Subject: [Homestead] K.I.S.S W98 and M.I.C.Y.I. Microsoft XP
Date: Mon, 13 Sep 2004 17:01:16 -0700
IBM has been for decades going through "Buyer's Remorse", having
belatedly discovered they threw away the PC market they initially owned
with PC JR, until they brain-damaged the PC JR to avoid it competing
with the IBM mainframes. Then they componded that error by precipitously
adopting Microsoft OS, in a couple day interval in which Dr Dos was the
front-runner, but the owner was absent on some minor personal business
and made no presentation to IBM on his OS---Bill Gates won by default,
not merit.
M.I C.Y.I.---the appropriate acronym for Microsoft XP "Make It
Complicated You Idiot".
I've been trying to hammer into submission an XP Laptop with more bells
and whistles than the average battleship. If automobiles represented
such a miserable level of ease and simplicity of use as XP, we would all
still be driving horses and buggies.
Have to use a laptop because I have to keep my feet elevated, but I can
tell you it is no fun at all. The damned XP laptop does nothing in a
straightforward manner---have to go through an obscure forest of dialog
boxes for everything.
I'm going to keep the old ABS computer with Win98Se on it for real work
as long as I can do any---my poor daughter can suffer with using the XP
Laptop for online commuting to and from work as soon as broadband is
here in November, 2004..
By Cynthia L. Webb
washingtonpost.com Staff Writer
Monday, September 13, 2004; 10:11 AM
"Big Blue" may also earn the nickname "Big *Linux* Supporter" as *IBM*
continues to embrace open-source efforts to hike its market share and
challenge competitors, including *Microsoft*.
The company "plans to announce today that it will contribute some of its
speech-recognition software to two open-source software groups," the New
York Times reported. "The move is a tactical step ... to accelerate the
development of speech applications and to outmaneuver rivals, especially
Microsoft, in a market that is expected to grow rapidly in the next few
years with increased use in customer-service call centers, cars and
elsewhere. To do this, IBM is again using the strategy of placing some
of its proprietary software in open-source projects, making it available
for other programmers to improve."
More from the Times: "IBM is donating code that it estimates cost the
company $10 million to develop. One collection of speech software for
handling basic words for dates, time and locations, like cities and
states, will go to the *Apache Software Foundation
<http://www.apache.org/>*. The company is also contributing
speech-editing tools to a second open-source group, the *Eclipse
Foundation <http://www.eclipse.org/>*. IBM has contributed code to
open-source programmers in the past. In August, for example, the company
contributed *Cloudscape*, a database written in the Java programming
language, to the Apache Foundation. And IBM is a leading corporate
sponsor of open-source projects like the Apache Web server and the Linux
operating system."
Microsoft is trying to thumb its nose at IBM's efforts in the speech
recognition arena. "This is a case of IBM following Microsoft," said
*James Mastan*, director of marketing for *Microsoft Speech
Technologies*. "IBM has not executed in bringing this technology to a
broad market as Microsoft has."
• *The New York Times: Speech Code From IBM to Become Open Source
<http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/13/technology/13speech.html?th>
(Registration required)*
In its latest issue, Newsweek chronicles IBM's growing role in
championing open-source software. Open-source fans "watched with some
trepidation as a capitalist giant, IBM, began pouring money into Linux,
capped by a $1 billion investment in 2001. Yet in the past year, the
corporation known as Big Blue has seen its reputation in the global
open-source community shift from suspect sugar daddy to knight in
shining armor," the magazine reported. "IBM is now the giant standing
between Linux and what the open-source community sees as a Microsoft
front company bent on destroying their free paradise. The drama is
playing out in a U.S. federal court, where IBM is fighting a Utah
company named *SCO* (formerly Santa Cruz Operations). Once a quiet
member of the Linux community, SCO is a software provider for small to
medium-size businesses, with $79 million in revenue last year." Recall
that SCO has caused tempers to flare in the open-source community with
its demand <http://ir.sco.com/ReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=126423> that
Linux users cough up money to use the operating system, which it claims
to have an intellectual-property tie to. "SCO's case is built on its
copyright to *UNIX*," Newsweek explained. Requesting money for the
software "was sacrilege to the free Linux community and a direct threat
to IBM, which makes money on Linux not by selling software but by
providing support services and hardware. IBM claimed more than $2
billion in Linux-related revenue in 2003. Though it would have been
cheaper to settle, IBM fought back and is now pushing for summary
judgment. SCO's case looks as if it's close to collapse," the magazine
said.
"However it ends, the battle is shaping up as a huge marketing coup for
IBM -- no easy feat in the cynical open-source community. ... That's
despite the fact that IBM remains an open-source rival on other fronts.
Supporters of open-source e-mail and database programs fight IBM
proprietary products tooth and nail. But Linux lovers shrug that off."
