling a sting of between $350 and $400 per Microsoft Office
| licence. "We have instances in which the Office licence was more
| expensive than the PC it's on," says Camden Daily, Prudential's
| director of IT.
`----
http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/20070421/tc_pcworld/130997
Microsoft Office rivals advance
,----[ Quote ]
| Rivals to Microsoft's Office productivity suite are sharpening up
| their game. The OpenOffice.org community is planning to add reports
| to its database, while SoftMaker is to extend its productivity
| line-up with a database, presentation tool and scripting language.
`----
http://www.pcw.co.uk/itweek/news/2188237/microsoft-office-rivals-advance
Related:
FAA May Ditch Microsoft's Windows Vista And Office For Google And Linux Combo
,----[ Quote ]
| Bowen said he's in talks with the aviation safety agency's main
| hardware supplier, Dell Computer, to determine if it could
| deliver Linux-based computers capable of accessing Google
| Apps through a non-Microsoft browser once the FAA's XP-based
| computers pass their shelf life.
`----
http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=197800480
And the centre of your desktop is...
,----[ Quote ]
| We had an overwhelming response to our reader poll in this area with over
| 4,800 of you participating, so thanks to those who took the time.
|
| [...]
|
| The only competition at the moment is from open source office suites,
| OpenOffice in particular, which around one in five Reg readers are
| personally using.
`----
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/04/20/desktop_office_suites/
Google manager: Google Apps replaced Microsoft Office at 100,000 businesses
,----[ Quote ]
| Google's newly released online productivity suite Google Apps has
| already replaced Microsoft Office at more than 100,000 small to
| medium enterprises and has been deployed at two of the largest
| companies in the world, according to the search leader's
| enterprise product boss.
`----
http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/9889/53/
100,000,000 OpenOffice.org fans can't be wrong
,----[ Quote ]
| Simon's official response explained the business rationale behind
| offering support for OpenOffice.org: "OpenOffice.org has becomep
| henomenally successful, Sun alone has shipped more than 70 million
| copies of OpenOffice.org 2.0," he said. "Out there, there
| are maybe 100 million copies of OpenOffice.org. It would be
| senseless to ignore that opportunity."
`----
http://www.businessreviewonline.com/os/archives/2006/11/100000000_openo.html
The GravityZoo OOo porting project
,----[ Quote ]
| When OpenOffice.org is "GravityZood", it will become a suite of
| productivity applications that are always available, online, via a broad
| range of devices. It will be possible to share and collaborate in
| real-time, to switch from one device (e.g. a PC) to another (Mobile)
| device. There will also be no need to save data, because everything you
| produce is saved automatically on the network. There is no need to
| download, install or update, the latest version is just available and
| accessible from any GravityZoo enabled client.
`----
http://www.openoffice.org/servlets/ReadMsg?list=dev&msgNo=19660
Next OpenOffice release to include Pentaho BI
,----[ Quote ]
| Open-source business intelligence software vendor Pentaho Corp. is
| hoping a new tie-up unveiled Thursday with the OpenOffice.org
| community and Sun Microsystems Inc. will bring its BI offerings
| to the attention of many more new users.
`----
http://www.linuxworld.com/news/2007/041907-next-openoffice-release-to-include.html?fsrc=rss-linux-news
http://tinyurl.com/ywysvf
------------------------------
Message-ID: <7184455.E...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Propsing a Truly Open and Free Replacement for Flash
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2007 13:29:43 +0100
[Free Rich Media]
,----[ Quote ]
| There's 2 things missing:
|
| * Simple animation support: Flash makes creating animations
| extremely easy. Doing the same thing in anything Free (HTML,
| SVG, even Gtk) requires being a good code monkey. The
| example above required NO coding.
|
| * Authoring tools for rich web applications. Depending on
| who you ask, the best Free authoring tool is either vim or
| emacs. There's the Gimp and Inkscape of course, but neither
| does animations nor scripting, so it's pretty useless for doing
| rich web apps.
|
| So I can tell you what you want. You want to create an awesome
| authoring tool that integrates HTML5 and SVG and make Webkit and
| Mozilla handle those. And after that I bet rich web apps are Free.
`----
http://www.advogato.org/person/company/diary.html?start=39
------------------------------
Message-ID: <1194102.Y...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Analysing the Cost of Free Software
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2007 13:35:39 +0100
"Should" Software Be Free?
