Freedom is Not Embarrassing

| 0 Comments
Thumbnail image for linuxtd_logo.png

by Carla Schroder
Managing Editor

Jul 3, 2009

Thumbnail image for carla_schroeder.jpegThis Saturday is Independence Day in the US, celebrating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, which was the colonies' farewell to King George III and British rule.

Those were more dramatic times than now, with people risking their lives and taking other great risks for the cause of independence. But one thing has not changed, and that is the eternal fight between freedom and tyranny. The contemporary version is much less bloody, and more sneaky and insidious. It's big businesses invading our personal privacy in every way they can get away with, and buying and selling our personal data with no oversight or accountability. We don't even get a cut of the swag. It's the erosion of our civil liberties, aided and abetted enthusiastically by business in pursuit of profits, no matter how unethical. It's the manipulation and ruination of the courts, for example the insane unchecked litigation by the RIAA that has brought ruin to so many people, and the never-ending SCO saga. It is absurd that these weiners should have so much power for destruction and obstruction. In a sane world their top exec

This image is a digital version of the

Image via Wikipedia

utives would spend their weekends in the stocks in the public square, being mocked and pelted with offal.

Back when the Internet was brand-new, the paint wasn't even dry when governments and special interest groups started putting up fences, and trying to control citizen's online activities. I don't know what I loathe more, this pathological busybody-ness and control-freak interference in our lives, or the near-ruination of this fabulous invention by spammers and marketers. I think it all springs from the same root cause, which is a total disregard and disrespect for other people, and a willingess to exploit them for any purpose. What's the difference between a spammer, a marketer, a government censor, and a vandal?

None.

We've all heard the scornful criticism against idealism, as though it were something to be ashamed of, and mocking of the fundamental ideals of Free Software. I'm not embarrassed to have ideals, I am proud. Ideals elevate us above situational ethics. Ideals guide us into trying to be better people, and give us strong bases for making difficult decisions. (Such as No, little Bill, it is not OK to do anything in the name of making a buck.)

This may seem like reading apocalyptic meaning into Free Software, and I think it does have nearly-apocalyptic importance. Openness, accountability, honesty, success based on merit, community---hey, call me a nasty red Commie, but that sure sounds like the fundamentals of democracy. Who in the proprietary world is looking out for us? If it weren't for Free Software we'd be shorn skinless. Tor, OpenSSL, OpenSSH, PGP, open standards, formats, code, protocols, free intellectual inquiry and sharing, a culture of stubborn resistance-- they're more important than ever. Technology is part of the foundation of modern life, and it's too important to let the greedy exploiters control it.


Original story
Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud (new in Ubuntu 9.04)

| 0 Comments
UbuntuLogo.png
Get Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud support and consulting

Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud (new in Ubuntu 9.04)Eucalyptus logo


July 1, 2009

Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud brings Amazon EC2-like infrastructure capabilities inside the firewall. The Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud is powered by Eucalyptus, an open source implementation for the emerging standard of EC2. This solution is designed to simplify the process of building and managing an internal cloud for businesses of any size, thereby enabling companies to create their own self-service infrastructure.

Set-up

  • Users can install Ubuntu 9.04 Server Edition and enable partner repositories.
  • Ubuntu Server Edition offers easy package deployment and configuration.
  • Users can configure multiple clusters into a single cloud.

Cloud

  • Interface compatibility with EC2 reduces the cost of learning a new interface when moving from a private to a public cloud. It enables users to adopt popular management tools for private cloud computing and to develop skills using the same techniques that they would deploy on Amazon's popular public cloud.
  • An extensive range of popular development services including an elastic block storage (EBS) equivalent and an S3 compatible storage manager eases integration.
  • Support for elastic IP assignment enables users to assign static public IPs to any virtual instance.
  • SOAP with WS-security ensures secure internal communication.
  • Support for instance control operations enables users to reboot virtual machines. This helps users troubleshoot more effectively.
  • KVM hypervisor provides users with best-of-breed virtualization technology.

Management

  • Ubuntu Server Edition comes with basic 'Cloud Administrator' tools for system management and a web-based interface for cloud configuration.
  • Ubuntu Server Edition is compatible with popular cloud management tools.

Technical Requirements

Recommended minimum specification of a dual-core 2.2 GHz processor with virtualization extension (Intel-VT or AMD-V), 4GB RAM and 100 GB hard drive.

Getting Started

Implementing Ubuntu Cloud Computing is open to anyone who wants to give it a try. It's simple and easy. You need to download Ubuntu 9.04 Server Edition first, then just follow the Eucalyptus section of the help wiki.

