Linux Archive

Here is your almost daily dose of different views on the subject of Linux desktop readiness: "Linux is Desktop Ready", "Why desktop Linux can't succeed in its present state" and "Is the Age of Desktop Linux Approaching?" Enjoy the diversity!

Miguel de Icaza talks about the problems independent software vendors have with Linux distributions' API/ABI backward compatiblity.

Vector Linux is a distribution based on the oldest Linux distribution available today - Slackware. It comes in two flavours - a freely downloadable ISO 'lite' version (which I used for this review) and a Deluxe CD edition which can be ordered from www.vectorlinux.com. The deluxe edition includes extras such as Gnome and KDE, as well as a whole pile of extra software.

New Zealand's Yoper Ltd announced the release of version 1.2 of Yoper Ydesktop V1. This release contains a large number of bugfixes and software changes.

In light to the announcement of Qt Phone Edition running on top of Linux, here is some related news: The new issue of LinuxGazette is discussing Linux as an embedded RTOS: "A real-time operating system (RTOS) is an operating system capable of guaranteeing timing requirements of the processes under its control. While a time-sharing OS like UNIX strives to provide good average performance, for a RTOS, correct timing is the key feature."

Linux kernel creator Linus Torvalds last weekend released a test version of the Linux 2.6 kernel called test9, a sure sign that a production version of the next kernel is fast approaching. In this e-mail exchange with SearchEnterpriseLinux.com, Torvalds explains what kind of insight he hopes to gain from enterprises that install test9, and he reveals a tentative release date for the kernel.

Here comes the 9th test release of Linux 2.6.0 and looking good with Linus Torvalds saying he's pleased with all developments since test7 and that the stability freeze was a good move. New features include Serial-ATA support and XFS fixes.

The Slackware-based VectorLinux receives a review from MadPenguin. Read it here.

Users are asking for better support for things such as third-party drivers, printer management and graphic interfaces, says NWFusion. Read their top10 requested features. Elsewhere, "Mthe adoption of Linux on the desktop is progressing, but there won't be a "David and Goliath" single blow that suddenly slays the dominance of Microsoft Corp.'s Windows, Linux advocates said at an enterprise Linux conference Wednesday.". Read that article at IDG.

My first experience with Linux on a PPC machine was Pegasos PPC and Debian. Last weekend I upgraded my Cube G4 450 Mhz and with a blazingly fast 120 GB 7200 RPM WD drive (for just $58!) to replace the default (and extremely slow) 20 GB Maxtor IDE drive. In this vast drive space, there is enough room for more than one operating system, so I decided to install Yellow Dog Linux 3.0 (and then upgrade to 3.0.1 via APT) as an addition to Mac OS X 10.3 Panther. Read more for my impressions of YDL 3.0.1 and check some screenshots too.

"DriverLoader", created by Linuxant Inc, is a revolutionary "compatibility wrapper" allowing standard Windows NDIS 5.0 drivers (the network driver standard used by Windows and on an earlier spec revision by OS/2 too) as shipped by hardware vendors for windows users to be used as-is on Linux x86.

Libranet to ArkLinux: 'An experiment in migrating from one distro to another' can be found at TuxReports.

A few months ago I was a Slackware Junkie. I loved it, and laughed at those who used 'more automatic' distributions (ok, I didn't actually laugh). Then Arch Linux 0.5 came out and I was very intrigued by it. I was getting tired of having to compile updated packages myself.

How Linus Torvalds became benevolent dictator of Planet Linux, the biggest collaborative project in history. Read the 6-page article at Wired.