If you are just entering the Linux world, you have probably heard of the famed “community support,” but where exactly do you find this so-called community?
Russell Pavlicek of InfoWorld writes on the control advantage of open source software. “[T]he most powerful reason for using open-source software in business is often ignored. This crucial benefit is control — control over the functionality of the software that fuels your business, and hence control over your business itself.”
ZDNet has a small report on how Linux is faring in the enterprise. “Reports may find that Linux is losing out in top companies, but they aren't getting the full picture, argues the distributor.”
ZDNet has posted a review of the BSD-variant OpenBSD. “Unlike other operating systems, with the exception of close relative NetBSD, the open source OpenBSD was built from the ground up to be secure. How do they do it? In no small part, it's by constantly auditing the operating system's code for potential security problems.”
VMware has announced the final release of the PC virtualizer of the same name. VMware provides a convenient way to run an entire operating system (such as Windows or BSD) inside a window on your Linux desktop.
IBM has announced that they are releasing $40 million worth of tools as open source, and placing them under the control of a multi-vendor open source community. “The Java-based open source software, code-named Eclipse, will enable developers to use software tools from multiple suppliers together, allowing developers to integrate business processes used to create e-business applications, such as those for Web services. “
As an IT worker, I'm sure that you recognize the USA v. Microsoft case as something that could profoundly affect the direction IT will move in. However, after today's settlement announcement, many pundits suggested that the proposed end accomplished little at all. I beg to differ.
KDE::Enterprise has a new interview with Andrew Hatfield of SecureONE about the popular K Desktop Environment (KDE). “KDE is our desktop of choice for development, webdesign and support. We still use Windows2000, however, we like and try to spend most of our time in Linux 'mode.'”
ZDNet has a report on the Mono project, an open source project with the aim of “creating a development environment that will allow applications developed for .Net to run on Linux-based as well as Windows-based systems.”
News.com is reporting that Amazon cut technology costs by $17 million dollars last quarter by switching to Linux-based solutions. “Amazon said in June that it was revamping its computer systems and switching to 'commodity' computers running Linux. Executives said at the time that they expected technology costs as a portion of net sales would decrease by 20 percent this year. “