“There’s at least one major reason to go to Comdex if you’re
a Linux protagonist: the Linux Business Expo (LBE). The LBE has
grown significantly into an interesting event. Second caveat:
I wrote several articles on Linux basics for the Comdex Show Daily
and an adjunct newsletter. The idea is to help newbies understand
open source, distributions, and a bit more about the variety of
participants in the LBE. An enormous number of people came to the
LBE area, which took up a sizeable fraction of the Las Vegas Hilton
side of the Convention Center. The tribe was there. They were
smiling….”
“Mad Dog gives a sentimental intro. Linus walked out on to the
stage with a roar of the crowd. Missing on the stage were all of
the demo components and props from the night before. It’s just
Linus, the Linux faithful and curious. He uses a Sony PictureBook
and a StarOffice presentation with a few bullet points. No pounding
space music permeates the environment like the night before. It’s
Linus, solo.”
“Across from the stage in the first row are his two daughters
and their mom. I feel completely conspicuous in my suit and tie.
He’s interrupted frequently by cheers when he goes through the open
source concept and success story. He drops the big hint about
Transmeta, the company that he’s been working for. It seems it is
developing a software-definable CPU. There’s more speculation on
Transmeta than the EgyptAir Flight 990 crash. Perhaps Linus et al
will get a chance to turn the industry on its ear. Again.”