Stories by Eric Lai

Users seek more info on Microsoft's model plan

Microsoft last week took several steps designed to bolster its System Center line of management tools. But some attendees at the Microsoft Management Summit in San Diego said they were disappointed by the lack of new information about the company's Dynamic Systems Initiative.

Experts: What Linux is doing wrong on the desktop

As the speakers at this week's fourth annual Linux Desktop Summit in San Diego looked out onto their audiences, they couldn't help but notice that the number of attendees sporting t-shirts, sandals and bushy facial hair -- the stereotypical Linux movement diehards -- was much reduced from previous conferences.

Microsoft snags asset management firm

Microsoft on Wednesday said it has bought a small Canadian asset management company to help improve the asset tracking capabilities in its System Center family of management applications.

HP to support MySQL

Hewlett-Packard said Tuesday that it will begin supporting open-source database MySQL via a MySQL program aimed at smaller business customers.

Upcoming Ubuntu Linux to be enterprise-ready

The first release of Ubuntu, whose name comes from an African word meaning "humanity to others," arrived in October 2004. Since then, the always-free Linux distribution has won over between two million and three million users worldwide, most of them individual desktop users, according to Canonical Ltd., the privately held firm behind the Ubuntu distribution. At the 4th annual Linux Desktop Summit in San Diego Monday, Jane Silber, the chief operating officer of Conanical sat down to talk to Computerworld's Eric Lai about how the upcoming June release of Ubuntu 6.06 might appeal to corporate users, too.

Upcoming Ubuntu Linux to be enterprise-ready

The first release of Ubuntu, whose name comes from an African word meaning "humanity to others," arrived in October 2004. Since then, the always-free Linux distribution has won over between two million and three million users worldwide, most of them individual desktop users, according to Canonical, the privately held firm behind the Ubuntu distribution.

Linux desktop growth could spur new malware activity

When the Indiana Department of Education began installing PCs running Linux in schools last year, it installed open-source antivirus software on servers to scan incoming e-mail. But it didn't bother installing antivirus software on the desktop computers.

MySQL encourages partners to build data storage engines

MySQL plans to wean itself from dependence on erstwhile rival Oracle by building a data storage engine to work with its open-source database and will encourage other firms to create compatible storage engines, MySQL CEO Marten Mickos said Wednesday.

Solid to launch open-source storage engine for MySQL

Solid Information Technology, which makes embedded databases that are widely used in telecommunications equipment, Monday announced plans to release an open-source version of its core storage engine that is compatible with the popular MySQL database.

Goldman Sachs sees Red Hat on a 'collision course'

Red Hat's planned acquisition of open-source application server provider JBoss -- announced last week -- puts the Linux vendor on a "collision course" with two of its most important partners, Oracle and IBM, according to a Wall Street analyst report Monday.

Sybase updates SQL Anywhere database

The iAnywhere Solutions unit of Sybase has started shipping a beta release of Version 10 of its SQL Anywhere embeddable database, which promises improved performance and new backup features.

Lower the odds of being outsourced

Which part of 22-year-old Rupak Shah's resume will most likely impress IT employers? Is it: A) His computer science degree? B) His skills in languages such as Java and Perl and database programs such as SQL Server and MySQL? C) The e-commerce Web site he started last year, for which he negotiates prices for his products -- imported herbal supplements -- with overseas suppliers?

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