Leading items and editorials: Linux: a Ben and Jerry’s or Amazon
business?, Oracle’s “Internet appliance” system is out, Software
Patents Still on European Commission Agenda and A wealth of
conferences is on tap for next week.
“Linux: a Ben and Jerry’s or Amazon business? For those who have
not yet read it, we strongly recommend a look at this “strategy
letter” by Joel Spolsky. It divides startup businesses into two
broad categories, each named after a company that epitomizes
it…”
“Oracle’s “Internet appliance” system is out. The “New Internet
Computer” (NIC) is the latest result of Larry Ellison’s long
personal crusade to make non-Microsoft systems available to the
world. It’s aimed at people who only want access to the net; as
such, it’s essentially a $199 (without monitor) X terminal. It has
a 266 MHz processor, 64MB of memory, Ethernet and USB ports, a
CDROM, and a built-in modem. And, of course, a Linux operating
system. (Some) more information may be found in the press
release….”