Microsoft open to open-source, Jun 24, 2004

Microsoft Corp. says it is looking to turn over more of its programs to open-source software developers, playing a greater role in a process that the Redmond company has criticized strongly at times in the past.

Money-makers like the company's Windows operating system and Office productivity suite aren't on the table -- or anywhere near it.

But the company has so far released two software-development tools to the open-source community, and it wants to continue the practice, a Microsoft platform manager told an industry group this week.

The first Slackware release of 2004, Slackware Linux 10.0 continues the more than ten-year Slackware tradition of simplicity, stability, and security.

Among the many program updates and distribution enhancements, you'll find two of the most advanced desktop environments available today: GNOME 2.6.1 (including a collection of pre-compiled GNOME applications), and KDE 3.2.3, the latest version of the award-winning K Desktop Environment. Slackware uses the 2.4.26 kernel bringing you advanced performance features such as the ReiserFS journaling filesystem, SCSI and ATA RAID volume support, and kernel support for X DRI (the Direct Rendering Interface) that brings high-speed hardware accelerated 3D graphics to Linux. Additional kernels allow installing Slackware using any of the journaling filesystems available for Linux, including ext3, ReiserFS, IBM's JFS, and SGI's XFS. For those Slackware users who are anxious to try the new 2.6.x kernel series, it is fully supported by the system. A precompiled Linux 2.6.7 kernel, modules, and source code are provided (along with complete instructions on how to install the new kernel).

Belgian electronic payment specialist Banksys is shipping new payment terminals powered by open source operating systems. The C-ZAM/XENT terminals run Linux and eCos operating systems, and could represent one of the largest deployments yet of embedded Linux in Belgium.

Webmaster's note: In January, Linux Online interviewed Adam Davidson who helped Ashraf Tariq and Hasanen Nawfal set up the Iraqi Linux User Group.

Ashraf Hasson and Hasanen Nawfal are both natives of Baghdad.

Like many 20-somethings, Hasson and Nawfal grew up nurturing passions for computers and for programming.

Both of them are firm believers in open source software. Unlike expensive proprietary software, open-source software can be freely distributed and modified, as long as the modifications are shared with other users.

They are particularly fans of Linux operating system.

Linux suppliers have begun releasing fixes for two critical security bugs in a networking component that could allow a denial-of-service attack or enable an attacker to take control of a system.

The problem is with the Internet Systems Consortium's Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) 3 application, shipped with many Linux and Unix operating system distributions as a tool for transmitting configuration information across a network.

Darl McBride received a Federal Express package at his home in Salt Lake City with a sticker proclaiming in big, bold letters: live worms. Understandably cautious, McBride's wife brought it into the garage. When her husband discovered that there were, in fact, worms wriggling inside the cardboard box, he threw it away.

It was just another indignity for the chief executive of the widely unpopular SCO Group. McBride has also received death threats, a challenge to a fistfight, and a flood of denial-of-service attacks targeting his company's email servers and his home phone. He's started carrying a gun for protection. Friends tease him that in two short years, he has displaced Bill Gates as the most hated man in high tech.

The sale of Linux-based PCs under the PC Gemilang project is a roaring success, according to the Association of the Computer and Multimedia Industry of Malaysia (Pikom).

Ten thousand PC Gemilang units were sold in the first few months following the brand’s debut, of which more than 7,000 were Linux-based machines. Pikom said the Linux PC generated the highest demand due to its attractive price.

The PC Gemilang project was kicked off in March with two models: A RM988 PC running a Linux-based operating system and bundled with the OpenOffice productivity suite; and a RM1,147 desktop with the Bahasa Malaysia version of the Microsoft Windows XP operating system and Works Suite 2004.

The South Australian Democrats party has rejected a $A50,000 content management system from an unnamed vendor for its new website in favour of the free PostNuke open source system.

Legislative Council member Ian Gilfillan says he expressed "shock and horror" when he was told of the $A50,000 price tag.

"I immediately said we don't go down that path," Gilfillan told Computerworld (Australia). "The selection process then seemed to happen quickly and we are very happy with the quality of the package."

The first Linux retail computer store will have its grand opening this week, giving Linux enthusiasts an opportunity to preview and purchase the latest Linux products. Sub500.com, in Toronto, Canada, opens its doors on June 26, and features Linspire-based laptops and desktops and the latest Linspire add-on software.

"This is a historical event for the Linux industry and it provides the computer user a full range of affordable desktop Linux products under one roof," said Michael Robertson, chief executive officer for Lindows, Inc. "Customers will receive personal attention from Linux experts at the store to educate them on the benefits of Linux versus other operating systems and help them with their Linux purchases."

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