Getting help and further information

You can get help from Canonical's Technical support or ask for help on:

To keep up to date on Ubuntu cloud activities, watch:


Source

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Red Hat Announces Premier Cloud Provider Certification and Partner Program to Enable Wider Enterprise Cloud Adoption


Amazon Web Services becomes first member of Red Hat's Program; providing benefits to end customers, software partners and cloud providers

RALEIGH, NC - June 30, 2009 - Red Hat, Inc. (NYSE: RHT), the world's leading provider of open source solutions, today announced the Premier Cloud Provider Certification and Partner Program, designed to simplify and expand the adoption of cloud computing by enterprise customers. The program enables industry leaders in cloud computing to become certified to offer Red Hat technology solutions. Premier Cloud Provider Partners will collaborate with Red Hat on technical support, security updates, hardware certification, sales and marketing, and business models. As part of the announcement today, cloud computing pioneer Amazon Web Services will extend its technology relationship with Red Hat to become the first Red Hat Premier Cloud Provider Partner.

Thumbnail image for Red_Hat_-_Logo_175x192.jpg

The Red Hat Premier Cloud Provider Program has been established to address the increased interest in cloud computing from Red Hat customers, both in building virtualized internal infrastructure systems and extending their applications into the clouds. Red Hat customers seek the flexibility to transfer and use Red Hat subscriptions on premise and/or in cloud environments, with support and compatibility. Red Hat customers have also requested the ability to rent elastic computing by-the-hour with access to consistent, technical support, security updates, and compatibility with existing IT resources. This program aims to provide more flexibility for Red Hat customers when developing and deploying their applications.

In addition to customers, Red Hat has witnessed growing ISV partner interest in providing cloud offerings based on their applications certified on Red Hat Enterprise Linux and/or JBoss Enterprise Middleware. As part of its new program, Red Hat will work with customers to identify secure, optimized and supported cloud providers, and will work with ISVs to help enable delivery of cloud offerings with an on-ramp program that spans technology, business and support models.

"A robust ecosystem of solutions providers is emerging around cloud computing," said Mike Evans, vice president, Corporate Development at Red Hat. "We believe Red Hat's consistent dedication to open source and open standards will further the success of a strong cloud ecosystem. By bringing together thousands of Red Hat-certified applications, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, JBoss Enterprise Middleware, and Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization we aim to deliver the next generation of computing architectures, today."

Building on the experience of delivering the first supported operating system and first supported middleware offering for Amazon Web Services, Red Hat is now growing its relationship by choosing Amazon Web Services as the first member of the Premier Cloud Provider Program.

"As the demand for cloud based technology infrastructure services rapidly expands throughout larger enterprises, we are expecting that our expanded Red Hat relationship will help more customers take advantage of the scalable, reliable and on-demand resources provided by Amazon Web Services," said Terry Wise, Director of Partner Relations for Amazon Web Services.

Test drive Red Hat's cloud solutions on Amazon EC2 at the Red Hat Summit, September 1-4, 2009.

In addition, Red Hat will host the Open Source Cloud Computing Forum on July 22, 2009 to enable a broad industry discussion on the unique ways that open source can help to break down barriers to wider cloud computing adoption. For more information on the Forum, visit www.redhat.com/cloudcomputingforum/.

For more information about Red Hat, visit www.redhat.com. For more news, more often, visit www.press.redhat.com.

About Red Hat, Inc.

Red Hat, the world's leading open source solutions provider, is headquartered in Raleigh, NC with over 65 offices spanning the globe. CIOs ranked Red Hat as one of the top vendors delivering value in Enterprise Software for five consecutive years in the CIO Insight Magazine Vendor Value survey. Red Hat provides high-quality, affordable technology with its operating system platform, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, together with applications, management and Services Oriented Architecture (SOA) solutions, including JBoss Enterprise Middleware. Red Hat also offers support, training and consulting services to its customers worldwide. Learn more: http://www.redhat.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: risks related to delays or reductions in information technology spending, the integration of acquisitions and the ability to market successfully acquired technologies and products; the ability of the Company to effectively compete; the inability to adequately protect Company intellectual property and the potential for infringement or breach of license claims of or relating to third party intellectual property; the ability to deliver and stimulate demand for new products and technological innovations on a timely basis; risks related to data and information security vulnerabilities; ineffective management of, and control over, the Company's growth and international operations; fluctuations in exchange rates; adverse results in litigation; and changes in and a dependence on key personnel, as well as other factors contained in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K (copies of which may be accessed through the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at http://www.sec.gov), including those found therein under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations". In addition to these factors, actual future performance, outcomes, and results may differ materially because of more general factors including (without limitation) general industry and market conditions and growth rates, economic conditions, and governmental and public policy changes. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of the date of this press release and these views could change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date of the press release.

LINUX is a trademark of Linus Torvalds. RED HAT® and JBOSS® are registered trademarks of Red Hat, Inc. and its subsidiaries in the US and other countries.

