Microsoft recently announced the release of a scaled-down version of the .Net runtime meant for mobile devices. What will you find in the .Net Compact Framework though?

Linux distributions have come a long way in easing the tasks of system administrators. From software installation to hardware configuration, Linux is moving away from making you manually edit text configuration files by providing you with elegant GUI tools to make system administration easier. In this article, LinuxOrbit takes a look at some of the latest GUI tools you can use to help configure and administrate your GNU/Linux system.

"A federal judge's order that would force Microsoft Corp. to include Sun Microsystems Inc.'s programming language in the latest version of Windows is necessary to prevent the language from becoming extinct, Sun argued in a court filing. The company filed its response Tuesday to Microsoft's appeal of the order. Sun said its Java programming language is damaged each day the injunction is not imposed because the market tilts toward Microsoft's .NET framework." Read the reports here and here. Good to see Sun being realistic regarding the status of and race between Java and .NET's framework.

Lindows.com today announced the immediate availability of the Lindows Media Computer. The "Mini-PC," as Michael Robertson calls it in his announcement, runs LindowsOS 3.0, but can be used as a household media player. It boasts a startup time of 10 seconds for DVD/CD/MP3 CD playback. It is available online now.

LinuxHardware is featuring a review of Vector Linux 2.5 Soho Edition. However, Vector Linux is available now with version 3.0. In the meantime, the Lehigh Valley Linux Users Group has partnered with a startup nfp called Computers for Kids (cfk) which is refurbishing donated computers, setting them up with Vector Linux, and providing limited, ongoing training and support.

Xandros today announced the release of the Xandros Desktop Standard Edition 1.0. Unlike Xandros Desktop Deluxe ($99), Xandros Standard Edition cannot reallocate space from a Windows NTFS during the install, though it still can reallocate space from a FAT, VFAT, or FAT32 partition. By removing such Deluxe features such as CodeWeavers CrossOver Office and Plugin, the printed user guide, and the Technology Preview CD, Xandros Desktop can be made available at $40 USD. Desktop Standard provides one incident of e-mail installation support, as opposed to 30-day support with Desktop Deluxe.

Apple Computer on Tuesday harvested a new crop of Power Macs outfitted with faster processors and lower prices on some configurations. The high-end system tops out with twin 1.42GHz PowerPC G4 processors. The new low-end Power Mac costs $1,499--a $200 reduction over the previous starter system--and packs a single 1GHz processor. But the megahertz boost and price cut is a trade-off. The previous entry-level Mac packed dual 867MHz processors.

Opera Software expressed significant doubts it would continue producing a browser for the Macintosh operating system, illustrating a growing problem for third-party Mac developers as Apple Computer steps up its own application development efforts. Also, Opera Software on Tuesday will release the final version of its newly rewritten browser for the Windows operating system, adding features without increasing the browser's size. Update: Opera 7.00 for Windows is available. Update2: Official announcement and feature-list. Update3: I just added an OSNews sidebar panel for Opera.

"One of the things that's probably going to start happening this year - or start happening in a much bigger way - is Linux on the desktop. I use Linux for the desktop, I never use it for big server stuff." Torvalds on AustraliaIT.

Borland Software has licensed a key piece of Microsoft's .Net software and will build a new line of programming tools for .Net later this year, the companies announced Monday.

Some of you might be thinking, why? Well, I think it's about time. MCSE's, VB Programmers, and techies have been using Windows for years, and I think it's about time Windows moves to the desktop for ordinary people.

Microsoft comes under regular fire for its apparent eagerness to end-of-life its products, making them more difficult and expensive to support, and hence forcing users to upgrade to the next version. But without fanfare Red Hat has quietly introduced its own approach to end-of-life, and compared to this, Microsoft's idea of an upgrade cycle looks pretty sedate. As of the release of Red Hat 8.0, the company is only guaranteeing errata maintenance for the 12 months following a product's release.

"After long weeks of impatient waiting, it has finally arrived. NVIDIA has distributed the first GeForceFX cards to the press. Now, NVIDIA has to prove that it really has what it takes to topple ATI and its successful Radeon 9700 PRO from the throne." Benchmarks on TomsHardware, ExtremeTech, AnandTech and Hard|OCP.

Windows NT 4.0 Server, still the weapon of choice for quantities of the more truculent IT manager, has been given another 12 months to live. Microsoft today intends to announce that paid incident and security hotfix support for the product, previously scheduled to cease at the end of this year, will now run up until 31st December 2004.