LXer Weekly Roundup for 08-Apr-2007

LXer Feature: 08-Apr-2007 A weekly recap of the big stories concerning Linux and Open Source. Happy Easter!

Department of Homeland and Security wants master key for DNS: Giving the DNS keys, or master controls to all software programs over to the Government is one of the worst ideas I have ever heard of, ever.

Punching the Clock with GNU/Linux: Our own Don Parris talks about the current state of Open Source accounting and timeclock software, what businesses are opening up their code and what they could do better in the future.

History Repeats Itself - Linux Again Kicked To The Curb: Google's road to riches, their own personal Horatio Alger story, was paved with the code and efforts of the Linux/FOSS community. Google still refuses to acknowledge the need for a viable desktop search tool for the Linux Desktop. However, they have found the time and resources to add another one to the Mac. That's odd in itself. Wasn't Spotlight supposed to do that?

SCO tries to grok Pamela Jones (again): SCO again tries to convince someone, anyone that Pamela Jones of Groklaw is to blame for all their problems.

LWN.net: The third GPLv3 draft: One could well argue that a major license update should not be made in a hurry, and thus the delays are not problematic. In any case, the wait is over: the new GPLv3 draft is available. In many ways, the draft resembles its predecessors; in others, it has changed significantly.

Open Source coders caught stealing Open Source code: This article sparked a debate among our readers about what it means when code from different licenses is used together.

Broadcom Driver Dispute Uglier Than Necessary: Don Parris gets to the bottom of the "borrowed code" incident and discovers what can go wrong when a simple miscommunication goes wrong in view of the public.

With Vista recently hitting the shelves there have been some interesting facts coming to light. It seems that Microsoft's latest and greatest Operating System leaves something to be desired. The next three articles are good examples.

The "Nixed Report" Vista Challenge: One Linux Advocate, finally tiring of his friends "helping" him, issues a challenge. "You think I'm missing out by not running Windows Vista?" "You say it's superior even though one nanobyte of Linux code has never touched your hard drive?" "OK, I'll try it...but one one or two conditions..."

Windows Vista marketing 'deceived' consumers: Microsoft has been accused of deceiving US consumers by marketing PCs as "Windows Vista Capable". Be careful, just because it says it can run Vista doesn't mean that it can run it well.

30 Days with Vista: The Author really tries to like Vista but he runs into problem after problem. Interesting review if you read between the lines a little. A must read is the Editor-in Chief's paranoid disclaimer at the end.

Linux Desktop: Seven Leading Products: In our FUD article of the week the author does such a great job of turning logic on its head I have to quote it, "The most dangerous accounts are those given to your IT staff, giving them so-called “super-user” status – meaning they can access just about any organizational information they want." That's funny, I thought that having complete access to all the computers was the only way the IT department can do there job! You better look out, that Linux can be dangerous if you leave it out.