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Posts in 2008 February 10
If you have not already heard, SCALE, or the Southern California Linux Expo, is now underway. So far, the most interesting news comes from ZaReason, a manufacturer of many Linux-based computers and a reseller of Everex’s gPC and CloudBook, regarding gOS on the CloudBook. According to Click, the CloudBook will now run a version of gOS with GNOME, instead of Enlghtenment, showing that Everex is continuing to improve their software.
When gOS first came out on the gPC, it was criticized heavily. At CES, Everex released gOS 2.0, which I hoped would solve some of the problems people had had with the original gOS. I don’t know for sure if it did, because I never saw another review (the EEE had already taken the attention from the gPC.) Anyway, more improvements always help, but is changing to GNOME an improvement? I think so.
You could argue forever about desktop environment x being better than desktop environment y, but I don’t think anyone would dispute that more people use GNOME than Enlightenment. Because of this, more it is easier to find people who can help you with GNOME and there are more people working to develop GNOME. Perhaps if Everex was a software company the second argument would not be relevant, but Everex is really a hardware company using Linux to enhance their products. It is always good to see more improvements to the inexpensive Linux computers, so good job Everex. (Note: I am assuming this is an Everex modification, not a ZaReason modification, but I suppose it could be something ZaReason is doing.)
EU Puts Spotlight on Microsoft's Actions in First OOXML Vote
Those who closely followed the first OOXML standardization vote (in which OOXML was not standardized, but was given a chance to make changes and be voted on again) will remember that shortly before the vote, many Microsoft partners joined the group of voting members in the standardization process and voted in favor of OOXML. At the time, I felt that that tactic seemed scummy, as many Microsoft tactics do, but I did not think legal action would be taken against them for it. Now it has, or at least it might.
The EU, continuing to keep a close watch on Microsoft, is beginning an investigation into Microsoft’s actions in the first OOXML vote to decide if anything illegal was done, according to the Standards Blog. Although it is not clear if this investigation will have any impact on Microsoft or the OOXML vote (the author of the Standards Blog says he believes that this investigation will not have enough time to effect the upcoming vote,) the more attention is brought to bear on Microsoft’s questionable practices the better. The more these issues are put in front of people, the more likely it is that Microsoft’s opposition will become unified to fight back against these unfair practices.