To any returning reader, I greatly apologise for my lack of blogs over the past month or so. Unfortunately, real life takes over now and then and what I want to do becomes a lower priority. However, those events (work-related) are over now, and I think I've organised a better position to manitain this blog. In this way this will be a weekly blog only now, but it will maintain focus on Open Source and Linux software. I haven't decided yet but Mondays seem to be a good writing day as if I have managed to do anything on the weekend, I can write about it.

Now, for the the purpose of this blog. As probably mentioned before, I'm considering setting up my Linux machine and my XP machine on a KVM switch. I now have the KVM, thanks to a good buy on eBay. I also plan to peer-to-peer network the two machines and I now know that I need Samba and either LinNeighbourhood or Samba's own version of it. Ubuntu probably has this capability, but I know Mandriva has it. Therefore I now have copies of Mandriva/MandrakeLinux 10.1 and I was in that frame of mind I also have Fedora Core 4 and Knoppix 4.0 (Live). That's as far as I ahve got on my project.

As for news, well OpenOffice.org 2.0 is released. It's on both my work and home machines. More US governmental and educational institutions are seeing Lilnux as a good thing. Case in point, Bryant University in Rhode Island
Look Here. Without going much further, as this blog is big enough now, things are starting to move on FOSS and Linux, so keep an eye out.

I'm afraid that most of my posts will occur at random times for a while. I have too much going on to keep my input regular. I hope to do something with this blog and my website for the new year. The easiest thing would be a link back and forth, the more complicated thing would be a proper blog page on my website. Easy first, think about complicated after easy is working.

On a more Open Source note, I tried out the new Ubuntu beta 5.10, I forget the name of the rodent. I found load errors on all three attempts, but it is a beta and 5.04 loaded back on with absolutely no hassle. Overall I'm happy with the stable release, and while I'm waiting for a stable 5.10, I'll look for other single CD distros. I don't think I'll have much luck and may have to go up to a 3 CD set.

News-wise the Mass-state versus Microsoft bun-fight still rages on but I'm losing interest on that. It should get more interesting when other states declare thier new IT policies. I also read that in the latest released list, 4 of the world's top 5 supercomputers run Linux (a derative). In fact the top 3 all run it and probably many more down the list. You can't beat that for advertising.

Beyond that, I haven't had a lot of time lately... TAFN

Well, sorry about no postings last week. I try to leave my personal life out of this but but we have the builders in so...

(1) Although I have downloaded the latest Ubuntu release, named after some adjective relating to a rodent, the builders blocked access to my workshop where my Linux machine currently resides. Therefore -no install and no review.

(2) When access did come about, it seems our building inspector, who had already approved all plans months earlier, decided to change his mind, but not to anything in particular. Therefore a few phone calls, worry, waiting, and stress. Fortunately, although he still isn't sure what he wants the builders to do, he's confident the build will go ahead. So now back to normal (hopefully).

Anyway, what I did do on the weekend was to start writing a website. I've decided that eBay doesn't work for FOSS, so I'll eventually distribute on the web directly. Secondly, I want more freedom in my promotion of Open Source, and a website should allow it. I'm planning to go live right at the new year, and so far I'm well ahead of schedule. However, I plan for a few things to slow me down such as the e-commerce part. I also plan to include a forum and/or blog, but I don't expect those to be up for the new year. This is a 'learn as you go' project and although I'm fairly proficient at programming, I'm not very familiar with HTML, etc.

TAFN...

Linux has gained some ground this week, but not according to MS. A recent ZDNet article found here says that the Austrailian government, at least an official, has backed Linux. Then in another ZDNet article the Korean Postal Service hopes to save several million pounds by switching to Linux. But in a TechNewsWorld article Microsoft themselves report that Microsoft has gained ground against Linux in China. Ya, like we are supposed to believe that. I guess we should then believe it's better to line a billionaires pocket for an inferior product than donate a few pounds for costs to volunteers making a better one.

On a lesser note, the GPL (General Public Licence) is begining the process of being updated. Knowning a little about the people involved, I'm sure the new version will be easily accepted by all in the FOSS community. The other thing is that Sun is dropping the SISSL in favour of the LGPL. This affects most of us not in the slightest, but now developers of OpenOffice also keep a copyright to the code. A major improvement as before they had to sign it over to Sun. Congrats to Sun, also the Major contributor to OOo. TAFN...

For anyone that reads this blog, due to time constraints I've had to come up with a new format. After today, I'll be posting twice a week to this blog site; Mondays & Fridays. Mondays will mostly be about what I've done on the weekend (FOSS/Linux related) and Fridays will mostly be about what I've read in the (FOSS)news during the week. Oh, and I've gone back to using FOSS for OSS. Although I hate the word 'Free' in the context of software, FOSS remains a popular acronym. I'm not going to use FLOSS because 'Libre' is only important to the french (no offense).

In the news, Massachusetts(sp) has decided to specify that any new software for the state government must support OpenDocument formats. Pity, as no MS product does this and OpenOffice does. Mass. isn't shooting down MS though, all they have to do is support OpenDocument, which they refuse to do (probably a matter of pride). OOo is trying to jump on this and turn it into a 'snowball effect' among the states, but being moralistic and bright, they are only endorsing OpenDocument format and not just pushing thier software. It's been suggested that it time MSOffice may go the way of Wordperfect and Lotus123. I guess all we can do is wait and see... While waiting why not learn how to use OpenOffice or other FOSS office software. That's all for now and the next blog is Friday.