Tuesday, May 27, 2003

Linux Laptops all the rage in Thailand I'm not sure what sort of government Thailand has now (though I'm reasonably certain Yul Brynner's heirs are no longer in charge). Whatever their attitude toward human/workers rights and the global sweatshop, this is a good thing. This story, from CNET News.com, is about the government making a concerted effort to get "people's notebooks," laptops running a Thai-language Linux distribution selling at $450 US. As a result, demand for these laptops is such that HP/Compaq can't keep up. So Dell, which has had an off-and-on relationship with desktop (i.e., non-server) Linux (he said, feeling generous), may soon be making their own Thai Linux laptops. Here in the Land of the Free Market, Microsoft buys legislators to kill laws aimed at allowing governments to use open-source software. Amazing. 2:35:30 PM

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Win4Lin eases Windows-to-Linux transition Robin Miller at NewsForge did this interesting interview last month with Jim Curtin, CEO at NeTraverse. These folks make Win4Lin, which does things similar to CodeWeavers' Crossover Office. What I like about Curtin, at least as he comes across here, is that he seems serious about his company having a limited lifespan--that we will attempt to hasten the day that no one uses Windows anymore, even though it means we won't be making Win4Lin anymore. (Thanks DesktopLinux.com) 11:42:29 AM

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Pale Blue Dot updated Did you see this when it came out last week? Mars Global Surveyor took time out from its mapping of Mars to take a look around the Solar System. Besides the view of earth you see here, there's also a lovely panorama with Jupiter and several of its moons. Here's a story from National Geographic (gotta love the War of the Worlds lead!) on the photos. 11:19:52 AM

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More on the Media Monopoly Dan Gillmor has been doing yeoman's work in trying to draw attention to the coming FCC vote to further concentrate the ownership of US media outlets to the Big Six media companies. Leaving aside his odd contention that this is all Ralph Nader's fault, he deserves the thanks of a grateful nation. Here are some of his pointers: John Nichols and Bob McChesney in The Nation Denver Post owner tries to keep his Vermont holdings union-free Salon on "The Big Blackout" When you're done with these, head over to Common Cause to meet with your Congress-creatures to get something done. Thanks to Cory Doctorow at BoingBoing for this link. While I'm at it, let me plug Free Press again too! 11:07:21 AM

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