Sun Microsystems is considering striking up partnerships with mainstream Linux sellers such as Red Hat and SuSE--a move that would turn them into an ally, rather than a rival, of those companies.

Web-based applications have range, Windows programs have more functions. Can Java or .Net resolve the stand-off, and can CIOs get the best of both worlds? Read the article at TechUpdate.

Windows Server 2003 will bring an end to one of the biggest headaches for Windows users and administrators, according to Microsoft. The problem, which relates to Dynamic Link Libraries--software modules that can be shared by several different applications--has become an increasing headache over the years.

Top Linux seller Red Hat may be newly profitable, but the company continues to face competition from rival vendors--especially the UnitedLinux consortium. To combat the challenge from UnitedLinux--a partnership of SuSE, SCO Group, Turbolinux and Conectiva--Red Hat has become more aggressive in the corporate marketplace, readying "advanced" versions of its server and workstation products that it also hopes will help it take on Microsoft's Windows operating system.

TheRegister has a story about the leaked version of Longhorn, while ActiveWin posted more screenshots.

NewsForge hosts an interview with Autopackage's project leader Mike Hearn. The idea around Autopackage is to come up with a single software packaging/installation system that will work across all major Linux distributions, and resolve dependencies, too, so that neither developers nor users need to worry about distribution compatibility issues. OSNews hosted recently a feature article about the project.

"Today is a great day for PC users, both personal and business alike, and a great day for the PC industry with the launch of Yoper - Your Operating System," reads the bombastic release announcement for Yoper V1. Yoper (Your Perfect Operating System) is a lean and fast Linux distribution with an endearing superiority complex. This is the debut release of Ydesktop, which is aimed at workstation/desktop or terminal server use. See more at Yoper.com.

As reported in New Mobile Computing, it seems that Microsoft's buyout of Connectix is already bearing fruit, as the Visual Studio.Net 2003 developer tools will include Virtual PocketPC, a PocketPC envoronment that should make developing and testing PocketPC software on a Windows desktop easier.

The Mac Observer has posted a reader poll and commentary on the topic of whether Apple should embrace USB 2. Commentary at AppleLinks. In other Apple news, Apple is preparing on launching an online music service. Also, longtime hardware developer Steve Sakoman, a former Palm and Be executive, has rejoined Apple Computer as a vice president. Mr Sakoman was involved in the Mac II development and was the main guy behind the creation of the Newton. At Be, he designed the first generation H0bbit-based BeBox, the one that had 5 AT&T CPUs, back in the early days of Be. He later left and when he came back became Be's CTO.

"An even bigger endorsement comes from Microsoft Corp., which will begin shipping a 64-bit Windows server operating system for Opteron ahead of the chip's launch. And in a break from the company's traditional hand-in-hand relationship with Intel, Microsoft execs are talking up Opteron. They say the AMD chip helps companies that want to move at their own speed. "With 64 bits, some customers are going to want to ease into it," says Bob O'Brien, group product manager for Windows Server 2003." Read the article at BusinessWeek.

Want to keep your Windows file systems at peak performance? Start by following this guide to tweaking cluster size, picking the best naming structure, and more.

Digital media applications are unique in that they can generally consume all the performance they can get. Unlike other tasks that execute in a few seconds, the rendering of stills, audio and video can take several minutes or even hours. Applications in the digital media space can translate increases in performance to increases in end-user productivity, and it is therefore beneficial for them to take advantage of the latest platform technologies.

"Publishing this article has been avoided for quite some time. The emotions behind LindowsOS is simply too great for objectivity to be used for both Tux Reports reviewers and for readers. We've witnessed flame wars in forums, mean-spirited posts in response to positive statements regarding LindowsOS, and we've fallen prey to our own biases regarding this distribution. However, after using the product we now believe that we can give a brief look at some of our experiences in relation to our expectations and then help others sort out some of the underlying controversy they may have read on other sites." Read the review at TuxReports.

ActiveWin posted an article explaining the new licensing model of Windows Server 2003.