This article discusses detailed similarities and differences between booting Linux on an x86-based platform (typically a PC-compatible SBC) and a custom embedded platform based around PowerPC, ARM, and others. It discusses suggested hardware and software designs and highlights the tradeoffs of each. It also describes important design pitfalls and best practices.

Microsoft's Security Chief says that Windows is safer than Linux. Mike Nash made the comments while stressing that the company is making progress on security. He compared vulnerabilities in Windows with those in Red Hat or SuSE Linux. Update: Nick McGrath, head of platform strategy for Microsoft in the UK has claimed that 'Linux is not ready for mission critical computing.'

This is a brief introduction to Gnome optimization, both the hows and the whys. Details of individual tools and techniques are left for later articles, but a collection of hints and tricks is provided. Update: GNOME 2.10 Beta 2 is the first pre-release intended for wide public scrutiny before the final release.

As mentioned last week, we have five fine books to give away. Two will go to existing OSNews members, two will go to readers, members or not, who participate in enlightened discourse on our comments and forums, and one will go to a new member who signed up between last week and tomorrow. Only a handful of people have signed up as new members, so if you sign up today, you have a great chance of winning a free book. Winners will be chosen this weekend, so you only have one more day to make yourself eligible.

The X.Org Foundation today announced the fourth release of the X Window System since the formation of the Foundation in January of 2004.

USB2 support for RISC OS 5 on the Iyonix is here.