,----[ Quote ]
| One of the ways that the Free Software Movement is unique is their success!
|
| Linux is putting a serious scare into Microsoft these days. Apache,
| the web server partner of Linux, is doing more than that. They're
| winning the race world wide if you measure simply by the number of
| installations. (http://news.netcraft.com/) And there are serious
| contenders in other major categories: Mono, Firefox, PHP, and so forth.
|
| This is virtually unprecedented in any other area of human activity.
`----
http://visualbasic.about.com/b/a/256831.htm
'Free' comes at a cost
,----[ Quote ]
| Firstly, there is still a lot of confusion over the term OSS. It is
| called "Open Source" not because it is free but because the user can
| look at the source code and is free to make any changes he likes
| and distribute it under certain terms.
`----
http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2007/4/22/lifefocus/17481771&sec=lifefocus
http://tinyurl.com/yqpdhq
------------------------------
Message-ID: <1877776.T...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Machead Recommends GNU/Linux
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2007 13:41:39 +0100
Sci/Tech: What's Your Distro?
,----[ Quote ]
| Now while Mac OS X doesn't have any of these security concerns (being built
| on a Unix-like base), Mac computers are expensive. Yes, they're lovely,
| stylish, and cool, but that comes with a hefty price tag. Plus they're
| proprietary, to boot. So, in the future, if they want to slip in some
| 'phone home' cuteness a la XP, then no one will be the wiser. Yes, I know
| that's FUD, but I'm a longtime Mac head and that's the best I can come up
| with.
|
| [...]
|
| One final note: if you have an old computer, don't throw it away. You
| can set it up as a web-surfing email browser that will last for
| years and years into the future. The major Linux distros are now
| very user-friendly with truly excellent GUI. No need to use the
| CLI anymore.
`----
http://www.bitsofnews.com/component/option,com_diary/op,view/id,5580/Itemid,44/
Related:
Interview with Tim Bray
,----[ Quote ]
| LJ: All right, since this is Linux Journal, we need to ask at least have
| one pure Linux question before we close, okay? What is your favourite
| Linux distribution?
|
| TB: My favourite distro is Ubuntu, although the server/firewall box in
| my basement is basic Debian, and I'm happy with that too.
`----
http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/9247
,----[ Quote ]
| Early this month, Mark Pilgrim made waves when he went shopping for a
| new Mac, but decided not to buy one, and, in When the bough breaks, wrote
| at length about switching to Ubuntu. I've been thinking about this a
| lot recently, and now John Gruber's written And Oranges, a fine excursus
| on Mark's piece. I'm pondering the switch away myself, too, and maybe
| sharing my thoughts will be helpful. [Update: Lots of feedback on the
| state of the Ubuntu art.] [Update: More from Mark. I feel sick,
| physically nauseated, that Apple has hidden my email--the record of
| my life--away in a proprietary undocumented format. I've had this happen
| once before (the culprit was Eudora); fool me twice, shame on me. Hear
| a funny sound? That's a camel's back, breaking.]
|
| [...]
|
| Will I Switch? · Yes. For Mark's reasons, and because I'm pretty darn
| sure that either Ubuntu or some other distro will eventually get the
| key things right.
|
| Alternatively, Apple could open-source a few of their apps so we could
| all fix the pain points, and they could start having an actual
| conversation with the world. Nothing less is acceptable.
|
| As John Gruber points out, neither Mark nor I are exactly typical.
| But you know what? I think that if the GNU/Linux/Solaris community
| can sustain its current level of energy and progress, and if Apple
| maintains its dysfunctional communications culture, there are going to
| be better choices just not for me, but for a lot of other people too.
`----
http://www.tbray.org/ongoing/When/200x/2006/06/15/Switch-From-Mac
------------------------------
Message-ID: <2500322.c...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Marvell Plays Nice(r) with Linux, OpenBSD Takes on XBox
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2007 13:46:03 +0100
Marvell Announces Support for UMPC Platform
,----[ Quote ]
| Marvell, the leader in storage, communications and consumer
| silicon solutions, today announced that the Company's industry
| leading WLAN products fully support the Intel Ultra Mobile
| PC (UMPC) initiative.
