EU-DIGEST

Linux Wins The Security Showdown! Now What? - by Serdar Yegulalp

As Linux and open source in general become incrementally more popular with the broad mass of users weaned on closed source applications (whether they were designed with security-through-obscurity or actual code review or what have you), this is going to become critically important. If you have a package that was used by ten thousand people which suddenly gets used by seven hundred thousand, it becomes that much more of a target -- both for malice and incompetence.

Labels: Computer industry, Computers, Linux

Dell, the second-largest computer maker, today unveiled its first computers in Europe to be sold installed with the Linux operating system, rather than Microsoft’s dominant Windows system. The potential competition to Windows, which along with the Office software suite is one of Microsoft’s two most important cash cows, was upped further when Lenovo, the third-largest computer maker, added that it would also start selling laptop computers preloaded with a version of Linux developed by the rival software group Novell at the end of this year.

Open source" software, such as Linux-based operating systems, do not require license fees to be paid, a factor that can reduce costs for consumers and businesses, although users may have to pay to have their systems serviced or upgraded. For additional information about Linux on getting your own Linux operating system installed on your computer click on this link

Labels: Computers, Europe, Linux, Technology

The French Say Au Revoir to Microsoft Software - David Garrett

The French parliament has said au revoir to Microsoft Relevant Products/Services. Starting in June of next year, French deputies will use desktops and servers running Linux, Mozilla's Firefox Web browser, and OpenOffice.org, a free open-source alternative to Microsoft's Office software.

For day-to-day documents, French members of parliament and their staff will use OpenOffice.org, currently in version 2.0.4 and designed to compete directly with Microsoft's Office System.

Labels: France, Linux, Microsoft

Convicted Monopolist Terrorizes Software Industry - by Michael J.Jordan

Yes, fear sells. Microsoft knows this. And if they can't sell software (it would seem that the tepid response to Vista would prove this), then they'll try selling some fear. This week, they're selling it wholesale. They've made this clear via an article in Fortune this past Monday. In it, Microsoft chief counsel Brad Smith claimed that the Linux kernel, along with other Open Source and Free Software applications, infringed on over 200 patents owned by Bill Gates and company. The article got into specifics on which applications violated the patents and contained an indirect threat of lawsuits.

Microsoft may be a behemoth, but they're not big enough to take on the world in the courts. For now, they'll just play the fear card. But even fear will get you so far. Then what happens when nobody's afraid anymore?

Labels: Linux