• *Newsweek: An Unlikely Champion
<http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5973877/site/newsweek/>*
IBM's support of open source efforts has gone international too. EWeek
reported last week that IBM and *Brazil*'s government "signed a
cooperation agreement to establish a knowledge and technology center,
known as *CDTC*, which will promote and develop open-source and Linux
solutions in Brazil. This is the next step in a plan that IBM announced
last December. In it, IBM and the Brazilian government agreed to expand
the use of Linux in Brazil." Brazil has been among the countries that
are bullish on open-source software as a cheaper alternative to
Microsoft and other proprietary software systems.
• *EWeek: IBM, Brazil Partner to Promote Open Source
<http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1644358,00.asp>*
LinuxInsider from the ECT News Network wrote about the potential for
Linux to have widespread success (let's not forget that Microsoft powers
more than 90 percent of the world's computers). "With the recent
education efforts on Software Freedom Day and aggressive moves by IBM
and *Novell* it seems that open-source advocates have much to cheer
about. Although open-source operating systems have not yet become the
standard in corporate and consumer environments, and face plenty of
competition, several recent initiatives have shown that it is becoming
more prevalent worldwide and has the potential to grow even more. Linux,
in particular, is seeing increased popularity all over the map, from
Korea to Germany to Brazil," the article said. Here's one Linux
cheerleader: "'Open source is ready to move beyond the world of geeks,'
said *Dwayne Bailey*, founder and director of the *Zuza Software
Foundation*, which is translating *OpenOffice* into several South
African languages. He added, 'There are so many companies and
individuals that want to see open source succeed all over the world, and
it's exciting to be part of that.'"
• *LinuxInsider: Can Open Source Take Over the World?
<http://www.linuxinsider.com/story/Can-Open-Source-Take-Over-the-World-36518.html>*
Meanwhile, IBM today also "announced a new entry-level, Linux-based
computer -- called the IBM *eServer OpenPower 720* -- that the company
says "provides a Linux-based alternative to higher priced [*Hewlett
Packard*] and *Sun* entry-level UNIX(R) and Linux systems, helping
clients to attain greater business productivity and lower costs." *Brian
Connors*, a vice president at IBM, said in a statement: "As Linux
matures to support mission critical applications, IBM's new family of
*OpenPower* systems takes Linux to the next level with servers tuned for
Linux." The Wall Street Journal noted it was IBM's "first Linux-only
computer as a low-end competitor to cheap Unix computers made by Sun and
HP."
• *The Wall Street Journal: Linux Backers to Support Standard
<http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB109503124989615857,00.html?mod=home%5Fwhats%5Fnews%5Fus>
(Subscription required)* "
"*Organizing Open Source*
In other open-source news, Linux supporters are trying to get more
organized to mount a better challenge to the software giant in Redmond,
Wash. "Major Linux backers have agreed to support a single version of
the freely exchanged computer-operating software, in a move to
strengthen its competitiveness against Microsoft," the Wall Street
Journal reported today, in the same article
<http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB109503124989615857,00.html?mod=home%5Fwhats%5Fnews%5Fus>
referenced above. "The *Free Standards Group
<http://www.freestandards.org/>*, a nonprofit trade organization based
in San Francisco, is expected to announce today that providers of Linux
versions from around the world agreed to back Linux *Standard Base 2.0*.
Those who have also agreed include International Business Machines
Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co., *Dell Inc.*, *Intel Corp.* and other
companies that sell Linux-based computers, software and services." "
"The article explains more about the fragmentation that is already
occurring with the open-source software. "One benefit of Linux has been
that it is an open standard, accessible to everyone. But for-profit
companies such as *Red Hat Inc.* of Raleigh, N.C., and Novell Inc. of
Waltham, Mass., frequently add features to Linux to make their products
and services more appealing to customers. Even some Linux advocates have
worried about the danger of Linux 'forking' into several different
variants, just as Unix, an older universal operating system divided into
proprietary products sold separately by IBM, Sun Microsystems Corp., and
others. Microsoft has been highlighting the specter of Linux
fragmentation recently as it works to stifle the spread of the rival in
the marketplace. It has run advertisements in Europe showing Linux
penguins with various appendages such as elephant trunks and frog feet,
as a warning to customers that its rival is likely to fragment into
incompatible variants," the article said. "The desire to counter
Microsoft's Windows is creating a broad alliance. Today's announcement
also is expected to say that Linux competitors such as Red Hat and the
*SuSE* unit of Novell, have agreed to support the new Linux standard,
along with makers of other Linux versions known as distributions." "
Microsoft is taking potshots about the security of its products
seriously and is planning more security features to bolster its next
version of its Windows operating system, dubbed Longhorn. "For years,
programmers at Microsoft Corp. and elsewhere have worked to make it
easier for devices like cell phones and personal digital assistants to
work instantly and easily with computers. Now, Microsoft is working to
make it a little harder. The reason: As such devices including *Apple
Computer Inc.*'s popular *iPods* become capable of holding more data,
some worry people could use them to steal data or unleash virus attacks
on business networks," the Associated Press explained, noting that
"Microsoft is working on technology that will give companies more
control over whether to prohibit devices that can easily be used to
transfer data to and from personal computers, said *Greg Sullivan*, a
lead product manager." "
" "
"CNET's News.com reported on the development last week. "Much has been
made of the security risks posed by portable storage devices known as
USB keys, or flash drives, music players like the iPod, and other small
gadgets that can store vast amounts of data. Some fear that such tiny
devices can be used to quickly copy sensitive data off business PC hard
drives, or to introduce malicious software onto corporate networks,"
CNET said.
