Date: Tue, 09 Nov 2004 16:58:51 -0500 (EST)
From:"Linux Pipeline Newsletter" <tw@update.techweb.com&
To:mswier@YAHOO.COM
Subject: [LPN| Linux Pipeline Newsletter - 11-09-04 - Your Turn To Talk Linux Pipeline Newsletter | Your Turn To Talk | 11.09.2004
Linux Pipeline Newsletter
www.LinuxPipeline.com
Tuesday, November 09, 2004


In This Issue:
  • Editor's Note: Your Turn To Talk
  • Top Linux News
        - Novell Launches Desktop Linux 9
        - E-Voting Passed The Test, But Remains Controversial
        - Dell Puts Open-Source Clustering Tools On New Serve
        - More News...
  • Editor's Picks
        - Careers: In Search Of Open-Source Experts
        - Analysis: Can Sun Turn Up The Heat On Linux?
        - Feature: Windows, Linux In A High-End Fight
        - More Picks...
  • Voting Booth: What Do You Think Of E-Voting?
  • Get More Out Of Linux Pipeline

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    This issue sponsored by JBoss Professional Open Source. See why more companies are rolling-out JBoss enterprise-wide. This FREE Forrester Consulting study shows how JBoss enterprise-class open source services can reduce TCO, expedite problem resolution and improve the productivity of your operations support staff. Download the Forrester Consulting study now, FREE.
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    -----------------------------------------

    Editor's Note: Your Turn To Talk

    A while back, I asked you to share your experiences with Linux on laptop computers. Most of you who wrote back love your Linux laptops, and you're happy you made the switch. But enough of you also dealt with hardware glitches to suggest that installing Linux on a laptop is still a lot messier than installing it on a desktop PC.

    Linux In Your Lap?

    More than half of the 25 or so responses reported smooth sailing with at least some of your laptop Linux installations. The successes included Red Hat, SuSE, Mandrake, and Xandros distros, running on both new and older laptops from different vendors. Here's a typical example:

    "I've been using Linux on my laptop for about a year and a half, first running Knoppix and then switching to Xandros about six months ago. I've used a couple of different IBM Thinkpads during that time. The Knoppix was OK, but the Xandros has filled all my needs for office tools as well as given me considerable stability. I'm one of these types who has 20 different apps open on my desktops. Windows (whatever) is just not up to the task."

    Just a few of you bought your laptop Linux installations pre-installed--one from HP and the others from smaller vendors. If your experiences are any indication, there's a healthy market for pre-installed Linux machines:

    "My HP nx5000 arrived in early September, and I love it. Besides the fact HP can't deliver hardware on time (it took a month) it's a great box. I've yet to try the wireless . . . but it's a beautiful piece of hardware. In fact, I ordered two more of them yesterday for new employees."

    In nearly every other case, however, readers who reported successful do-it-yourself Linux installations also ran into trouble with other installation attempts:

    "I believe you will find that any modern, non-specialized distro will install and operate just fine on any mainstream laptop, with the notable exception of anything made by Compaq . . . They seem to have an abundance of the 'tweaks' you mentioned in their hardware, even on desktop and server systems, which seems to make the available drivers incompatible or unreliable."

    Those of you who failed to get Linux working on your laptops also used a variety of distros and laptop models. Wireless networking cards caused some of the biggest problems, although they weren't the only culprits:

    "I am one of those people trying to use Linux SuSE on my Toshiba laptop. Ran into a problem (being very much a Linux neophyte not surprising!). Tried to install my Linksys wireless card and now neither the internal ethernet or wireless card seems to work! I tried a full reinstall from the CD, but it's not talking!"

    One frustrated Linux user had a very different problem--one that might be a lot more common than my very unscientific survey suggested:

    "I too suffered through an install on my laptop and finally gave up in frustration. The biggest problem is not the lack of documentation but the foreign language used. Why must Linux programmers write so cryptically? I've been in the data processing business since the days of the IBM 1401, through the 360s, 4200s, and AS/400s, and could probably still remember how to code in machine language. So why is it so difficult for me to understand Linux lingo?"

    This reader clearly isn't a technology novice, and in fact, just one of you (quoted above) described yourself as a Linux "neophyte." Some of you described your Linux background, and others dropped hints by mentioning things like mount scripts and LAMP stacks.