Press Release

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Cloud Confusion Amongst IT Professionals

| 0 Comments

Cloud Confusion Amongst IT Professionals

24.06.2009


version-one-logo-new.gif

The findings of a survey by document management software company, Version One, has revealed that 41% of senior IT professionals admit that they "don't know" what cloud computing is. Version One carried out the research with 60 senior IT professionals (IT directors and managers) across a range of UK public and private sector organisations. This research follows-on from a similar survey carried-out by Version One which highlights that two-thirds of UK senior finance professionals (finance directors and managers) are confused about cloud computing.

Cloud Computing - Cloud of ConfusionOf the remaining 59% of IT professionals who profess to know what cloud computing is, 17% of these understand cloud computing to be internet-based computing while 11% believe it is a combination of internet-based computing, software as a service (SAAS), software on demand, an outsourced or managed service and a hosted software service. The remaining respondents understand cloud computing to be a mixture of the above.

Despite cloud computing being in the media spotlight, only a minority of respondents (5%) say that they use it "a lot" and less than a quarter of those surveyed (19%) reveal that they only use cloud computing sparingly. Almost half of respondents (47%) admit that their company doesn't use cloud computing with the remaining 29% conceding that they "don't know" whether their organisation uses it or not.

Julian Buck, General Manager of Version One, says, "Although this is only a small survey of IT professionals, the results are nonetheless very alarming, especially as IT professionals are the very people that need to understand cloud computing so that they can explain its benefits to management."

Buck continues, "It is clear from the survey results that there are a number of contrasting views as to what cloud computing really is, which is hardly surprising in light of the many different cloud computing definitions in the public arena. For instance, Wikipedia defines it as 'Internet-based computing' while Gartner refers to it 'as a service' using Internet technologies. IT expert, John Willis, writing in his cloud blog says that 'virtualisation is the secret sauce of a cloud' and provides different levels of cloud computing. With so many definitions circulating, clarity is urgently needed."

quoteIt is clear from the survey results that there are a number of contrasting views as to what cloud computing really is, which is hardly surprising in light of the many different cloud computing definitions in the public arena.


quote- Julian Buck, Version One

Only 2% of respondents say that their company is "definitely" going to invest in cloud computing within the next twelve months whilst 30% state that their organisations "may" invest in this technology. 45% admit that they "don't know" whether their organisations will be investing in it or not with the remaining 23% stating that they currently have no investment plans. For those who definitely or maybe have plans to invest in cloud computing, some of the key business drivers cited include reduction in overheads and paper, ease of use, cost savings and the ability to provide collaborative tools for teaching and learning.

Buck adds, "If organisations are going to embrace cloud computing in the future it's essential that a single, simplified explanation is adopted by everyone. Failure to cut through the confusion could result in organisations rejecting this technology and missing out on the benefits it provides."

Source
Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

total telecom home page

Rivals move to flag IBM as anticompetitive in mainframes

By John Letzing, Dow Jones Newswires
Thursday 25 June 2009

International Business Machines Corp. is drawing fresh scrutiny of its business practices from rivals and critics banking on a stricter antitrust regime under the Obama administration.


ccia.pngThe Computer & Communications Industry Association has pursued Big Blue for decades in an effort to rein in the technology giant's allegedly unfair behavior.

The CCIA now has added encouragement from a tiny firm backed by IBM rival Microsoft Corp., which has lodged an antitrust complaint in Europe, while pressing a related lawsuit in federal court in New York and sounding out U.S. regulators. T3 Technologies Inc. argues that IBM unfairly has sewn up the market for mainframes, the powerful machi
Image representing IBM as depicted in CrunchBase

Image via CrunchBase

nes relied upon by virtually every Fortune 500 company to crunch data.

Ed Black, CCIA's chief executive, suggested that IBM's competitive behavior has worsened since it was freed from a Justice Department consent decree during President George W. Bush's first term. He's hopeful federal regulators will take a renewed interest.

"With the new administration, I think odds are pretty substantial," Black said."They're doing the same stuff they were nailed for before, and very blatantly."

CCIA members include T3, Microsoft and Oracle Corp. The group was formed more than 35 years ago, in part to draw attention to IBM's dominance of mainframes. Though it was once presumed dead, analysts say the mainframe business may now become eve
Image representing Microsoft as depicted in Cr...

Image via CrunchBase

n more strategic. That's because of the increasing shift in corporate computing to an Internet-hosted "cloud" reliant upon mainframes, as well as on other servers plugged into data centers.

T3 contends that IBM pens in mainframe customers faced with a high cost of switching to other systems, while refusing to share blueprints necessary to offer a cheaper alternative.

"We are hopeful that with the new administration and a stated change in direction, this is something the Justice Department will take a look at," said T3 President Steven Friedman."Suffice to say, they've been made aware of the situation."

Christine Varney, head of the Justice Department's antitrust division, has signaled publicly that the regulator intends to generally be more aggressive. Meanwhile, Friedman said he expects to hear soon whether the European Commission plans to open an investigation stemming from T3's January complaint lodged in Brussels.

