Something's up at InfoWhirled

Post #7,501 by Andrew Grygus 9/2/01 1:36:22 PM Reply	Something's up at InfoWhirled Finally got a chance to go through this week's (dead tree) issue. Last week we had a highly favorable review of NewWare, and Bob Lewis recommending flat out that businesses start migrating to Linux. This week most of the issue (14 articles and columns) is devoted to Linux / Open Source articles, almost all about as highly favorable as I've ever seen in an industry rag. The least favorable was Bob Lewis questioning if innovation and Open Source are compatible. The issue ends with another highly unfavorable article on the Microsoft/BSA "Truce" campaign. Has Sandy Reed's ghost finally been exorcised? [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx]
Post #7,504 by broomberg 9/2/01 2:16:19 PM Reply	Wierd, ehh? And it made me think of you Don't know why. Most likely because I associate many things you said about the wonders of SCO unixware (mostly SSI and Veritas) with what is left do to make Linux truly "enterprise" on the tech side. And since SSI is currenly being ported (too bad it uses GFS, which is no longer GPL), I thought of you again. So I'm reading my InfoWorld, AMAZED at the pro-Linux focus, and stumbled across a WILD statistic. According to the majority of the 40 memebrs "InfoWorld CTO Network" (a self selecting survey group if I ever heard of one), the questions is: How is you company currently using or planning to use open-source software? And we got the standard, web, file, printinng, etc. But 30% of them also said DESKTOP OPERATING SYSTEM!!!!!!! Wow!
Post #7,509 by Andrew Grygus 9/2/01 5:36:55 PM Reply	I noticed that too, but . . . . . worst case: each of 30% of the sample group has one Linux desktop running as a test unit, replacing a Unix or 'frame terminal. Even so, that's got to worry Microsoft (especially since that's the way they get their high usage figures ("90% of major corporations are running Windows 2000")). As for InfoWhirled, perhaps their current thinness has finally gotten a clue through to them. I've been telling magazines for years, once there's only Microsoft, there's no need for IT magazines (except the one published by Microsoft), and there will be no advertisers to support them anyway. Microsoft moving into hardware has got to be scaring a lot of advertising sales directors, because that has the potential of reducing both hardware and software advertising to a mere trickle. Open Source will not fill most business needs, so there will be plenty of advertising for commercial software and services, and plenty of advertising for hardware. Linux Journal, for instance, does not seem to be suffering for advertisers. Any magazine that is not pushing Linux is simply stupid. This has already happened once. When the IBM PC came out, almost every magazine pushed it like there was no tomorrow. Many magazines died within a year because advertising for competing products dried up. [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx]
Post #7,596 by gdaustin 9/3/01 9:12:37 PM Reply	Open Source Infoworld Yeah, and the last two issues are the only ones I've read in about 5 years cover to cover. The Bob Lewis article SHOCKED ME, because he's such a "corporate guy", someone who doesn't like "risk", "politics", or "martyr causes". However, there are 3 dynamics, I think, that are really pushing this. 1. If you haven't already noticed, a huge majority of Infoworld's ad space is bought by IBM, HP, and Microsoft. IBM and HP have been sending serious signals that their future product lines will be all (or mostly) Linux. I doubt seriously that HP intends to run the new Itanium servers on HP/UX. The lower end of HP's Unix line is already Linux, and I think Linux will move up the food chain until HP/UX is gone. IBM started at the bottom AND at the top (mainframe), and is now squeezing Linux into the mid-tier with L5 (RS/6000). Both HP and IBM want to leave kernel development to someone else to lower costs. That someone else is the Linux development community. 2. Microsoft's licensing practices are going to destroy them. New versions of Windows (XP, 2002, etc.) will REQUIRE online registration before they can be used. One ZD author (Coursey?) had his Word XP DISABLED on an airplane on the way to a trade show. The disabled version prevented him from using Word at all, except as a reader. He had to write all his stuff in Notepad or WordPad. Since Microsoft will be recieving an online registration request from XP upgrades, what better time to check and see if you really licensed 95, 98, or ME? If Microsoft can't find a prior registration, then they could send the SPA thugs to your door, to collect those prior OS license fees in addition to the XP upgrade you just purchased. Guilty unless you can find your "hologram certificate". Hope you filed those away very carefully, 1 per machine. Finally, you're purchasing a LEASE on XP and beyond generation software. This means that 1 year from your upgrade date, Microsoft will be hitting you again for fees for another year. What? You want to stay on XP and NOT UPGRADE? Sorry, you can't do that. Microsoft will only support 2 generations of software (current and 1 prior). If you refuse an upgrade, your system will be disabled, and when you DO upgrade, you'll pay the FULL PRICE FOR A NEW INSTALLATION. Corporations are completely and totally fed up with BS like this. Our 53 person company was "visited" by the SPA thugs about 6 months before I hired on, and we ended up paying over $100,000 for licenses (in a convenient 12 month payment schedule). Our owner is now completely, totally and forever dedicated to removing as much Microsoft as we possibly can from the organization. When the thugs come back, we'll be a HP/UX and Linux shop. Sorry Microsoft! I think a LOT of companies are following our thinking. 