• *The Associated Press via the San Jose Mercury News: Next Version of
Windows Will Include More Anti-Data Theft Protections
<http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/9632843.htm>
(Registration required)*
• *CNET's News.com: Longhorn to Put Squeeze on Gadgets
<http://news.com.com/Longhorn+to+put+squeeze+on+gadgets/2100-1016_3-5356485.html?tag=st.pop>*
"
"*La La Land*
There's trouble in the ring tone world. Snazzy ring tones for cell
phones were supposed to be a goldmine for the music industry. But it
hasn't been an easy sell. The Wall Street Journal wrote about ring tone
woes in a front page article today. An excerpt: "The ring tone market,
once seen as the industry's next cash cow, has become a dizzying
free-for-all, stymied by nightmarish contractual disputes, conflicting
technical requirements and the old specter of piracy. Losing out could
be a big blow to an industry that most recently missed the opportunity
to control the sale of music online," the article said. "Musicians have
contracts with companies that own the underlying music and lyrics and
also with companies who own the rights to a recorded performance.
Sometimes many musicians are credited with writing one song. Getting all
these players to agree on ring tone rights can be a huge morass.
Meanwhile, not all cellphones play all ring tones. No one can even agree
on what to call the latest variants that play actual snippets of songs,
as opposed to tinny beeps. They've been dubbed master-tape ring tones,
ring tunes, true tones, hi-fi ringers and song tones."
• *The Wall Street Journal: Music Industry Struggles to Get Cell Phone's
Number
<http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB109503268792115888,00.html?mod=home%5Fpage%5Fone%5Fus>
(Subscription required)* "
" "
"Reuters had a report of its own on the trend, noting that "the U.S.
appetite for ring tones has not developed as quickly as in other
markets, and no company has emerged to do for ring tones what Apple
Computer has done for digital downloads with iTunes. A big part of the
responsibility for building the market falls to the five major mobile
phone carriers: *Verizon*, *Sprint*, *Cingular/AT&T Wireless*,
*T-Mobile* and *Nextel*. However, it is generally held that mobile music
promotions are more effective when some combination of the carriers,
handset manufacturers, ring tone aggregators and record labels co-market
their products."
• *CNET's News.com: Ring Tones Slow to Rock U.S. Market
<http://news.com.com/Ring+tones+slow+to+rock+U.S.+market/2100-1039_3-5362579.html?tag=nefd.hed>*
"
"*Getting Fat on Defense*
The defense industry continues its acquisition binge. London firm *BAE
Systems*, which Bloomberg noted is Europe's largest defense player, is
scooping up
<http://financial.washingtonpost.com/wpost/newspaper.asp?Mode=QUOTE&Story=20040911/255b8658.xml&Symbol=DNET&dispnav=washtech>
*DigitalNet Holdings*, a technology defense contractor based in Herndon,
Va., for roughly $600 million. The move by the Rockville, Md.-based unit
BAE Systems North America is intended "to expand sales in the United
States. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter,
pending government approvals, [BAE] said. DigitalNet sells network
security software to U.S. defense and intelligence agencies," Bloomberg
said. "
" "
"The Washington Post pegged the deal at "$595 million in cash." More
from the article: "The deal, which must be approved by shareholders,
continues a consolidation of the market and would create [a] $1.2
billion information technology division ranked among the federal
government's top 10 information technology providers. The acquisition
would also result in a significant payoff for the DigitalNet investors
who founded the company in 2001 and took it public last year."
• *Bloomberg via the Los Angeles Times: BAE to Buy DigitalNet Holdings
<http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-bae13sep13,1,4236737.story?coll=la-headlines-business>
(Registration required)*
• *The Washington Post: BAE Systems to Buy DigitalNet
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17057-2004Sep12.html>
(Registration required)* "
" "
" "
[Homestead] K.I.S.S W98 and M.I.C.Y.I. Microsoft XP,
Tvoivozhd, 09/13/2004