For Big Blue's part, company spokesman Steve Eisenstadt said that IBM is confident it hasn't violated competition laws:"The IBM mainframe has been around for decades, and there have always been competitive options and alternatives to it." Profitable Niche

Microsoft invested in T3 in November of last year. Friedman declined to discuss specifics, though a Securities and Exchange Commission filing from December shows a $1 million investment in T3, alongside a credit facility worth up to $6 million, courtesy of an unnamed entity.

A Microsoft spokesman said that while it isn't a party to T3's legal cases against IBM, the company "believes there needs to be greater openness and choice" in the mainframe market.

"Customers want greater interoperability between the mainframe and other platforms, including systems that run [Microsoft's] Windows Server," the spokesman elaborated."That's why we continue to invest in companies like T3."

Tampa-based T3 develops mainframe technology compatible with IBM software that is designed for small and midsize enterprises.

Microsoft's Windows software runs on servers capable of some of the work of a mainframe, and other IBM rivals offering competitive server technology include Hewlett-Packard Co. and Sun Microsystems Inc., which is being acquired by Oracle. Eisenstadt noted that IBM mainframes actually make up a relatively small portion of the overall server
Image representing Oracle Corporation as depic...

Image via CrunchBase

market.

While a bit player in a larger market, mainframes still are lucrative - a business line that includes hardware, software and services. Mainframes function as a cash cow for IBM, according to Louis Miscioscia, an analyst who covers the company for Brigantine Advisors.

"It's not explosive from a revenue standpoint, but it's incredibly profitable," he said, noting that related gross margins are "in the seventies," meaning that 70 cents of every dollar made is pure profit.

In 2008, IBM said mainframe revenue rose 12.5%, while it shipped 25% more MIPS, or computing horsepower contained in mainframes, than in the previous year.

Looking ahead, cloud computing may provide a significant shot in the arm for the mainframe business.

Analysts generally expect companies to begin deploying more critical applications and data using the Internet cloud, and IBM and other companies zeroing in on corporate data centers are expected to benefit.

"They're very focused on it," Miscioscia said of IBM, though questions remain whether cloud computing will make heavier use of the servers offered by rivals. The analyst pointed out that functions such as airline bookings, which are already based on mainframes, could well be integrated into a cloud-computing system. Case For Antitrust Action Unclear

Until roughly a decade ago, large competitors in the market for mainframes compatible with IBM software included Amdahl Corp. and Hitachi Data Systems.

When those rivals pulled out, IBM continued investing."Customers need to go to IBM now to buy new hardware to continue operating those systems," said IDC analyst Jean Bozman."They don't have anyone else selling that particular thing."

More recently, companies such as T3 and Platform Solutions Inc., which was spun out of Amdahl, developed technology enabling the use of IBM mainframe software on less expensive hardware. IBM, however, sued Platform Solutions for patent infringement in 2006, and Platform Solutions later countersued IBM in conjunction with T3 for alleged antitrust violations. IBM ultimately acquired Platform Solutions last year.

"What they've done just isn't right," T3's Friedman commented on IBM."If you want to buy a mainframe today, you have one choice in Europe and one in the U.S."

Friedman also said that IBM's anticompetitive behavior began in earnest shortly after the Justice Department's consent decree, instituted in 1956 to limit IBM's monopoly in the computer market, was lifted in 2001.

Yet the market definition for mainframes may be unclear, with competition coming in a certain sense from other server products. In addition, a business not widely seen as a growth enterprise may do little to draw antitrust scrutiny.

John Harkrider, antitrust practice co-chair at the law firm Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP, said the Obama administration already has proven to be more active in policing competition.

But Harkrider, who has been retained by the Justice Department to investigate antitrust issues in the past, said it's unlikely that IBM will be confronted anytime soon."That consent decree was during a period when IBM arguably had a monopoly powered on the hardware side. I'm not sure anyone would make the argument they have the same influence today."

Antitrust regulators are more likely to be interested in businesses with "network effects," or a connection between the value of a product and the number of people using it, such as software operating systems or Internet search, according to Harkrider.

Keith Hylton, a law professor at Boston University, said that companies such as IBM that have operated under consent decrees are more likely to be able to manage their business in such as way as to avoid being flagged again.

"It changes their culture, with lawyers playing bigger roles," Hylton added."They're probably less likely to get into trouble, or if they do, they'll be better prepared for it."

Original story

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Does the Linux Desktop Innovate Too Much?

| 0 Comments
datamation.com.png




Does the Linux Desktop Innovate Too Much?


June 21, 2009
By Bruce Byfield


Thumbnail image for byfield.jpgFor the last eighteen months, the GNU/Linux desktop has been in a period of radical innovation. KDE 4 introduced new features and workflows. Mark Shuttleworth launched Ubuntu on a unilateral redesign campaign, starting with notifications. GNOME announced a new desktop that, so far as anyone can tell, will profoundly change the user-experience.

These innovations are likely to continue for at least another couple of release cycles, with upcoming versions of KDE scheduled to put social networking into applications and remote windows on to the desktops of passing computers.

