News 2003-09: September

2003-09

The following articles represent a selection of those pertaining to OpenOffice.org, Open Source, or the general IT industry that may be of interest to the community. If you would like to share an article with the community, please send the link to Louis Suárez-Potts, Editor, at marketing@openoffice.apache.org.

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2003-09: September
ZDNet	Sun exec: MS rights protect its domination 2003-09-30
	Andrew Colley writes, "Sun Microsystems has expressed concerns that document protection tools Microsoft will include in Office 2003 will fortify the Redmond-based heavyweight's domination over enterprise desktops."
The Miami Herald.com	Mass. Wants to Use Linux-Type System 2003-09-26
	Justin Pope reports that, "Massachusetts, the lone holdout state still suing Microsoft Corp. for antitrust violations, will become the first state to adopt a broad-based strategy of moving its computer systems toward open standards, including Linux, the rival operating system to Microsoft's Windows." Worth reading.
OfBiz	OfB Open Choice Awards 2003 2003-09-20
	Timothy R. Butler, Editor-in-Chief, Open for Business, reports that OpenOffice.org 1.1 has won the Best Office Suite! Worth reading.
NewsForge	StarOffice 7 is far faster and friendlier than SO 6 2003-09-22
	Robin "Roblimo" Miller provides an early (and quite positive) review of StarOffice 7, based on OpenOffice.org 1.1 code. Useful for those considering downloading OpenOffice.org 1.1 RC5.
c\|net	The new strategy under the Sun 2003-09-19
	A fascinating interview with Sun CEO Scott McNealy by Stephen Shankland. Worth reading.
InfoWorld	Nine German cities poised to adopt Linux 2003-09-17
	John Blau, IDG News Service, reports on the latest developments in Germany toward adopting open-source software. Worth reading.
EETimes	LeGrand boost for trusted-PC effort 2003-09-16
	Rick Merritt writes that, "Intel Corp. will advance an ambitious systems security effort this week when it discloses the first details of the so-called LeGrand technology that's built into Prescott, its next-generation Pentium. The disclosure comes as IBM, Hewlett-Packard and Nokia lay the groundwork for using the technology in their own PCs and handsets."
The Register	Sun shows its hand with enterprise software and Linux desktop 2003-09-16
	Ashlee Vance reports on and analyzes Sun's new software scheme, the Java Desktop System.
OS News	Java Desktop System: First Impressions 2003-09-16
	Eugenia Loli-Queru provides her first impression of Sun's new Java Desktop System. Worth reading.
Mercury News	Open source helps education effort in Third World 2003-09-14
	As Dan Gillmor writes, the area of growth for open source is in developing nations: "When Andy Rabagliati started working to deliver Internet access to some poor rural schools, he chose Linux and other open-source software for the core of his project. His decision was a no-brainer." Worth reading.
SFGate.com	On the Record: Scott McNealy 2003-09-14
	A lively interview with Sun leader Scott McNealy. Worth reading.
c\|net	Microsoft to open Office doors early 2003-09-12
	Jim Hu reports that, "Microsoft said Friday that it would allow some of its business customers to download its new Office desktop application bundle about two weeks sooner than originally planned."
c\|net	EU delays vote on digital copyright plan 2003-09-11
	Matthew Broersma reports that, "A vote on the European Union's proposed directive on the enforcement of intellectual property rights, which has been compared to a controversial U.S. law, has been pushed back to November."
Seattle Pi	City of Vienna may substitute Linux for Microsoft 2003-09-11
	"Microsoft Corp. may lose 15,000 customers for its Windows operating system as the Viennese city government considers phasing in Linux software, a city official said yesterday." So writes Matthias Wabl.
Economist.com	Microsoft at the power point 2003-09-11
	A useful and interesting account of some of the issues at stake for governments in choosing open-source software. Worth reading.
NewsFactor	Open Source on the Brink 2003-09-11
	James Maguire writes that, "In the next five years, open source "is going to take [the government] market away from Microsoft completely," predicts Eben Moglen, Columbia University law professor and Free Software Foundation general counsel."
SearchEnterpriseLinux.com	Data center makeover, part 1: Linux topples college's IT Tower of Babel 2003-09-10
	Jan Stafford examines the move in higher education toward Linux. Good case study examination.
NewsForge	Open letter to Darl McBride: Please grow up 2003-09-10
