Weekly news wrapup: Corel dumps Linux, Microsoft dumps surfers

– By Grant Gross –

Some bad news this week for Linux, but worse news for its closed-source rival Microsoft. While Microsoft-backed Corel announced it was dumping its Linux distribution, Microsoft’s Web sites were down for nearly a day because of what it first called an equipment misconfiguration.

Isn’t Microsoft the operating system most people use because they think Open Source operating systems are too tough to configure? Later in the week, the software monster was apparently hit with a denial-of-service attack.

The funniest story during Microsoft’s week of Web disasters: Microsoft.com has now, apparently, started using Linux to serve pages. Is Bill starting to see the light? Maybe after seeing AntiTrust, he’s converted.

Over at Corel, CEO Derek Burney denied that Microsoft’s millions had anything to do with the decision to dump the Corel Linux distro.

If you’re not one to delight in Microsoft misfortunes, there was some other good news in the Open Source world this week. Several professors and industry groups from journalists to cryptographers filed friend-of-the-court briefs this week in support of Web site 2600, saying last year’s ruling that prohibited it from publishing the DeCSS DVD-playing code ignores basic “fair use” and free expression rights.”

Ch-ch-ch-changes

LinuxPPC, a driving force delivering Linux to Mac users, announced this week it will be seeking non-profit status. That’s not a bad move, considering the state of for-profit Linux companies these days. See what LinuxPPC co-founder Jason Haas has to say about the decision.

Also on the move this week, the Open Source Development Lab, a non-profit Linux laboratory supported by a load of industry heavyweights, which opened for business Wednesday.

New in NewsForge this week

News editor Tina Gasperson reviews the LinuxGames Web site, saying what’s there is good, although the site could use updatng.

Editor in chief Robin Miller broke the story that Storm Linux is reorganizing and looking for a friend to bale the company out of finanical woes.

We also report on the OSCAR “Supercomputer on a CD” project, which will be demonstrated at LinuxWorld. The goal: to make setting up a Linux cluster easy for those of us who aren’t networking administration experts.

NewsForge editors read and respond to comments posted on our discussion page.