Yet in the middle of all these experiments, nobody seems to be asking a basic question: Does the average user want any of these things?

Personally, I love these innovations, every one of them. I'm a tinkerer who likes to play with new things and write about them. Some of these experiments may succeed more than others, and some I consider outright failures, but I don't tire of any of them.

Their number suggests that the free desktop is in a healthy state and has surpassed proprietary ones, and I'm proud of that.

K Desktop Environment

Image via Wikipedia

However, people who share my enthusiasm for innovation seem to be the minority. Whenever KDE 4 is mentioned in an article online, the comments are sure to include complaints that KDE 3.5 was better.

Similarly, an article I recently published on GNOME Shell, the basis for the new GNOME desktop, inspired only condemnations of the program, even though its final form at this stage is anybody's guess.

Thumbnail image for gnome.jpeg

Admittedly, commenters may not represent general attitudes. We have no way of knowing whether they do. Yet the fact that most of the praises for these innovations come from people who participate in the projects involved seems suggestive.

Under these circumstances, the free software community needs to consider the pros and cons of these innovations -- not one at a time, but as a whole.

Is there a compelling argument for innovation? Or has the free desktop reached a point where it satisfies most users and any attempt to change its current state is going to be regarded as an unwarranted intrusion on the average person's activities?

And, if so, what can be done to improve the situation?

The case for change

On an abstract level, few free software users are likely to find much that is objectionable in the arguments in favor of innovation.

For example, a year ago, Shuttleworth is reported as saying, "The great task in front of us over the next two years is to lift the experience of the Linux desktop from something that is stable and robust and not so pretty, into something that is art . . . . I see this [need] for free software - beautiful, elegant software. We have to invest in making this desktop beautiful and useful."

More recently, KDE developer Aaron Seigo defended KDE's upcoming social desktop with similar rhetoric.

Many online services, Seigo points out, are not free software, and cannot ensure protection of data or privacy -- the implication being that, in contrast, KDE's social desktop suffers from none of these problems.

He notes, too, that "The innovation essentially stopped at 'things I used to do on paper'. I want to do more than just have an easy place to dump my embarrassing photos of others from last night, keep up a public journal, read an annotated map or exchange small blocks of text with others. I want the network to make my computing life more interesting, more immersive and more useful. The innovation has all but dried up in social networking, however, and what we have is an electronic version of the library and post office. A really freaking cool library and post-office, but that's about it. We can do better than that, can't we?"

Seigo goes on to say that free software is uniquely positioned to improve on the current standard. As a community, it already understands the concepts of community behind social networking. Nor is it constrained by financial considerations in its quest for innovation.

Then Seigo paints a utopian vision of the possible future: "I see our computers becoming helpers rather than mildly frustrating tools; I see services becoming a true web of interacting greatness rather than silos with the occasional rickety handmade (and often one-way) rope bridge between them; I see 'social networking' and 'personal rights and freedoms' being mutually supporting at every level."

Like Shuttleworth, Seigo is invoking the motherhood issues of the community. Both are talking about concerns close to every free software advocate's heart. Reading their rhetoric, you can easily be swept away by its visionary scope, and find yourself nodding excitedly.

Not only are they talking about realizing your dreams, but they are talking about doing so in the very near future.

Who could resist?

The desktop is not a destination

The trouble with the rhetoric of innovators is that it exists on an abstract plane, not a practical one. Many of the same people whose hearts beat faster at the rhetoric's promises are likely to behave very differently when they turn from reading to focusing on what they have to.

Next Page: Do users need or want anything more?
Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

U.S. Department of Justice: Where are you?

| 1 Comment
GROKLAW
Linux on Netbooks: The Smoking Gun
Friday, June 19 2009 @ 04:51 PM EDT

If you have been having trouble finding Linux on a netbook, you can stop wondering why. I suspected it was being monopoly-crushed. Here's the smoking gun, at last, thanks to Dana Blankenhorn of ZDNet, who attended a press conference at Computex and asked the right question:
There was an incubator-box-thingy in the agric...

Image via Wikipedia

Later, at a press conference sponsored by TAITRA, the Taiwan trade authority, I asked executive director Walter Yeh (third from left in this picture) about where the Linux went.

He passed the question to Li Chang (to the right in the picture), vice president of the Taipei Computer Association.

Chang mentioned a press conference yesterday where Google announced an Android phone to be made by Acer. But then he put it to me straight.

"In our association we operate as a consortium, like the open source consortium. They want to promote open source and Linux. But if you begin from the PC you are afraid of Microsoft. They try to go to the smart phone or PDA to start again."

Taiwanese OEMs would love an alternative to Windows, but the sale comes first, before production. The chicken comes first. And since the chicken belongs to Microsoft, the penguin is helpless here.

Mystery solved. Totally blatant. Does this not give legs to Charlie Demerjian's report, MS steps on a Snapdragon? It appears Snapdragon on Asus is just the most recent horse to fall down shot in the starting gate and then get dragged off the track.

