Virtual machine twoOStwo is a virtualization technology for Intel x86 platform, developed by Russian company Parallels Ltd for German company NetSys GmbH. twoOStwo allows to launch several operating systems, such as Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, OS/2 etc., simultaneously on a single computer. Read more for screenshot and download links.

The Sun Microsystems Inc. has decided that the best way to compete against the growing use of commodity hardware and open-source software is to expand its own offerings in those very lines.

Microsoft's reputation is one of a moneymaker, but the fact is that four of its seven business units are in the red. To the tune of US$1.6 billion in fiscal year 2003, Microsoft bled money from its Business Solutions, Mobile and Embedded Devices, MSN, and Home and Entertainment divisions.

OSDL: it's not just for data centers and carrier-grade Linux anymore. Not as of this morning, that is, when OSDL issued a press release to announce the formation of a third initiative: the Linux desktop. Newsforge article, press release, Q & A. Trolltech has also joined OSDL and will participate in the Lab's new Desktop Linux Working Group.

Red Hat's program features warranty to guarantee customers the right to use Red Hat Enterprise Linux without interruption. A key feature of the Open Source Assurance Program is an Intellectual Property Warranty. The warranty ensures, that in the event that an infringement issue is identified in Red Hat Enterprise Linux software code, Red Hat will replace the infringing code. Read more for the PR.

Here is a quick Linux articles round up: "Analysis: Linux looks for new worlds to conquer" says ComputerWorld.au. "From back office to desktop, Linux is spreading" says ComputerWorld.au. "Novell at LinuxWorld: Ready To Rock" says Enterprise Linux IT. "Showtime for Linux" says LinuxWorld.au. "Big vendors lead leap to Linux" says ComputerWorld.au.

The Microsoft antitrust settlement is to be reviewed by Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, this week. But lawyers at the Department of Justice and the settled States have already been indicated that they're not altogether happy with Microsoft's compliance to the arrangement they signed 14 months ago.

Those who like .NET may find themselves lamenting, "I still have to deploy applications on the Windows operating system. I am still locked to one vendor - Microsoft." If this sounds like you, Ximian's Mono project might be the answer. The Mono project was started in July 2001 by Miguel de Icaza, cofounder of Ximian, with the aim of bringing the Common Language Infrastructure platform to free systems.

Software industry executives sparred at Harvard Business School this weekend over open source procurement policies being adopted by some governments that could leave Microsoft in the cold. These key open source advocates also pointed to databases, security and storage as the next big categories ripe for commoditization.

A detailed step-by-step HOWTO install NetBSD 1.6.1 on your iBook has been posted to the NetBSD port-macppc mailing list. More information about this port is available from the NetBSD/macppc website.

The source code of the first RC for the upcoming KDE 3.2 release is here.

Andrew Morton, Linus Torvalds' right-hand man and the maintainer of the 2.6 kernel, will not be attending the LinuxWorld conference in New York this week, but he did speak with eWeek's Senior Editor Peter Galli about the recent 2.6 kernel release and his vision for Linux.

In these difficult times, having a computer-related job is a precious commodity. Those that have managed to keep their jobs should be thankful but also concerned that it be lost in the name of offset income generated by its removal or transfer. osViews editorial contributor Doug Chick believes that one of the most valuable, yet underused tools within the computer professional's arsenal, is the advocacy of Linux on the desktop at your place of business as opposed to an expensive solution provided by Microsoft.

Computer users around the world while might be using different applications to do their paying job (e.g. a proprietary chemistry or biology app, or a high-end astronomy app etc) they all use the same "basic" applications in their daily lives: email clients, web browsers, IM, calculators, media players, image viewers, system utilities etc. Now these applications come for free with the operating system and there are plenty of completely free alternatives on the web too. But (especially younger) consumers should realize that once upon a time these "basic" free apps were costing real money. So, what happen to this software market of (basic today) applications?