"Applications drive the market, and until there's a compelling reason to use Linux on the desktop, it will remain a fringe desktop OS. Linux's future as a server OS remains solid thanks to the many splendid server applications, but if we want to see Linux break through as a viable desktop OS, the Open Source world needs to realize that commercial software is not an evil thing to be derided or ignored ... in the absence of a killer application, it doesn't matter whether an OS like OS/2 is certifiably better than the status-quo Windows."

Confused about clusters? Wearing his classic red fedora and no protective armor, Michael Tiemann, CTO of Red Hat, promises to answer all your cluster questions in a live cyber-conversation on SearchEnterpriseLinux.com on Jan. 17. Get the back story from this report on Tiemann and high availability for Linux before the event.

"In early January 2000 I wrote about my decision to use Windows NT in the creation of a new network. I detailed why I chose Windows NT, after performing an evaluation between it and Linux. I'm here today to tell you why I reversed that decision, and how I used Linux to give me the functionality I required."

Caldera Systems has announced the release of Caldera Volution, a comprehensive Linux management solution that reduces the cost of implementing and managing Linux systems. With Caldera Volution, administrators can use policies and profiles to manage thousands of Linux systems, without having to individually manage or touch each.

Former Compaq executives are staffing and funding a startup server maker that will use Transmeta microprocessors and the Linux operating system.

South Korea's LG Electronics has announced development of a Linux-based tablet PC that boasts wireless LAN connectivity. The Digital iPad is designed for applications such as basic e-mail, Internet access, and word processing, and as a multimedia terminal, for which video and MP3 player software is installed, according to a company statement.

As the need for bigger, faster supercomputers increases at a rapid pace, IBM and the NCSA at the University of Illinois at Champaign are working together to create the world's fastest Linux supercomputer. The NCSA will install two Linux clusters, which include more than 600 IBM xSeries eServers running Linux and Myricom's Myrinet cluster interconnect network.

Mandrake 7.2 (Odyssey) is available as a two CD download. There is a installation and a extension CD. The installation CD is fine for most people but the second CD carries a lot of useful applications.

Make your machine bootable from the CD drive, insert the first CD and you are ready to roll. The installation process is amazingly easy with emphasis on flexibility and choice.

Having got that under way, we explored the various install options. Pressing F1 gives you info on available options. Just pressing enter starts the default graphical install.

VA Linux has been hit with three class-action lawsuits alleging that the Prospectus incorporated in the registration statement was materially false and misleading. The first one filed by Cauley Geller Bowman & Coates, LLP is linked above. Read more about the others filed by Bernstein Liebhard & Lifshitz, LLP

>here

here.

Sun will, this week, launch its first server appliances, since acquiring Cobalt Networks for $2bn. The launch will include a new Linux-based Raq server from Sun's Cobalt subsidiary, suggesting a retreat, by Sun, from plans to replace Linux with Solaris. Developers had said putting Solaris on Cobalt servers would hamper work to create application-specific servers.