So next time you hear Microsoft bragging that people *prefer* their software to Linux on netbooks, you'll know better. If they really believed that, they'd let the market speak, on a level playing field.

If I say my horse is faster than yours, and you says yours is faster, and we let our horses race around the track, that establishes the point. But if you shoot my horse, that leaves questions in the air. Is your horse *really* faster? If so, why shoot my horse?

Here's the story on what happened to Android on Asus' EeePC at Computex Taipei, reported by Dan Nystedt and Sumner Lemon on ComputerWorld:

A day after an Asustek Eee PC running Google's Android operating system was shown at Computex Taipei, top executives from the company said the project will be put on the backburner for now.

The Eee PC with Android is not ready yet because the technology is "not mature," said Jonathan Tsang, vice chairman of Asustek, on the sidelines of a press conference at the show Tuesday.

"For the time being this project is not a priority because our engineering resources are limited," he added.

Right. That's the ticket. Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols:
On Monday, Qualcomm showed an Asus Eee PC using its new ARM Snapdragon chips to run Google's Android Linux. From all reports, the skinny, little Android-powered netbook looked great.

So, this was a good day for Asus right? A new ARM-powered Asus netbook with Android, the Linux everyone has been talking about, and at a price-point that will given Intel's Moblin 2.0 some real competition. Wrong.

The very next day, Asus' chairman, Jonney Shih, after sharing a news conference stage with Microsoft corporate VP, OEM Division, Steven Guggenheimer, apologized for the Android Eee PC being shown.

Shih said, "Frankly speaking ... I would like to apologize that, if you look at Asus booth, we've decided not to display this product. I think you may have seen the devices on Qualcomm's booth but actually, I think this is a company decision so far we would not like to show this device. That's what I can tell you so far. I would like to apologize for that."

Is there no regulatory body that can get Microsoft's fat fanny off of Linux so it can get some air? Instead the DOJ are investigating *Google*? What Microsoft is reportedly doing is a pimple on the antitrust regulators' noses. We see it. Why can't you? Where are you? Please don't wait until Linux is totally crushed.

Let us customers choose what we prefer from a fair and even playing field, please. I'd like to buy the products that are being squashed. A lot of us would like to. And we are not being allowed to get the products that we desire. I don't want Microsoft software. I'd like a choice. And I shouldn't have to buy a netbook with Microsoft on it and install Linux myself. I will, but I should not have to.

Update:

A reader collected some nice YouTube videos for us on the withdrawn Snapdragon Eee PC. View them and weep:

Computex 2009 with ARM and Qualcomm

Snapdragon Eee PC First Hands on

Snapdragon Eee PC at Computex 2009

Qualcomm Press Conference - Computex 2009

AND THEN ADD TO IT A REALLY GOOD SCREEN (they just got to figure out the multi-touch for these below, and... check out the new videos from Computex on the new screens:

Videos of power saving direct sunlight readable screen from Pixel Qi

MORE Like this

And here's my personal favorite video.


Original story
Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Hey Microsoft: What's unique about Windows 7?

| 0 Comments

A question to Microsoft? Whats unique about Windows 7?


Just like I don't know what exactly will be in the Ark of the Covenant, I have the same questions about Windows 7, will Mr Rose of Microsoft be the person to solve the mystery for me?

Just like I don't know what exactly will be in the Ark of the Covenant, I have the same questions about Windows 7. What exactly is the "treasure" inside 7? Will Mr Rose be the person to solve the mystery for me?

I recently saw a twit from user stephenlrose , allegedly a "Sr Community Mgr for Windows (IT Pros)" and asked him the question Openbytes has been asking for many months and never recieved a proper reply.  As readers here have seen, many of the Microsoft supporters that I've had discourse with are rude and insulting (IMO) and take great exception to Microsoft products being challenged and/or alternatives being suggested.

Designed for Windows XP computer hardware logo

Image via Wikipedia

With that in mind, it appears I have messaged someone in a position of some authority within Microsoft, so I knew that the childish antics of others would be absent.  I'm happy to say that so far, this is the case.

The question I put to Mr Rose was:

"........ what exactly is the incentive for users to upgrade XP to 7? Is it purely gfx? I would honestly like to know what feature 7 offers that cant be done either natively or via 3rd party software in XP."

And Mr Rose kindly responded with:

"DirectAccess/BranchCache/BitLocker to go with AD support/Federated Search. Visit www.talkingaboutwindows.com for IT pro interviews on why Win 7."

Right, firstly the site runs off Silverlight so it is useless to me.  I don't want to bring up the comments/feelings on that particular product since we've been there before and the last thing I want is Mr Rose having a justification to ignore on the basis of a "trolling/flaming/cyber bullying" claim.  I'm not for one minute suggesting that Mr Rose would choose this avenue, but since its been a common theme with difficult questions before (in respect of other people)  I decided to be very "gentle"

So lets look at the first part of his answer.  I am going to try to keep this as simple as possible and there are reasons for this.  I believe these type of answers are what convinces the "average user" that Windows is the only platform to consider.  In my opinion an average user sees a fancy name they cant understand and presumes its important/unique, ergo they must have that product over all others.