`----
http://www.huliq.com/19308/marvell-announces-support-for-umpc-platform
Marvell joined the Linux Foundation earlier this month, but its firmware in
the OLPC unit angered Theo de Raadt from OpenBSD. Here's a nice new OpenBSD
project:
OpenBSD Port for Xbox1 in Progress
,----[ Quote ]
| I just wanted to tell everybody that I am working on a OpenBSD
| port to the Xbox.
`----
http://www.xbox-scene.com/xbox1data/sep/EEZZkpylFADScbcLgY.php
------------------------------
Message-ID: <2413613.3...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Author of 'Sorry State of Open Source' Criticised, Retires (Sort of)
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2007 13:52:00 +0100
Column: Polemic research
,----[ Quote ]
| Unfortunately there is too little research of this type in IT.
| Commercial and/or ideological interests play too great a part
| that the conclusions are written beforehand. I do think it is
| worse when a blogger/columnist gives personal opinion the odium
| of research. Like 'The sorry state of open source' which was
| published at Planète Béranger earlier this week.
|
| The 25 html-page piece is more like a j'accuse, a polemic
| instead of clear and objective analysis. Which is a shame
| since the issues mentioned do deserve a closer inspection.
`----
http://opensourcelearning.info/blog/?p=337
Earlier today, Radu published a blog item saying that he'll be taking
a break and leave his rants to forums and mailing lists, not damaging
public articles and blog posts.
As [H]omer pointed out, lashing out at OIN was silly because it resulted
from lack of research on the subject. His post on Novell and TrueType
also led to a lot of disinformation.
------------------------------
Message-ID: <4772320.E...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Network of Linux Application/Addon Sites Grows Up, Expands
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2007 13:55:20 +0100
Siblings of kde-apps: qt-apps and qt-prop
,----[ Quote ]
| With these two pages, which are supported by Trolltech as well, the entire
| family of kde-apps.org contains now these pages:
|
| * kde-look.org
| * kde-apps.org
| * kde-apps.de
| * kde-files.org
| * gnome-look.org
| * xfce-look.org
| * maemo-apps.org
| * Qt-apps.org
| * Qt-prop.org
`----
http://liquidat.wordpress.com/2007/04/21/siblings-of-kde-apps-qt-apps-and-qt-prop/
For those who don't know the sites, it's definitely worth a visit. It's a
treasure trove of free stuff, akin to SourceForge/Freshmeat/DistroWatch.
------------------------------
Message-ID: <2663596.0...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Open Source Medical Software Wins Wired Award
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2007 13:59:01 +0100
WorldVistA Wins Wired News 2007 Rave Award
,----[ Quote ]
| David Whitten was the first to note that WorldVistA has won the 2007
| Wired News Rave Award. This is in the latest print edition of Wired
| on page 147 (not on the website yet) featuring a picture of K.S.
| Bhaskar, Joseph Dal Molin and Maury Pepper.
`----
http://www.linuxmednews.com/1177196547
There appears to be a slow move towards standards, open source, and Free
software in that sector. One can avoid the [i|Micro]soft disaster here in
the UK, which cost the taxpayers over 12 billion dollars.
Related:
Palamida Supports the Development of Open Source Solutions for the Health
Information Community
,----[ Quote ]
| Palamida has announced that it has joined the Open Health Information
| Project (OHIP), a global collaboration between public and private
| institutions to develop open source software solutions for the
| health information community. Lead by Oregon State University's
| Open Source Lab (OSL), OHIP works to enable the successful adoption
| and use of open source software methodologies in the public sector.
`----
http://www.securitypark.co.uk/article.asp?articleid=26518&CategoryID=1
McKesson First to Offer Red Hat Enterprise Healthcare Platform
,----[ Quote ]
| As a leading provider of technology solutions to the healthcare
| industry, McKesson has been at the forefront of innovative
| technologies, deploying many of its advanced Horizon Clinicals
| applications on Linux running on Intel-based hardware. Hospitals
| with these deployments have already realised cost savings of up
| to 60% compared with traditional system deployments.