	Linus Torvalds, more circumspect, writes, "We are happy that you agree that customers need to know that Open Source is legal and stable, and we heartily agree with that sentence of your letter. The others don't seem to make as much sense, but we find the dialogue refreshing....[But] We in the Open Source group continue to believe in technology as a way of driving customer interest and demand," not the "legal system lottery."
NewsForge	Raymond and Perens respond to McBride's open letter 2003-09-09
	It's an injustice to paraphrase Eric and Bruce. Thus: "Mr. McBride, in your "Open Letter to the Open Source Community" your offer to negotiate with us comes at the end of a farrago of falsehoods, half-truths, evasions, slanders, and misrepresentations. You must do better than this. We will not attempt to erect a compromise with you on a foundation of dishonesty." And it gets better.
c\|net	SCO warns open-source community 2003-09-08
	David Becker reports that, "Open-source software supporters need to do a better job of policing themselves as developers and activists, according to Darl McBride, CEO of controversial Unix seller SCO Group."
The Register	Sun Gets Real with Mad Hatter 2003-09-08
	In an analysis of Sun's latest software offering, Jay Wrolstad writes, "'The more interesting question is whether Apple's QuickTime will also be a part of Mad Hatter or other desktop Linux offerings," says Yankee Group analyst Dana Gardner. The end user ideally should be able to access content in any format with a minimum of hassles." Worth reading.
Robin Good	Microsoft Palladium Threat Just Around The Corner Now 2003-09-05
	A very timely and useful article. Worth reading, as it gives a nicely anxious account of Microsoft's security concern and why you should be worried.
NewsForge	OpenOffice trails MS Office in vulnerabilities 2003-09-05
	As Robin Miller writes, "This week Microsoft Office once again affirmed its leadership in the office software world by releasing news of not one, two, or three, but five security holes. Meanwhile, OpenOffice.org , the primary open source competitor to MS Office, has no vulnerabilities to report. And OpenOffice developers say they have no plans to introduce Microsoft-competitive vulnerabilities, even though most PC users obviously consider insecurity a vital part of the computing experience."
Taipei Times	Linux is the path to a bright new future 2003-09-04
	Annabel Lue reports that, "If it wishes to secure a position in the global information technology (IT) market, Taiwan had better speed up its progress in developing a Linux-based operating system, IT industry analysts said yesterday."
rediff.com	StarOffice makes strong inroads in India 2003-09-04
	As "A Correspondent in Bangalore" reports, "In less than a year since its official launch, StarOffice 6.0 software, the office suite from Sun Microsystems has had a number of corporates, banks and government departments switch to it from Microsoft office for the cost savings that it offers."
InfoWorld	Special Report: Linux: Is free really cheaper? 2003-09-03
	"What you should factor into any decision to migrate from proprietary Unix or Windows."
c\|net	Eclipse revamp to forge path for Sun 2003-09-03
	Martin LaMonica reports that, "The Eclipse open-source development tool consortium is planning changes that will make it independent of founder IBM and help mend a split in the Java community."
ACM Queue	MOXIE: Microsoft Office-Linux Interoperability Experiment 2003-09-03
	Hal Varian, of the University of California, Berkeley, examines OpenOffice.org interoperability with Microsoft applications. Worth reading.
PC Magazine	Patent Riots of 2003 2003-09-02
	Intrepid, trenchant John C. Dvorak writes on the very serious issue of software patents. Worth reading.
c\|net	Sun shows its hand with enterprise software and Linux desktop 2003-09-02
	David Becker reports on the latest from Microsoft Office: "As digital media publishers scramble to devise a foolproof method of copy protection, Microsoft is ready to push digital rights management into a whole new arena--your desktop."
Australian IT	Telstra goes open-source 2003-09-02
	Michael Sainsbury and Kelly Mills write that, "TELSTRA, Australia's largest technology company, has nailed its colours firmly to the mast of open source software, creating a potential nightmare for Microsoft and sending shivers through a range of traditional platform providers." StarOffice is being tried out. No news on OpenOffice.org.
The Register	EU delays software patents vote 2003-09-02
	John Leyden reports on the vote delay. Worth reading, as this is quite important.
Linux Journal	Conversations: Interview with Bjarne Stroustrup 2003-09-01
	Aleksey Dolya engages in a discussion about the creation of C++, its strengths and what C++ programmers should remember.