Grant Gross of NewsForge writes about Linux's appeal to churches and other non-profit groups. “We've long talked about how government agencies almost owe it to taxpayers to explore low-cost Open Source alternatives to Microsoft and other high-cost vendors, but it seems that non-profit organizations such as churches are also starting to get the Open Source religion.”
In an article for fellow LDN-member site LinuxandMain.com, Anthony Awtrey comments on GNU/Linux's tremendous growth in the server market. ” I have searched for market information and corporate strategy documents that outline where we are today and give some idea where we are headed. At first glance I can tell you that plans to deploy Linux and other Open Source software are evident everywhere. Independent software vendors, especially those writing software for niches like computer aided design, law offices and medical practices, are porting their applications from Windows and commercial Unix to Linux to take advantage of customer interest.”
In a story published today, LinuxGram reported that Linux distributor TurboLinux may have collapsed. The report is not entirely surprising, TurboLinux has been struggling for some time, and outside its strong hold in Asia, the distribution had dismal results at best.
Two long time Linux users - Jerry Kreps and Jethro Cramp - agreed to give us their thoughts on SuSE Linux 8.0. You can find their comments below.
NewsForge has a short piece on the launch of the Itanium 2 platform. “Hewlett-Packard and Intel will announce with great fanfare the pending release of the Itanium 2 platform today, and you'll probably be able to read several stories with the two companies saying their new 64-bit architecture is going to breath new life into the Itanium line and kick the competition's butt. HP is also touting the Itanium 2 as a perfect match for Linux.”
PCWorld.com looks at a beta version of an upcoming Lycoris Desktop/LX release. “Looking for an inexpensive, simple-to-use alternative to the Windows operating system? Linux may leap to mind, but since Corel abandoned its effort, no vendor has concentrated strictly on making Linux friendly enough for newbies. Now, the $30 Desktop/LX distribution from upstart Lycoris demonstrates that Microsoft's monopoly on friendly operating systems for the PC could be coming to a close.”
NewsForge is reporting that Wal-Mart.com will start offering Mandrake Linux on its Microtel PC's in addition to LindowsOS. “Keep your eye on Walmart.com for new Microtel systems bearing the Mandrake logo. The systems will sell alongside the newly announced Lindows-based PCs, say sources. And continue to look for more online retail envelope-pushing from Wal-Mart's online wing, of all places.”
In an article from yesterday, InfoWorld is reporting that Sun will start shipping a server with its new Sun Linux in August. “The Sun server, to be officially named Cobalt LX50, is the company's first general-purpose server to run Sun Linux and could be attractive to customers looking for a system to handle tasks such as e-mail, file and media serving. The new server will use two 1.4GHz Pentium III processors from Intel and two 72G-byte hard drives, the sources said.”
Richard M. Stallman is the founder of the Free Software movement that created the basis of the GNU/Linux operating system. Since founding the project back in 1984, Stallman, known by the community as RMS, has spent his time programming and promoting free software in the hopes of eliminating the need for non-free software completely.
IDG.net has a report on the current status of countries adopting Open Source and Free Software. While it notes a few countries are adopting Microsoft-friendly policies, in large part most of the industrialized world is taking a serious look at Linux and related software. “Government officials the world over are getting drawn into the debate over the relative merits of using open source software rather than Microsoft Corp.'s Windows applications and other software developed by vendors who closely guard the intellectual property of their source code. Some countries, such as Germany, have decided to replace Windows and other commercial software products with open source applications.”