Editorial Archive

Is This the Computer Age End Game?

Guest post by David Howe 2002-11-26 Editorial 36 Comments

Unlikely? A cyclic downturn perhaps, but when good times will return? My view is not in our lifetimes...at least not in the same vain as the computer industry experienced over the last 20 odd years. The recent Gartner survey on mobile phones vs desktop computers is extremely illustrative.

One Coder’s Opinion of the Microsoft Opinion

Eugenia Loli 2002-11-02 Editorial 76 Comments

"It's all over but the shouting. The non-settling states can still appeal, but they're not going to win. The DC Circuit slapped down Judges Sporkin and Jackson when they tried to give Microsoft a hard time; now that it has the ruling it wants, it's going to let that ruling stand. That leaves only the Supreme Court, and it's hard for me to imagine this particular Supreme Court even hearing the Microsoft case." Editorial.

Linux, and the Path to the Desktop

Guest post by Darren Stewart 2002-10-30 Editorial 159 Comments

There are enormous amounts of information now available about evaluating, and examining Linux for the desktop. Almost every vendor/distribution is making pitches for the desktop. The quality of the software has improved, and continues to improve. In my personal tests, there are still some missing elements that I thought I would convey to you the reader. Some of my points may have answers, and solutions available. I may not be aware of them however, so be aware of this and I look forward to your responses in the comments area below the article.

On Whether it Takes a Geek to Love Linux

Eugenia Loli 2002-10-19 Editorial 42 Comments

"There is an idea going around that Linux is not just for geeks ... some say that a good distro, like Mandrake, is easy enough for most ordinary PC users to adopt. I want to tell you my experience..." The editorial is published at NewsForge.

The Two Schools of Linux

Adam Scheinberg 2002-09-18 Editorial 79 Comments

There's so much going through my head right now, my first article since a fairly controversial article I wrote that got emotional for many on this website as well as many others. One thing is for sure: many have gotten a crash course on some things perceived as "wrong with Linux" and what is collectively agreed is right.

I Hate Windows – I am Afraid of Linux

Guest post by Robert Gering 2002-09-17 Editorial 143 Comments

First, a little background. I am a Windows user who has been using Windows since 3.1. I am not a programmer or a developer, I am a user. I process photos, use the internet, e-mail, write letters, play the ever important games and even use it to develop my comic strips. I am not computer illiterate and I use my computer with confidence and skill. Now with that said. I hate Windows.

Open Source Community Needs More Unity

Eugenia Loli 2002-09-07 Editorial 66 Comments

" Still, Open Source software fails to lead in many areas. This could be from a historical disadvantage -- the means of connecting and organizing people for sizable Open Source projects only recently became available and are only starting to approach the tight-knit nature of companies. But I think it's for a whole different reason. Open Source software lacks leadership, unity and direction." Read the editorial at NewsForge.

APT vs RPM: The Comment That Flooded My Inbox

Adam Scheinberg 2002-08-23 Editorial 220 Comments

A few weeks ago, I wrote an article for OSNews entitled "Update on Red Hat's Limbo Progress." It was to be a short article on how much Red Hat's beta releases have impressed me - to share with everyone some of the changes a desktop user sees and maybe generate some additional interest in my choice, Linux. Little did I know, one of my comments nearly incited a riot- it would flood my Inbox, leave me feeling silly about something that I still think is true...it was just poorly stated.
So, let's try a little experiment.

Editorial Time – Opinions on the Web

Eugenia Loli 2002-08-21 Editorial 5 Comments

The first editorial is an interesting take from ExtremeTech about Red Hat's "dual play" in the Linux business, called "RedHat's Astroturfing". The second one, called "Creativity, reliability to drive telematics" is written by Paul Leroux, from QNX Software. Last by not least, David Berlind analyzes the pros and cons of binary compatibility between versions: Is it the holy grail or the red herring?

If Macs Get Real POWER, Who Needs a Hammer?

Guest post by Nicholas Blachford 2002-08-09 Editorial 75 Comments

A while ago I wrote a short article on a rumour about Apple potentially using a POWER4 derived CPU. Since then there has been a lot of talk of Apple switching to an x86 based solution and now a desktop POWER4 derivative has been announced. Some people suggest this will be too expensive and in it's cut down form slower than a x86. What is Apple more likely to go for?

