Apple just released G5 optimized version of their Pro apps, DVD Studio Pro, Shake, and Final Cut Pro. For those without G5s, they also introduced a Dual 1.8 GHz PowerMac G5 at $2499, which is a good value compared to the Dual 2 GHz. 20" iMacs round out Apple's new product annoucments, just in time for the holidays.

LinuxElectrons features a mini-review of Gentoo Linux 1.4 along with many screenshots.

IRIX 6.5.22 is releasing with all new systems shipping from SGI worldwide manufacturing centers. The IRIX 6.5.22 release contains both maintenance and feature updates. This release continues the focus on stability, reliability, security and compatibility required in the IRIX 6.5.XX quarterly release process. Approximately 121 customer-reported incidents are fixed in this release.

I recently picked up a copy of SuSE 9.0 Professional. I have never used or been familiar with a SuSE product before as I've only used Mandrake, Red Hat, and a bit of Debian. After using Red Hat for a while I decided to evaluate SuSE and I am now sorry for not having tried it sooner.

One-year anniversary is marked by new hardware and software, growing customer adoption. New features include enhanced "ink to text" experience, integration in Microsoft Office 2003 and Office OneNote 2003 and new dev capabilities.

With today's announcement that Sun Microsystems, Inc. and AMD have formed an alliance to deliver a broad range of AMD Opteron processor-based systems, Sun also announced it plans to offer its Java Enterprise System on the AMD Opteron processor and is significantly extending the reach of its Solaris Operating System and leadership in the 64-bit space. The alliance intends to provide increased market opportunities for ISVs, OEMs, and channel partners by offering an industrial strength, affordable platform that has been fully optimized and tuned for the 64-bit AMD Opteron processor.

"With the recent release of the initial Longhorn bits, we now need to start thinking about the competitive landscape for 2005, which is when the next version of Windows is likely to ship." Read Enderle's editorial/analysis at the InternetWeek.

CoyoteGulch just posted an analysis of GNU C and C++ optimizations, using a genetic algorithm to discover the most effective optimization flags for different algorithms.

Offering brings new levels of Transparency, Interoperability, Document Portability and ease of Communication, says Microsoft.

Preaching virtues of the open-source software, CEO leads firm to profitability while challenging Microsoft.

Addressing a more buttoned-down crowd than in past years, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates attempted Sunday to usher in a new era of computing he dubbed "seamless computing." Check here for more Comdex reporting throughout the week.

The Darwin team is pleased to announce the availability of the Darwin 7.0.1 Installer CD. This is a single Installer CD that will boot and install Darwin on Macintosh computers supported by Mac OS X 10.3, as well as certain x86-based personal computers.

There's been a bunch of news recently about Microsoft's continuing anti-trust problems. There were arguments in Massachusetts' appeal of the consent decree between MS and the Department of Justice. Also, three days of hearings occurred this week in the European Union's investigation of MS conduct in Europe. Nothing definitive happened, but there are some intriguing bits and pieces that surfaced.

It has been years since Microsoft had any real competition for its Office productivity suite -- the software package that includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Once-popular competitors like WordPerfect and Lotus 1-2-3 have been reduced to tiny niche players. This article evaluates Star Office in comparison to MS Office.