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Preparation for LinuxWorld Heats Up
BoomZilla writes "Numerous stories abound regarding next week's LinuxWorld in San Francisco.
Reuters has published a report about Sun's upcoming
announcement at the show. Apparently Sun will be revealing its first
general-purpose, low-end Linux machine, and its own version of Linux. In another
article CBS MarketWatch
reports that IBM and RedHat/Dell will also be making major announcements." It'll at least be interesting this year with Microsoft
having a booth. I'll be there as usual, but without a booth, so maybe we can
russle up a party somewhere for Wed night? Anyone know a good place? Perhaps that serves Guinness & Bodingtons? Also, go see the Golden Penguin Bowl since
I'm a contestant this year and will undoubtedly embarass myself terribly.
Published last friday on their website:
a nd rakesoftnews/news?n=/mandrakesoft/events/2369
http://www.mandrakesoft.com/company/community/m
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AMD's booth
This year AMD will be welcoming the Mandrakesoft team as partner on their booth. Hammer, AMD's new generation of 64-bits processor, and Mandrake Clustering (Clic project) will be in the spotlight.
Hammer demos
* Demo of the Beta version of the upcoming Mandrake Linux 9.0 on Hammer.
* Use of X 32 bits server running KDE 3.02 64 bits and a Konqueror 64 bits navigator. This server will be linked to a Gigabit Ethernet network. There should also be a charge simulation of 5000 connexions.
Mandrake Clustering (Clic project) demos:
* Use of a cluster of 4 Bi-Athlon XP/MP nodes with GeForce 4.
* Presentation of operations of nodes fast deployment from a server.
* Presentation of the Quake demo on multi screens.
* Presentation of Povray calculations using MPI or PVM technics which show that every node calculates and transmits the information.
HP's booth
On HP's booth, there will be demonstrations of the Bundle Premium, an OEM special offering built by HP and Mandrakesoft under a partnership agreement. This offering is based on HP's Evo desktops associated with Mandrake Linux Standard OEM Edition.
The Bundle Premium consists of 2 CDs and a 100-day per mail support. The first CD offers Mandrake Linux Standard OEM Edition, the second one is loaded with StarOffice 6.0, the reference office suite for Linux. This product is distributed via HP's worldwide network of resellers.
HP will also demonstrate 441 Project Community Computer concept, using the Mandrake Linux distribution. This concept is geared towards educational markets. It could potentially reduce the cost per seat dramatically by sharing the resources of one Evo desktop among 4 users.
IBM's booth
MandrakeSoft recently announced that it will distribute DB2, IBM's famous database software, with its server product. The combination IBM DB2 version 8/Mandrake Linux 8.2 will be exhibited on IBM's booth. This ideal low-cost e-Business solution is likely to open a new era of migration from other platforms.
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Great to see that IBM shows interest in Mandrake!
Yup - I use the Sun desktop but on a SunRay. I'm afraid I'm currently using a SunPCI card to surf while the real work is happening on the Sun desktop.
The initial poster has fallen for the usual trap of comparing the low-end Sun boxes with reasonably high-end Intel-based boxes.
The main problem is that the comparison of processor speeds is a meaningless as MIPS (meaningless indication of processor speed?:-)
Most Intel-uproc based systems have extremely limited architectures supporting the processor and struggle in multiprocessor systems.
SPARC on the other hand, was developed to exist happily in a multiprocessor environment and has the underlying architecture that will allow usparcIII systems to beat soundly Intel-based systems.
How many Intel-based systems have you seen at 16 processors never mind 64 or above?
Now answer the same question substituting Intel with SPARC....
Ok, so the components may not be as cheap as the off-the-shelf compatriots but I would counter that with a question...
How many times have you had problems with compatability issues and everyone pointing the finger at the other companies products? Even when you buy an ASUS mobo and ASUS-flavour nVidia-based graphics card there are still problems. I'd rather pay the higher price and not waste my time trying to get two independent entities to talk to one another in the vain hope of getting a fix. This can take days - my daily rate becomes a factor here as I would personally have to manage the problem myself instead of actually producing anything for my customers.
For me and I would imagine, many other commercial concerns, the elevated cost of peripherals is going to end up cheaper overall.
Yes - PCs have the place and Sun boxes have their place but the overlap is starting to blur. Don't just write of Sun boxes because their processors are "slower" than a cheaper intel cpu.
#pragma soapboxmode off
Microsoft has no good intentions for the LWCE. I have come to learn that they intend to only do two things: promote their Services For Unix software and promote Windows XP Embedded.
I have been trying to find the original Newsforge article with that information, but I've only been able to find the article at Eweek.com.
They try to make it out as though it's really about talking to customers that need to work in a mixed environment, but I have my doubts. They also try to make it out as being a dialog between them and the rest of the OSS and Free Software communities.
// file: mice.h
#include "frickin_lasers.h"
Microsoft documents apparently have something to reveal.
It does not sound like lack of demand had anything to do with it.
Sounds more and more like additional illegal activity.
The following is taken from the opening statement by the States.
1. Microsoft held a series of meetings with Dell in regard to linux
2. Meetings involved both Gates and Ballmer
3. Microsoft does not sell a linux distro
4. Microsoft needs to remind Dell why it is smart to partner with Microsoft
5. Dell feels a need to discuss linux with Microsoft? (does he need permission from the godfather?)
6. Ballmer is urged to make certain that Dell understands it is untenable for Dell to be marketing linux
7. Ballmer suggests that Gates give Dell somewhat of a hard time (Ballmer suggests that Gates brown nose Dell)
8. Dell in June of 2001 informs Microsoft (the crime family) that Dell has canceled their linux business unit
9. Does not smell like lack of market demand at all
Is this testimony? No, just statements from the States based upon Microsoft documents.
But, does this sound like a lack of marketing demand nixed Redhat on Dell desktops? Not to me it does not.
It sounds like Dell thinks that Microsoft Corporation has to approve any contracts that Dell might want to sign with others. (Or, they have to cancel if Microsoft does not approve.)
Lewis A. Mettler, Esq. (lamlaw.com)
NexuSys - Linux support by the best