GNU/Linux

• Pardus 2008 : A testdrive
  
  

  Pardus surprised me. Today it is listed as nr 49 on Distrowatch, but it deserves a place near or in the top-ten. It is a distro that has everything to become a major newcomer-friendly distro.

  
  
  
• Ubuntu [Instead of Vista]
  
  

  I must thank Andrew Cullison for introducing me to Ubuntu ("Linux for Human Beings") last month.
  
  [....]
  
  One big plus for me was that my old OS (Windows Vista Home Edition) didn't have networking capabilities. Once I switched to Ubuntu, I could log on to the Princeton network and create my university webpage from my laptop. Very convenient.

  
  
  
• Ubuntu Hardy gets Sweeter with Sugar!
  
  

  Wow, what a nice surprise! (This has actually been in development since December of last year :o) The OLPC Sugar desktop environment is available in the Ubuntu Hardy repository! You can use the emulator to run it in a window or login as a full blown desktop through GDM (the default login screen for (X)Ubuntu users)!

  
  
  
• Ubuntu 8.10 (Intrepid Ibex) Alpha 1 Screenshots
• Top 10 Linux financial tools
  
  

  Many people don’t realize the wealth of applications available for Linux — and that includes financial software. Jack Wallen introduces 10 Linux apps that will meet your financial needs, whether you just want a digital replacement for your checkbook or you’re looking for a full-blown accounting package for your organization.

  
  
  

F/OSS

• Free as in Beer!
• Phoronix Test Suite 1.0.2 Released
• Intel Driver Gets XvMC Improvements
• Packing It In: The Evolution of Online Video and Audio Tech, Part 2
  
  

  Some in the open source community are fighting vendor lock-in by creating superior formats. Now, if only users would adopt them.

  
  
  
• The first European Opensource Lawyers Event
• VivaKi, dude, where is my code?

Leftovers

• Ethiopia: OLPC donates 5,000 laptops worth 940,000 USD
• Gates chose the right time to leave Microsoft
  
  

  I can remember reporting on a leaked internal memo that Bill Gates issued to Microsoft staff in 1995 which was a literal call to arms to fight both Netscape (not mentioned by name) and the onset of the Internet. It was obvious to Gates that the cards were on the table and the Internet was holding all the Aces.
  
  [...]
  
  Gates also watched as Microsoft's last great Wintel project Vista turned into a disappointing flop, with many users and pundits believing that it offered no significant improvements over Windows XP. Similar things could said for Office 2007.

  
  
  

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