Linux distributor and services company MandrakeSoft SA unveiled the final release of Mandrake Linux 8.2 today. The release, code named “bluebird,” promises to bring Linux on to the business desktop with its well-polished user interface and robust administration tools.
PCMag.com has an article from well known journalist John C. Dvorak that looks at why Linux may be in position to become a major desktop player. “Over the decades of desktop computing, we've witnessed one transition after another. We changed from 5.25-inch floppy disks to 3.5-inch floppy disks to no floppy disks. We moved from the CP/M machine to the IBM machine to the PC clone and from the dot matrix printer to laser and ink jet printers. We changed from the command line OS to the GUI.”
LinuxandMain.com has helpful details about a potentially dangerous vulnerability that was discovered today. “SuSE and Debian, among other distributions, have issued two security advisories relating to a potentially very sertious security exploit in the zlib compression libraries which are included as both a standalone package in base distributions and in a number of packages that are installed by most users of any Linux distribution distributions.”
KDE Dot News is reporting the launch of Docs.kde.org, an site that will house online documentation for both the current stable and development releases of KDE. “Daniel Naber has been busy adding to the KDE.org family. Docs.kde.org is a new KDE documentation site which features KDE user documentation for both the 2.2.2 and HEAD (updated daily) branches”
LinuxJournal is carrying an introduction to the KDevelop development environment. “The aim of this article is to enable you to create an application with the KDevelop Integrated Development Environment (IDE) on a Linux/UNIX system running KDE 2. We explain this process by creating a sample application that gives some insight into the development framework and how it works. This might require getting your development environment set up correctly, so that you can work efficiently when getting started with your very own application or extension for the KDE 2 Desktop.”
KDE Dot News has an interesting bit on Linux in educational environments, and specifically St. Mary's Catholic School's switch to Linux and KDE. “St. Mary's Catholic School in Rockledge, Florida has demonstrated the obvious: that KDE/GNU/Linux (KGL) is great for kids and schools. Working with volunteers from the Melbourne Linux Users Group (that's Melbourne, Florida), I.D.E.A.L. Technology and IXC Telecom, the school deployed the K12 Linux Terminal Server Project, a thin client enterprise solution.”
ExtremeTech is running a nice review on Lycoris Desktop/LX (formerly Redmond Linux). “I first became interested in Redmond Linux, now officially known as Lycoris Desktop/LX, back in January, when a new release of the distro was officially announced. I must admit that I wasn't expecting much more than an imitation of other distros, combined with an attempt at Windows XP graphics. To my surprise, I soon found myself using a tailored Linux operating system that was anything but that.”
ZDNet News is carrying an interesting commentary presenting reasons why the Linux desktop will succeed.
“The idea expressed in many articles—that GNU/Linux is good for servers but not for the desktop—is a joke. The fact is, Linux will prevail. “
ConsultingTimes takes a look at InsightConnector, a server that offers a replacement for Microsoft Exchange that is compatible with all existing versions of Microsoft Outlook (along with the Bynari's own UNIX and Linux client). “In an extraordinary feat of API legerdemain, Bynari, Inc. the Dallas-based maker of Linux/UNIX groupware solutions announced a breakthrough InsightConnector product. Once Connector is installed, Outlook clients can perform a full range of groupware operations through any server which employs the open standard Internet Mail Application Protocol (IMAP) with ACLs (access control lists). “