NI3: The Net Result of Imagination, Innovation, and Investment
Thursday, March 28, 2002

Drivel:  A very interesting partnership in the making here.  It looks like IBM is getting tired of Red Hat and may be looking for another horse to bet on.

IBM and SuSE: Worldwide Alliance Provides Linux Support for Corporate Users. The two companies partner on enterprise-level support and services. [Linux Journal]
 
The GIMP:  I'm about fed up for paying for utilitarian software for Windows, or even slightly specialized software.  I am willing to pay for things like Radio, which is highly specialized, or software that protects me, like anti-virus software.  However, I am not willing to pay for things that are commodity items.  For this reason, I blew away my installation of PaintShop Pro and Photo Shop, both of which are ending their trial periods or coming up for renewal, last night and installed GIMP for Windows.  It works great.  Now I have consistency across my Windows workstation and my Linux workstation.  This is a rare thing.
 
Wednesday, March 27, 2002

Drivel:  While this articles isn't entirely interesting, it does bring up an interesting point of Microsoft not being able to move software due to falling prices of hardware.  In this scenario, hardware manufacturers will no longer be able to absorb the price of Microsoft's software because it will represent too large of a percentage of the total unit price.  I think we are close to seeing this happen today.  For example, Gateway is offering a $599 computer with a 1.2GHz Celeron chip, 128MB of RAM, a 20GB hard drive, and a CD-RW drive with Windows XP pre-installed.  All of the software on this machine represents about $100 of the total price.  That's 16.7% of the total price.  This has to be eating into the per unit margins.  I would guess that as this percentage gets closer to 20% you will see the computer makers begin to adopt other strategies.  This is pure economics.  They have to do something.  All of the legal battles with Microsoft are only buying them some additional time.

Tiemann Takes the Stand. The big guys are trying to end the bullying of the biggest guy, but perhaps Microsoft's undoing will be simple economic theory. [Linux Journal]
 
Wednesday, March 20, 2002
Drivel:  I am just about ready to make the transition from Windows to a complete Linux environment on all of my machines.  It has been a lot of work to get this far, but it is all there and not having to pay Microsoft's licensing fees every year will be welcome relief.  I have all types of network access -- dial-up, wireless, and ethernet.  I have complete MS Office compatibility via StarOffice.  I have more choices for IDEs than you can shake a stick at.  All forms of communication are available -- IM, email, video, and audio.  The only thing holding me back from making the jump is Radio and Frontier.  Two things I can't live without.  So, I will stand poised for the moment UserLand ships a Linux port.
 

Drivel:  StarOffice is gaining momentum.  It is nearly feature compatible with Microsoft Office and even supports saving and importing in most MS Office file formats.  I have used it, though not extensively.  The only thing it is lacking is huge install base, which will come as Linux gains momentum on the desktop.

StarOffice goes commercial, and stays open-source [IDG InfoWorld]
 

Drivel:  Another win for Linux.

Lindows wins first round [Geeknews]
 
Tuesday, March 19, 2002

Drivel:  With job losses minimal and in a non-critical area of their business, Red Hat is fairing rather well while competition folds or takes deep cuts.

Red Hat restructures, signs big customers. In reporting its fourth-quarter results, which meet analyst estimates, the Linux seller says it has restructured to focus on big customers, cutting some jobs. [CNET News.com]
 

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