So, You Want to Write an Operating System

Guest post by Emmanuel Marty 2002-08-05 Editorial 32 Comments

I've always been curious about how things work. When I was little, I annoyed my parents with millions of questions. Why is the sky blue? How does water come out of the tap when you open it? Maybe I was born without the mental switch that lets you be happy with using something, without trying to figure out how it works.

Could Apple go Subscription?

Guest post by Oliver Thylmann 2002-08-01 Editorial 32 Comments

Many companies are trying to move to a subscription model for their software and Apple really has something going for them in that respect if you think about it. We, OS X Users, are already accustomed to the automatic updating of the OS and like it. dotMAC actually looks nice all in all, even if some might feel it is expensive. What people don't like is unpredictability; they have nothing against change as long as they like the outcome and know where it is going.

Discussion: Sherlock 3, AKA Watson Replica?

Eugenia Loli 2002-07-19 Editorial 43 Comments

Remember a month ago, when I urged the open source developers to take on this software and develop something equivelant and multi-platform? It seems that the only people who actually got interested in my $100 USD offer... was Apple.

Macs to Get Real POWER?

Guest post by Nicholas Blachford 2002-07-15 Editorial 59 Comments

According to a brief paragraph on MacOS Rumours Apple may be switching to IBM POWER4 CPUs instead of the Motorola G5 for future Macs.

Digital Research and the GEM OS- The Other “Windows”

Guest post by Roger M. 2002-06-09 Editorial 33 Comments

One of the early GUI operating systems for the PC, that is still being developed today, is GEM, an operating system that was originally created by Digital Research in the early 1980s. GEM was described as providing a Mac like GUI for the PC – long before Microsoft Windows 3.1 or 95. Today GEM continues to be developed as FreeGEM and old and new versions of the GEM OS and GEM applications can be downloaded for free (see links below). The history of Digital Research and GEM is quite interesting, as GEM had the potential to become the "Windows" (or Mac) of the PC world.

Time for Linux Geeks to Move Over

Eugenia Loli 2002-05-24 Editorial 72 Comments

"Sometimes it seems that Linux fanatics are the open source movement's own worst enemy. Perhaps it is time that the "revolution" started to employ a few marketing people." Read the editorial at ITWeb. Our Take: I agree with the author. There were many times that I asked articles, interviews, screenshots and other "marketing" material from maintainers of open source projects and they either never replied, or they replied... months later, or their reply was rushed and half-baked. Real companies or people who understood the importance of marketing, were truly responsive. Marketing is important, and each major open source project needs at least one good marketing/PR person.

Microsoft: Bundling vs. Modularity

Eugenia Loli 2002-05-03 Editorial 26 Comments

"Microsoft wants us to believe that Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player are tied so deeply in the OS that they cannot be removed. As middleware they are good things, but so is DirectX, and Microsoft doesn't say that can't be removed from the operating system. Windows is far more modular than Microsoft wants to admit to the court. Microsoft has grown to the point that they no longer need to compete, and the only way for them to survive as a company is to stop competing and start sharing. If something doesn't happen to change Microsoft's behavior, the backlash against them and other corporate giants will send proprietary software and countless tech jobs into obsolescence." Read the editorial at Kuro5hin.

Editorial: Where is the Progress?

Guest post by Roger M. 2002-04-26 Editorial 49 Comments

I can remember seeing my first calculator in the 1970s. It was shown to us by a teacher in school. Up to then all we had seen were mechanical adding machines. The calculator amazed us, it was silent, instantaneous, and even had a square root key, a function I never saw any adding machine do. The teacher explained that soon every home would have a computer. I couldn't believe it, computers were huge, and filled rooms. Even a home computer would take up a living room. He was right though, by 1977 we had home computers that weren't much bigger than a keyboard.

Can Macs and PCs Really Get Along?

Eugenia Loli 2002-04-23 Editorial 44 Comments

"If you put a bad-tasting item in your mouth, the natural instinct is to spit it out. A similar reaction can occur to those stalwarts testing computer hardware and software. However, quite the opposite reaction could be seen as my colleague David Coursey extended his test of the Macintosh from one month to two, and then to three." Read the rest of the editorial at ZDNews.

The Future of Computing

Guest post by Jon Bach 2002-04-20 Editorial 12 Comments

I just should begin by saying that this article is different from the others. While my other articles can be quite useful to aid you in the design or purchase of your next computer system, this article is simply a fun look at things to come.