Dell leads the Linux workstation market, Sep 14, 2007

According to the Q2 2007 Jon Peddie Workstation Report, AMD is still struggling with a minority market share, Dell is still on top, and Hewlett-Packard is still the number two workstation manufacturer. Buried in the details, though, is something more interesting: Dell is also the number one Linux workstation manufacturer.

OS X and Linux are essentially two extreme opposites. The Apple Way is to make all of your decisions for you so that you're not burdened by choice. Some people enjoy that -- they find simplicity in it that allows them to concentrate on other things. To me, it's computing hell.

Both the PowerPack Edition and Discovery/LX have slid so far back with version 2007.1 that I have serious doubts as to the future of Mandriva's viability as a commercial desktop operating system.

BSD and Linux programmers have had a lot of success in creating drivers for new computer hardware in a timely manner, but much of their effort has been without the support of major hardware manufacturers.

Novell's openSUSE 10.2 is an exciting desktop operating environment that includes or supports nearly every program you need for work and play.

The latest in the ThinkPad T series is a landmark in several ways: it's the first to use a Core Duo processor; the first to be made and sold by Lenovo instead of IBM; and the first to offer official manufacturer support for GNU/Linux.

Gaël Duval, the founder of the popular MandrakeLinux (later MandrivaLinux) project, was fired from Mandriva last spring in an effort to cut costs. Almost immediately afterward, Duval began work on a new GNU/Linux distribution, Ulteo. As of this writing, Ulteo has not yet released its first beta edition, but it should be available soon. While we're all waiting, I figured I'd ask Mr. Duval some questions about Ulteo, Mandriva, and starting GNU/Linux projects in general.

MandrivaLinux (formerly MandrakeLinux) will shortly introduce a new round of releases for its Corporate Server, Corporate Desktop, and PowerPack Edition GNU/Linux distributions. While preparing to review these operating systems I sent some interview questions to Mandriva's CEO, Francois Bancilhon. Responses are below.

It's gotten so that you need a serious 3D video card (with proprietary drivers) and a fairly fast computer just to keep up with desktop environments. Whatever happened to being productive and having fun?

...lately I've seen an abrupt decline in GNU/Linux evangelism on online forums. Below are some possible reasons for this change in community thinking and behavior.

Laptop computers are far more likely to contain unsupported unique or proprietary hardware than desktop machines, so laptop computers in general can be difficult to get your favorite free software operating system onto.

The GNU/Linux operating system isn't exactly known for gaming, but that doesn't mean that there aren't any games on it that are worth playing. Recently I installed an array of different titles and, combined with some that I had already played, I've compiled a list of must-have GNU/Linux games (and a few "honorable mentions") to joyously erode your free time.

Here are eight free software desktop applications that could change the balance of power between Windows and GNU/Linux by replacing proprietary software with free code.

Though it served me faithfully for nearly five years, it was time to send my old Dell Inspiron 3800 laptop out to pasture.

GNU/Linux does not pose the kinds of problems that Windows does. There is no registry to easily corrupt, and the operating system does not fail in generic, catch-all ways. The user has no power to alter the system software, so important files are not accidentally deleted, and potential viruses and spyware programs have no ability to wreck the system.

CrossOver Office is available in two editions: Standard and Professional. The two are essentially the same, except Professional has multi-user support and special deployability functions. Professional is designed for businesses, Standard for home users. There is also a CrossOver Office Server Edition, which allows CrossOver Office to run on thin clients.

Shortly after announcing the merger of Mandrakesoft and Conectiva into Mandriva, the newly combined company released a transitional "limited edition" GNU/Linux distribution to bridge the gap between the two parent distributions. Mandriva Limited Edition 2005 may look a little different, but it's the same great Mandrakelinux desktop distribution that you're used to.