Thom Holwerda Archive

Microsoft plans to launch a Web site to share the activities of its internal Linux laboratories, an effort to sample feedback from customers who combine Microsoft and open-source software. Customers will be able to submit requests to Microsoft employees. For example, a person could ask how to best test the use of Linux desktops working with Microsoft's directory software.

Apple's Boot Camp has stirred things up quite a bit around the net. eWeek states: "CIOs have a lot invested in Windows and aren't going to junk the OS for Apple. However, if a CIO can get a twofer - Windows XP and Mac OS on one machine - a flyer may make some sense." In an analysis, eWeek concludes: "Boot Camp might give businesses and consumers another reason to look at the Mac, analysts and IT managers say." Cnet wonders if all this is good news for MS, while Ars looks at the limitations. Apple also released firmware updates for Intel Macs, which supposedly add BIOS support to EFI so you can just boot an XP (or Linux!) CD without using Boot Camp.

Microsoft has urged UK PC vendors not to give customers the opportunity to buy a PC without a pre-installed operating system. Supplying base systems, or 'naked PCs', is a missed opportunity, according to Michala Alexander, Microsoft's head of anti-piracy. Writing in Microsoft's Partner Update magazine, which is distributed to computer dealers, Alexander estimated that 5 percent of computers sold in the UK in 2006 would not include an operating system.

"In GNU/Linux, file access is restricted. Users don't necessarily have the same rights when it comes to deleting, executing or even reading files. In fact, every file contain data such as its owner, its permissions and other information which defines exactly what can be done with it, and by whom."

"Visual XForms Designer is a set of graphical tools and interfaces for expediting the creation and editing of documents with XForms-based content. This stamdards-based, easy-to-use Eclipse plug-in makes the process of creating documents with XForms content easier, faster, and simpler."

Someone who claims to have an NDA with Apple, has revealed the new features MacOS 10.5, Leopard, will have. He claims all these details are already available on other websites, hence he can list them without having to worry. The most interesting bit: Leopard will ask during install if you want to install Vista or Linux on a seperate partition so you can run them simultaneously (a heavy Mac is required). Please note that the authenticity of these words is debatable at best. My take: There have been numerous rumours that Apple is going to add virtualization support to Leopard, so that might be true. And I expect Microsoft to support this. Why? Because of this, and because a Windows install equals money to MS. Whether on a Mac or not.