Bitlocker

This is simply a disk encryption tool.  You can encrypt the contents (or even a whole) drive.  That is it.  There are plenty of 3rd party alternatives available.  Some free, some not.  This is not a feature that is "unique" to 7 since you can do it in XP (albeit by 3rd party software).   PGP is one such package that has built a very good reputation with this type of software.

Directaccess

From the Microsoft site, I quote "DirectAccess is a new feature in the Windows® 7 and Windows Server® 2008 R2 operating systems that gives users the experience of being seamlessly connected to their corporate network any time they have Internet access." Basically (unless Im totally wrong here) You can go home and access your work machines/system/software from there (or any other location with Internet access).  Well, as much as I am blown away with that feature, again, its something that can be achieved with 3rd party software.

Without going on, I'll simply link you to the webpage in regards to Branchcache (sounds fancy doesnt it) and you can decide for yourself if these are features you need, want or are truely "unique" to 7 which make it a must have purchase.

http://www.microsoft.com/servers/directaccess.mspx

So on behalf of all the happy XP customers, whats the feature in 7 that makes it worthwhile them upgrading their OS?  Stay tuned, we may get an answer.

So on behalf of all the happy XP customers, whats the feature in 7 that makes it worthwhile them upgrading their OS? Stay tuned, we may get an answer.

The reason for this article?  I am aware that there are users who will never move from the Windows O/S.  Thats fine, the one thing (I would hope) most FOSS advocates would hold dear is the freedom of choice.  The reason I ask this question is on behalf of the many XP users who dont want Vista and are reluctant to move from XP to 7.  I am sure many people would like to know why they have to upgrade their beloved XP and what exactly is the amazing feature Windows 7 offers that makes it a must have purchase.

As you can see so far, that question is far from answered. (IMO)

I sincerely hope Mr Rose will come here and respond properly.  I would hope he at least tries to keep it as simple as possible, since many of my readers have no knowledge or interest in the "tech side" of computing.  Im sure the happy XP users would much rather purchase a 3rd party package for a feature they needed, rather than upgrade their entire OS, or maybe I'm wrong?

I ask again, what feature does 7 offer that cannot already be achieved either natively or via 3rd party software in XP?

Here's continuing in the quest to find out what exactly is the "treasure" contained within Windows 7.

Goblin - bytes4free@googlemail.com

Original story

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

High Netbook Return Rate? Windows Is the Problem

| 0 Comments


High Netbook Return Rate? Windows Is the Problem

By Caitlyn Martin
June 8, 2009



oreilly.gif

On May 14th in a piece colorfully titled "Game Over For Linux Netbooks", Bill Weinberg wrote about a very high return rate for Intel Atom based netbooks:

...an Intel executive has stated that some of its computer resellers selling Intel Atom-based netbooks have seen 30 percent return rates.

The Brooke Crothers story quotes Intel marketing chief Sean Maloney as saying at an investor meeting yesterday that the main reason for the returns was that the resellers were not being honest with customers about the shortcomings of netbooks versus Pentium-based notebooks. "

Note that the quoted story wasn't referring to netbooks running Linux. It was referring to all Intel Atom powered netbooks. I am assured over and over again by tech pundits like Mr. Weinberg that nowadays almost all those netbooks run Windows, not Linux.
Image representing Windows as depicted in Crun...

Image via CrunchBase

Did it ever occur to people that Windows might actually be the cause of the disappointment customers face and the high returns? An insightful analysis in the tech-no-media blog on June 1st says precisely that and asks the question: "Is Windows killing the Netbook?"

... a lot of consumer that had purchased netbooks were returning them when they realized that these small machines were not able to perform all the tasks of a full size computer, like playing games or editing video."
That's certainly true if you're running Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7, all of which are significantly more resource hungry that any of the Linux distributions typically offered on netbooks. When you add anti-virus and anti-spyware software plus a personal firewall, the minimum requirements for a safe and secure Windows system, the poor netbook is so bogged down that performance is poor. The fact is that many tasks that are painful or even impossible on a Windows netbook are very doable on the same hardware running a well optimized Linux build.

Tracy Anne Barlow of LXer.com and Australia's Feral Penguin Computers recently related her own experience:

At the computer show we were at on Sunday [...] there was another exhibitor there with a Win XP based netbook. In comparison to my Ubuntu powered netbook it was slow [like] wading through molasses to use. I commented on this, and the bloke said, well it's only supposed to be used for Web surfing and such, but I can't imagine that experience would be any too exciting. I pointed out that my Linux powered netbook was not only not slow, but was capable of being used as a highly portable stand in for my main desktop machine, he had nothing further to contribute.