    The fact that a bunch of Linux geeks read Linux Pipeline isn't surprising. When you described problems with your Linux laptops, however, many of you clearly enjoyed fixing them. We love you (and so do our advertisers), but let's face it--this isn't normal behavior.

    What does it all mean? I'll leave you with email from one more reader. He said he had "great luck" running Mandrake on Compaq laptops but mixed results with some other distro/hardware combinations. He also closed with a caveat:

    "Microsoft users probably aren't interested or prepared to fight hardware issues that come with running Linux on bleeding edge hardware, be it a desktop or a laptop."

    He's right, of course: Microsoft users (in other words, most people) want cool new laptops with the latest gadgets, but they don't want to live on the bleeding edge. Until more Big Companies ship Linux on laptops that (usually) work out of the box, this won't be friendly territory for most laptop users.

    Matthew McKenzie
    Editor, Linux Pipeline
    mattcmp@sonic.net
    www.LinuxPipeline.com


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    Top Linux News

    Novell Launches Desktop Linux 9
    The company unveils its latest Linux desktop operating system, aimed directly at enterprises seeking an alternative to Windows.

    E-Voting Passed The Test, But Remains Controversial
    Supporters of e-voting systems declare victory in the 2004 elections, but critics insist the current system remains dangerously flawed.

    Dell Puts Open-Source Clustering Tools On New Server
    Dell will install cluster-management software from Platform Computing on its new PowerEdge servers.

    Scalix Webmail Update Adds Mozilla Support
    Scalix Web Access extends browser support for its Linux-based email and calendaring servers, using an interface similar to Microsoft Outlook.

    Experts Challenge Mi2g Security Study
    Linux experts slam a report naming the OS as a favorite hacker target, citing flaws in its methodology and conclusions.

    Young Linux Developers Strut Their Stuff
    Competitions such as IBM's Linux Scholar Challenge encourage college-age developers from around the world to test their programming skills.

    Linux Networx Closes $40 Million Funding Round
    The company also unveils a new storage clustering solution designed for use with its Linux Networx computing systems.

    Internet Explorer's Still-Huge Share Keeps Falling
    Microsoft's share of the browser universe has slipped nearly a full percentage point since September, although it remains over 90 percent.

    Study: Linux "Most Breached" OS
    A security firm endorses OS X and BSD as the world's most secure operating systems, and it names Linux as the most common target of successful online attacks.

    TippingPoint Releases Open Source Network Protection Tool
    Software provides application protection, performance protection, and infrastructure protection at gigabit speeds.


    Editor's Picks

    Careers: In Search Of Open-Source Experts
    As companies ramp up open-source deployments, expertise is in high demand and short supply. The costs of developing talent can add up.

    Analysis: Can Sun Turn Up The Heat On Linux?
    With its Solaris 10 launch and commodity hardware embrace, a revitalized Sun Microsystems aims to compete against Windows and Linux.

    Feature: Windows, Linux In A High-End Fight
    Microsoft hopes to crack a Linux stronghold: off-the-shelf, high-performance computing systems.

    Special: TechWeb's 'Best Independent Tech Blog' Readers' Choice Award
    Help us pick the best tech blog by casting your vote for one of our 10 finalists. Our head-to-head showdown ends November 15. Cast your vote now!

    Case Study: Can Open Source Deliver For UPS?
    The package-delivery giant embraces Linux and Apache, but it takes great care making other open-source software choices.

    Feature: Intellectual Property: Drowning In Ideas
    Can technology help the U.S. Patent Office out of a crisis that threatens the nation's ability to innovate?

    Case Study: Banking On Linux
    Many of the world's largest financial institutions rely on Linux to power operations ranging from data centers to bank branch desktops.


    Voting Booth:

    Cast Your Vote Now!
    What Do You Think Of E-Voting?

    E-voting software, used in much of the country during last week's elections, continues to create controversy. Do you trust your vote to e-voting technology, or do you prefer low-tech voting systems? Let us know, cast your vote!


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    ------- Advertisement -------------------

    This issue sponsored by JBoss Professional Open Source. See why more companies are rolling-out JBoss enterprise-wide. This FREE Forrester Consulting study shows how JBoss enterprise-class open source services can reduce TCO, expedite problem resolution and improve the productivity of your operations support staff. Download the Forrester Consulting study now, FREE.
    http://update.techweb.com/cgi-bin4/DM/y/hkDW0Gz8ol0JYs0Cv2m0Ax

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