3. In the tough economy, not only are the financial guys telling IT and programming to "do with less people", but they're also telling the IT and programming staff to not spend on stuff either. Hardware can be picked up for a SONG. We're finding former mid-range/mainframe servers on eBay for 10 cents on the dollar or less. Sun Ultra 5's for $600. HP 9000 C180's for $350. HP 9000 K series 580 for $5200. (The list was between $60,000 and $100,000 on HP's web site). Sun 3500, 4500 series for $30,000-40,000. BUT, software is still expensive. Oracle is still $40,000 per processor (plus $20,000 per processor for clustering). BEA is still $15,000 per processor. You get the idea. However, Enhydra and PostGreSQL, are free downloads and even the commercial versions are 4x to 5x cheaper than commercial products. So, corporations are realizing that to win in the "tough new economy", you buy your servers off of eBay, and you run Open Source software, and hire capable people. Besides, support for commercial products (like Oracle) was pretty much a crock anyway. If you didn't have great people to ask the "right kind of question" to the Oracle support people, sorry you're listening to a dial tone. So the combinations of these 3 has corporate America interested, and InfoWorld is just following the trend. Glen Austin
Post #7,599 by Andrew Grygus 9/3/01 9:36:58 PM Reply	Minor adjustments Microsoft sends the BSA (Business Software Alliance) not the SPA (Software Publisher's Assoc. - which now exists only as an enforcement arm of the SIIA (Software and Information Industry Association)). Microsoft formed the BSA in anger when the SIIA instituted a code of ethics for software publishers. Hologram certificates are not considered adequate evidence of ownership by Microsoft and the BSA. You have to tie the software back to invoices for the machines. OEM software is not transferable, and the hologram is not evidence the software came with the machine it is on. The new stick-on holograms, if stuck to the machine, are probably considered adequate. [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx]
Post #7,600 by static 9/3/01 9:39:40 PM Reply	It begs the question... ... will they want us back? Wade. "All around me are nothing but fakes Come with me on the biggest fake of all!"
Post #7,602 by Andrew Grygus 9/3/01 9:50:34 PM Reply	It begs the question... . . do they even remember us? There's been a lot of turnover there. [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx]
Post #7,510 by kmself 9/2/01 6:34:18 PM Reply	Ad page counts? Specifically, high-profile placements (cover, lead pages) by IBM and HP? Don't forget too that this was the week of LWE, which is going to see a concerted publicity push by a number of firms, though given the reports (I didn't attend) from LWE, there were a number of companies which were surprise no-shows (Agenda) or were only dragged out reluctantly (VA). Spending a couple of days in SF though, the number of IBM astronaut and Peace, Love, Linux ads plastering the street is quite noteable. That US$1b campaign includes a large marketing component, I'll wager. -- Karsten M. Self [link\|mailto:kmself@ix.netcom.com\|kmself@ix.netcom.com] What part of "gestalt" don't you understand?
Post #7,519 by tonytib 9/2/01 9:43:52 PM Reply	LWE SF 2001 It looks like I'm the only one who went. Definitely more subdued than past ones, looked like less people -- but I think partly the move from the SJCC to the more spacious Moscone Center may have been part of it. However, definitely the impact of the bursted Internet bubble could be felt -- for example, a lot fewer nice goodies, fewer booth bimbos, and fewer small companies. Still, I got the feeling the Linux is really starting to grow into business. For example, IBM was showing off some really high end stuff, including Linux on S/390 (or whatever the new name is). Basically, the hype is over and it's time to get down to business. And, such positive coverage from InfoWorld is still welcome, especially if it continues. Tony
Post #7,610 by bepatient 9/4/01 12:27:25 AM Reply	Well... ...someones got to pick up the slack. Maximum Linux is no more :( You were born...and so you're free...so Happy Birthday! _{Laurie Anderson} [link\|mailto:bepatient@aol.com\|BePatient]
Post #8,097 by Steven A S 9/10/01 11:44:53 AM Reply	That bytes! I liked Maximum Linux, and was going to get a subscription when I returned to the states. I finally got back, and they're nowhere to be found. Anybody know what happened? ~~~)-Steven----
Post #8,099 by Andrew Grygus 9/10/01 11:53:18 AM Reply	Maximum Linux is dead . . . . . . because you didn't subscribe before you left. Left over is a Web site of the same name, but the guy who runs it out of his own pocket is advertising for donations over on Linux Today, saying his pocket is seriously empty. [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx]
Post #8,140 by bepatient 9/10/01 5:28:19 PM Reply	I subscribed... ...and now I get something else in its place...Byte or something...can't remember. You were born...and so you're free...so Happy Birthday! _{Laurie Anderson} [link\|mailto:bepatient@aol.com\|BePatient]
Post #8,144 by wharris2 9/10/01 5:50:46 PM Reply	Can't be Byte Byte ceased print publication over a year ago - I think more like two+ years. French Zombies are zapping me with lasers!
Post #8,171 by n3jja 9/10/01 10:04:28 PM Reply	I'm getting WIRED.... yuck!!! A total POS, IMHO.
Post #8,182 by bepatient 9/10/01 10:38:02 PM Reply	Yep...thats the one...I had to look... ...since I haven't read it. You were born...and so you're free...so Happy Birthday! _{Laurie Anderson} [link\|mailto:bepatient@aol.com\|BePatient]

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