I managed to demonstrate just how responsive the Linux powered netbook is to quite a number of people, and explained to them that with Linux on the machine I was able to use the netbook as a stand in for my desktop machine while traveling.

It amazed me just how slow the Windows machine actually is. It's no wonder people are returning them in droves."
Like Ms. Barlow I have seen Windows versions of netbooks and was truly underwhelmed by the performace compared to my own system with nearly identical hardware running Linux. Ms. Barlow was fortunate enough to be able to demonstrate the difference between the operating systems in a public forum. Sadly, even in stores that still carry Linux netbooks most of the sales help simply doesn't have the knowledge and experience to do the same. Online retailers who carry both Linux and Windows netbooks also do nothing to tout the performance and security advantages of Linux. The typical consumer is used to and knows Windows so that is what they buy more often than not. They get the system home and the results are disappointing. Had they only been shown Linux as an alternative they might have been fully satisfied with their netbook purchase.

Microsoft may actually be benefiting from this state of affairs. They have been engaged in a full court press to do away with the netbook term completely and simply tout the systems as small, cheap, underpowered notebooks. If companies just make the machines a bit bigger and more powerful (not to mention more expensive) Windows will run fine and customers will be happy as clams. This also suits some hardware vendors who would like to move their customers up the product line to more expensive and more profitable machines.

Like Ms. Barlow I use my netbook for everything and anything. I've been completely happy with my Sylvania g Netbook Meso (review) in the over four months I've had it.

Microsoft and the hardware manufacturers may also be misjudging consumers. Toshiba sold a lot of Libretto netbooks which weren't called netbooks from the mid '90s up until a couple of years ago, all at premium prices. There has always been a market for really small and really portable. There always will be. This is where Microsoft and Lenovo and yes, even Dell, HP, and Asus, are all now missing the boat. If they leave a void in the market someone else will step in and fill it. Many of the ARM powered systems recently announced are similar to the original EeePC in size and weight. Some are even slightly smaller and lighter. Asus wasn't considered a major systems vendor before the EeePC. The original 7" EeePC running Linux put them on the map. There are plenty of smaller, upstart vendors offering or preparing to offer ARM and MIPS based systems under $200, each and every one running Linux and able to do serious work. I expect some of them will succeed in the marketplace just as the original EeePC did. The small Linux powered netbook is here to stay.


Original story

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]


Microsoft Chutzpah on Full Display in Attempt to Rename Netbook


Jun 7th, 2009, 8:36 pm
Ah, Microsoft, that crazy company from Redmond, WA is at again. This time they want to rename the Netbook unilaterally to the...drum roll please..."low cost small notebook PC."

As first reported in the Digitimes last week, Microsoft decided on their own that the name was not appropriate and they were renaming it. I'm fairly sure they didn't consult with the rest of the industry about this change, but hey they're Microsoft right? They can do whatever they please. Of course, it doesn't mean the rest of the world has to go along.

Same Old Song and Dance
Sign in Redmond, Washington, reading

Image via Wikipedia



I doubt very much that anyone was actually looking for a new name, certainly not Intel, the company selling the chips to power these machines, which actually coined the term. This is after all a hardware issue and the last I looked Microsoft doesn't actually make PCs, but why should that stop them from trying to force an entire industry to bow to their considerable will.

Even if the Netbook industry were looking for a new name, I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be from the succinct "Netbook" to the mouthful of "Low cost small notebook PC." Sure, that rolls off the tongue and should make the folks who write the marketing copy very happy.

It's Really About Selling Windows 7

Digitimes reports that Steven Guggenheimer, corporate vice president, Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Division, Microsoft said the Netbook name suggests it's only for internet use and these machines can do so much more. On this we can agree, but why change the name? If Netbook sales were anemic maybe one could understand a pitch for a change, but they seem to be doing quite well.

Could it be that Microsoft doesn't trust the hardware manufacturers to name these machines correctly or for the public to understand what they are without being hit over the head? No, as it turns out that's not it at all. What it's about is selling more expensive copies of Windows 7. You see, by creating a new higher end Netbook, they can justify forcing the manufactures to adopt a more expensive version of Windows 7. In the end. this is just a ploy for selling a few more copies of the more expensive version of Windows.

Command and Control

It's moves like this that make Microsoft the target of ridicule. When I first heard about this last week, my reaction was that Microsoft just makes it too easy for bloggers like me. You can't make this stuff up even if it sounds like it came straight from the Onion.

Idiocy, hubris, chutzpah, arrogance? Choose your word. Regardless Microsoft really needs to find a clue. Sure, I get that they are trying to sell more expensive copies of Windows 7 by creating a new category of computers, but this is ridiculous even for Microsoft, a company that seems to continually trip over its own considerable corporate shadow.

Original story


Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Advertisers

 


Use OpenDNS
OpenID accepted here Learn more about OpenID