Lindows.com on Thursday unwrapped an inexpensive and lightweight notebook PC based on its version of the Linux operating system. The San Diego, Calif., software maker's new Lindows Mobile PC will sell for $799. It includes a 12.1-inch screen and a 933MHz Via Technologies C3 processor, along with LindowsOS, a version of the freely available Linux.

In a report inspired by the advice of a departing Microsoft manager, a Merrill Lynch technology analyst wrote that the software company must "notch up the innovation component" if it wants to succeed in an era of networked systems and increased pervasiveness of open-source applications. The report, released Wednesday by Merrill tech strategist Steven Milunovich, analyzes points raised in an essay recently published by retiring Microsoft program manager David Stutz.

Blackdown Java-Linux Java 2 SE v1.4.1-01 for ix86 and SPARC is available from ftp mirrors . Both the ix86 and the SPARC version include the HotSpot Client and Server VMs, as well as an enhanced version of Java Web Start 1.2 and a Java Plug-In for browsers based on Mozilla. The ix86 version also includes a Java Plug-In for Netscape 4.x browsers.

I'm a web designer and a recent Linux convert who has tried several of the large distros. This article is the summary of my experience over the last few months. I decided to start using Linux a few months ago around the time Mandrake went to version 9 and Red Hat to version 8. With all the hype I figured I'd give it a try.

A mini-review of Lindows 3.0 can be found at MeetTheGeeks.org.

Roberto J Dohnert writes: "Winsupersite has an excellent two part story on the development of Windows NT and how it has affected the release of Windows 2003 Server." Read the first part and the second part at Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows.

"Palm and AT&T Wireless said they plan to have the Tungsten W, the handheld maker's combination phone, e-mail device and organizer, on store shelves by the end of the month. The two companies were set to make a formal announcement about the launch of the Tungsten W on Tuesday, but held off because one element of the certification process for the device had not been finalized with the PCS Type Certification ReviewBoard, a wireless certification board." Read more at ZDNet.

Microsoft plans to take a giant leap into the server consolidation space this week by announcing the acquisition of virtual server software company Connectix. The software giant, which is expected to formally unveil the deal Thursday, will use the technology to allow customers to carve out multiple partitions on a single Intel-based server, allowing them to run multiple instances of a single operating system and multiple workloads. Update: Read more for info on the fate of the MacOSX version.

Get the Red Hat Linux 8.1 Phoebe Beta 3 from here or the mirrors. Update: Announcement, changelog.

PCLinuxOnline has managed to acquire some extra information from MandrakeSoft in regards to their Corporate Server 2.1.

Mention the word "Debian" in a group of Linux users and emotions are immediately stirred up. One of the largest volunteer cooperative projects in software history continues to attract attention of media, selfless effort of some of the world's best software developers and endless end users debates. No matter what your Debian feelings and experiences are like, there is no doubt that the Debian project has made an enormous impact on the history of modern software development. Alexander Antoniades looks at the Debian's latest stable version 3.0r1 and describes his own observations in this review at DistroWatch.

Leading Linux seller Red Hat quietly released an updated version of its Advanced Server product last week that adds support for IBM's x440 server, an important expansion for both companies. IBM has high hopes for multiprocessor Xeon systems, Big Blue has been cooling toward Intel's Itanium processor, said Illuminata analyst Gordon Haff. IBM canceled a plan to release its own AIX version of Unix for Itanium servers and recently transferred a handful of programmers working on Linux for Itanium to work on Linux for IBM's Power server processors. Additionally, a third Phoebe beta of Red Hat Linux 8.1 is expected tomorrow for the x86 architecture.

"Linux software maker Lycoris is set to announce Wednesday that it will begin selling boxed software through retail giant Wal-Mart, another sign of growing mainstream acceptance of the open-source operating system." Read more at ZDNet. Lycoris also runs a promotional deal for the... one you love.

"IBM has fired up a computer running IBM's forthcoming Power5 processor, a top IBM executive said Monday, predicting that systems with the new chip will have four times the performance than those using the current Power4." Read more at ZDNet.