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Linux Pipeline Newsletter www.LinuxPipeline.com Tuesday, February 22, 2005 In This Issue: - Gates Drops Browser Bombshell In RSA Keynote - Firefox: Over 25 Million Served - Xen Makes Unlikely LinuxWorld Star - More News... - InformationWeek 2005 National IT Salary Survey - Opinion: Who's Buying The Firefox Hype? - Preview: Red Hat Brings Power At A Price - More Picks... Join InformationWeek for a FREE, on-demand TechWebCast on The Changing Face of Email Borne Threats. Join us for an overview of current market trends and recommended approaches to mitigate the risks posed by email-borne threats. Register and view now: http://www.techweb.com/today/emvirus101304 ----------------------------------------- Editor's Note: Seven Isn't Lucky For Firefox When I downloaded Firefox 1.0 last November, I assumed the process of moving my bookmarks--and, more importantly, my work habits--would take weeks, if I decided even to finish the job. The 70-30 Opera-Internet Explorer combo that I used on my main work machine wasn't perfect, but it was familiar and it worked. Two days later, I had already forgotten about Opera and now used Internet Explorer for exactly one thing: to access a content management system which, like so many other enterprise apps, can't seem to kick its annoying dependency on Microsoft mediocrity. For everything else, I had settled into Firefox and a small but important set of extensions, all as if I had never used anything else. What's the point of this chapter from yet another Firefox hagiography? There isn't one--you've heard all of this before, and none of it is useful. You probably haven't heard anyone criticize Firefox or (perhaps more tellingly) the policies that may have helped it make small but significant inroads into large academic institutions, government agencies, and corporations. How many Firefox boosters within large IT departments, for example, typically avoid version 1.0 software releases like the plague--but quietly shepherded one particular exception around the rules? Guest columnist Rob Enderle isn't a terribly popular guy among Linux Pipeline users; in the past, he hasn't hesitated to declare Linux unfit for enterprise use or to defend some of the most unpopular elements of Microsoft's market hegemony as both necessary and desirable. As far as I'm concerned, though, one devil's advocate is more valuable than ten pollyannas for keeping everyone focused on solving problems and moving ahead, rather than passing the time patting themselves on the back. Firefox is a promising and incredibly useful example of the open-source model at work. It has also encouraged a lot of people to cut corners, make dangerous assumptions, allow others to think for them, and above all to conclude that Internet Explorer is dead but just doesn't know it yet. When I wrote my 2005 predictions column earlier this year, I noted that the "old" Microsoft--the one whose leadership reduced IBM's executive suite to a bunch of blubbering babies--would do whatever it takes to get an Internet Explorer update ready this year. It looks like the old Microsoft decided to show up for this party after all, and there's a certain open-source Web browser in its sights. Compared to what's ahead for Firefox, Rob Enderle is just offering some gentle constructive criticism.
Matthew McKenzie
Don't let future editions of Linux Pipeline Newsletter go missing. Take a moment to add the newsletter's address to your anti-spam whitelist: linuxed@techwire.com If you're not sure how to do that, ask your administrator or ISP. Or check your anti-spam utility's documentation. Thanks. Top Linux News Gates Drops Browser Bombshell In RSA Keynote Microsoft's chief tells a RSA keynote audience to expect the company's answer to Firefox this summer, instead of next year, and says a new anti-spyware tool will stay free.
Firefox: Over 25 Million Served
Xen Makes Unlikely LinuxWorld Star
Software Patents Provoke Demonstrations In Europe
MySQL Sweetens Its Deal For Enterprise Push
Firefox, Mozilla Updates Disable IDN
Patents Could Make Or Break Open Source, HP Executive Says
SCO Faces Nasdaq Delisting
Governments Start Sharing Open-Source Software
IBM, Veritas Prep Linux Resellers For Enterprise Push
Novell's 'Hula': Poison Pen For Proprietary Groupware? Editor's Picks Survey: Does Your Salary Stack Up? How do your job satisfaction and salary compare to those of your peers? Find out by participating in the InformationWeek 2005 National IT Salary survey. The study, now in its eighth year, tracks more than 20 IT job functions. It's fast, it's easy, it's completely confidential--and it's just one click away.
Opinion: Who's Buying The Firefox Hype?
Preview: Red Hat Brings Power At A Price
Enterprise Linux: Signs Of Maturity
IBM Makes $100 Million Desktop Linux Statement
Trends: Internet Explorer Crashes Foxfire's Party
Opinion: Open Source Walks The High Wire
SPECIAL REPORT: The Firefox Guide: You Want It, We Have It Cast Your Vote Now! A few months ago, I asked Linux Pipeline readers to share their experiences with Linux-based laptop computers. The verdict was mixed: Many of you had great things to say about your Linux laptops, but some of you were far from happy. This time, we'd like to hear from anyone with an opinion, whether you're a laptop Linux user, know someone who is, or simply stay current on the latest Linux hardware trends: Is Linux on the laptop ready for mainstream, everyday business use? Let us know, cast your vote! Get More Out Of Linux Pipeline Try Linux Pipeline's RSS Feed Linux Pipeline's content is available via RSS feed: Get RSS link. The feed is also auto-discoverable to many RSS readers from the Linux Pipeline home page. Note: RSS feeds are not viewable in most Web browsers. You need an RSS reader, Web-based service, or plug-in to view RSS. Find out which RSS readers the Pipeline editors recommend.
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