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070226/20070226005175.html?.v=1
The Next Round Of Microsoft Vs. Linux: Health Care
,----[ Quote ]
| Both camps are making waves in the industry, which is poised for
| dramatic IT growth
|
| [...]
|
| Red Hat, the largest business Linux distributor, is teaming up
| with the health care sector's largest company, McKesson, an $88
| billion-a-year pharmaceutical and IT supplier. Red Hat will
| provide a core of Linux and JBoss software geared to run
| McKesson's clinical applications.
`----
http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=197700935
Open Source Goes Live
,----[ Quote ]
| OpenVista, a private adaptation of the VA's open-source system,
| revised to run commercial hospital systems.
`----
http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=197700936&cid=RSSfeed_IWK_All
http://tinyurl.com/2lwv8a
openEMR Successfully Completes IHE Connectathon Testing
,----[ Quote ]
| The Possibility Forge and Mandriva successfully completed the
| testing requirements for openEMR at the 2007 IHE Connectathon
| in North America.
`----
http://www.linuxmednews.com/1172259040
Leading Healthcare Technology Provider Chooses Red Hat
,----[ Quote ]
| Sage Software provides integrated electronic health records, electronic
| data interchange (EDI) applications and practice management systems to
| more than 20,000 ambulatory care practices throughout North America.
| These systems enable physicians and practice managers to better
| manage their practices and improve profitability.
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070123/20070123005179.html?.v=1
Editor's Corner (on Open Source in Healthcare)
,----[ Quote ]
| Suggesting that a private healthcare provider switch from
| proprietary software to open source-based applications is one
| thing. But when an official affiliated with as august a body as
| the United Nations suggests that all member countries adopt open
| source for their healthcare applications, that's a much bigger deal.
`----
http://www.fiercehealthit.com/story/editor-s-corner/2006-10-09
Zen Engineering And CHILI GmbH Partner To Market Linux-Based Healthcare
Solutions
,----[ Quote ]
| Linux and other Open Source technologies are used as a primary vehicle
| for delivering cost efficient enterprise solutions while strategic
| alliances with hardware and software manufacturers enable Zen
| Engineering Network to provide a comprehensive storefront of
| technology infrastructure and services.
|
| In 2004, Zen Engineering Network launched a "Linux for Healthcare"
| initiative to address the demand for low-cost healthcare information
| systems. Through this effort, vendors were identified that utilised
| Open Source technology to lower costs for their customers and an array
| of service offerings were created to facilitate migration to these
| solutions.
`----
http://linux.sys-con.com/read/304446_p.htm
Microsoft in the NHS
,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft is one of the key technology firms in the £6.2 billion NHS
| IT programme. It is working particularly closely with iSOFT...
`----
http://www.e-health-insider.com/comment_and_analysis/index.cfm?ID=69
CfH refutes computer failure claims
,----[ Quote ]
| "Very often they are not major incidents as such, but could be caused when
| a patient administration system is running slow or there may be problems
| with the local network. The severity level is attributed by the user and
| this is subsequently very often down graded or amended."
|
| Many of the incidents that have been reported by CfH include failure of
| the systems used by surgeons to see X-ray pictures on a computer screen
| in wards and operating theatres. On some occasions the system is believed
| to have crashed during an operation, forcing surgeons to suspend the
| ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
| procedure while a hard copy of the X-ray is found.
`----
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/09/19/cfh_defends_itself/
Failed NHS project cost $12 billion
http://www.e-health-insider.com/news/item.cfm?ID=700
------------------------------
Message-ID: <3137126.n...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Microsoft's Suicide a Result of Underestimating GNU/Linux
Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2007 14:02:12 +0100
Why Vista failed - suicide by not fearing Linux enough
,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft didn't fear Linux enough. XP won over Linux because it was more
| familiar for the same price but they just assumed that Vista would carry
| over in the same way but they assumed wrong.
|
| [...]
|
| As each day passes I half expect Microsoft to jump out and shout
| "SURPRISE!! LOL!! Vista was just a joke, here's the REAL thing w
| spent the better part of a decade working on
|
| That hasn't happened yet though and I don't expect it will. Shame
| really, because I find it hard to believe it took that long to
| re-skin XP using WindowBlinds.
`----
http://www.seopher.com/articles/why_vista_failed__suicide_by_not_fearing_linux_enough
http://tinyurl.com/2c7yk2
------------------------------
End of Cola Digest
--
| Mark Kent -- mark at ellandroad dot demon dot co dot uk |
| News Digester |