40 Fast Facts on Linux

 

The open source software turned 18 last year, and its maturity is evident to hackers and corporate types alike.

1. Linus Torvalds developed the Linux kernel while still a student at the University of Helsinki in 1991.

2. Last year, 75% of Linux code was developed by programmers working for corporations.

3. In December 2009, IBM announced a new mainframe system designed for Linux.

4. IBM chose Linux for what is expected to be the world's most powerful supercomputer, Sequoia, due in 2011.

5. Linux powers 446 of the world's top 500 supercomputers.

6. Some 95% of the servers used by Hollywood's large animation studios are powered by Linux

7. The first major film produced on Linux servers was 1997's Titanic.

8. Director James Cameron again chose Linux servers for box-office smash Avatar.

9. Google runs its web servers on Linux.

10. GOOG has contributed about 1.1% of the code in the current Linux kernel.

11. Linux has a strong following in smartphones and other devices in the consumer electronics world.

12. Palm's WebOS, Google's Android and Nokia's Maemo smartphone operating systems are built on top of the Linux kernel.

13. TiVo uses a customized version of Linux for its appliances.

14. In 2009, Linux had 33.8% revenue marketshare of servers, compared to Microsoft's 7.3%.

15. As of January 2010, Linux still only has a 1.02% marketshare within desktops.

16. Torvalds created Linux based on the GNU General Public License (GPL).

17. Torvalds wouldn't have written his own operating system if GNU had had a kernel at the time.

18. The GNU Project then a lacked lacking drivers, daemons and a kernel.

19. Under the GPL, any person or group distributing the Linux kernel must make the source code available to the recipient of the package.

20. Said Torvalds: "Making Linux GPL'd was definitely the best thing I ever did."

21. Torvalds failed to register the name "Linux" when he first started his open source ventures.

22. In 1994, William Della Croce, Jr. filed for trademark in the U.S.and asked for royalties from Linux distributors.

23. Torvalds and his lawyers won the battle for the Linux name in 1997.

24. There are over 300 distributions of Linux actively deployed today.

25. Linux gained traction beyond the coder cult with 1993's Slackware distribution, which was easier for non-programmers to use.

26. The Debian distribution was one of the first truly community-oriented Linux coding projects.

27. Debian's code base remains the foundation for other distros such as Ubuntu, Knoppix and Xandros.

28. Debian v. 4.0's source code containes 283 million lines of code.

29. $7.37 billion: projected cost to produce that amount of code in a commercial environment.

30. The first commercially-produced, live-CD distribution of Linux was Yggdrasil, released in 1992.

31. Red Hat was one of the first commercial Linux distributions to truly cater to the enterprise.

32. Ubuntu was the first Linux distro to be offered by a major OEM (Dell) to desktop users.

33. The Xandros distribution helped make the netbook craze possible when it was chosen by ASUS for the first iterations of the EeePC.

34. Linux-based Apache wasn't named for Geronimo's tribe, it was called "a patchy server" for its cobbled-together source code.

35. In 2002, The Register claimed Microsoft spent $421 million just to fight Linux.

36. In 2003, the SCO Group earned enmity by claiming that IBM transferred UNIX code into Linux and asking for redress.

37. The Indian state of Kerala made it mandatory for all of its high schools to run Linux on their computers.

38. The federal government of Brazil favors Linux operating systems over all others in its PCs.

39. In 2009, Brazil carried out the largest thin-client deployment of Linux to date, with 350,000 nodes.

40. IDC projects that Linux support sales will top $1 billion by 2012.

{Source: BaselineMag}

Don't Waste Money on iPad 2: 10 Reasons Why

 

1. The Design Differences Aren’t Major
   Apple’s iPad 2 is certainly a nice-looking device. And the best part is, it’s thinner and features a lighter weight than its predecessor. But the difference is negligible, since chances are, most folks aren’t going to notice the difference between 1.5 pounds and 1.3 pounds. Mobility is undoubtedly important, but the original iPad is just fine for those on-the-go.
2. The Dual Cameras Aren’t Everything
   Much has been made about Apple’s decision to offer dual cameras on the iPad 2. With their help, users will be able to snap photos and have FaceTime video chats with others. But are those features enough to justify buying another iPad? Considering there are many other cameras out there for much cheaper prices, probably not.
3. The White Doesn’t Look So Great
   Apple was quick to point out that its new tablet comes with a white finish. That might appeal to some folks, but when one actually looks at the white version, it quickly becomes clear that the black model looks much nicer. Realizing that, those who own the current iPad and were thinking seriously about the white version should stay away and wait for Apple to offer a nicer look in the future.
4. The iPad 3 Will Be Best
   Let’s face it: the iPad 2 is nothing more than an evolutionary upgrade. It features a better processor, a slightly improved design, and a few other features that customers might like. But it’s the iPad 3 that will feature the biggest change. It will likely deliver the many features the iPad 2 is missing. And it would probably behoove current iPad owners to wait.
5. The Price Is Still the Same
   As mentioned, the update to the iPad 2 isn’t all that groundbreaking. And that’s probably why Apple kept the price of the device the same, starting at $499 and going up to $829. However, consumers need to ask themselves if they really want to pay at least $500 for a device that was updated in largely minor ways.
6. Consider Other Available Options
   The iPad 2 might look like one of the better options on the market, but it’s worth noting that there are several other devices available now, including the Motorola Xoom, which consumers might also want to consider. That device comes with many of the features the iPad 2 offers, but delivers a bigger screen, Android 3.0 Honeycomb, and a future, free upgrade to 4G. It’s a fine alternative to the iPad 2.
7. Think About Future Devices Too
   Aside from current devices, it’s important for consumers to remember that there are scores of tablets scheduled to hit store shelves in the coming months. They range from the LG Optimus Pad to the Research In Motion BlackBerry PlayBook. And they all offer something unique. Rather than opt for the iPad 2 now, maybe it would be best to hold on to the current iPad and see what future tablets might offer.
8. Don’t Fall Into the Annual Trap
   Apple is absolutely the best in the market when it comes to getting customers to buy new devices every year. The company delivers important updates to its products and does so in an arena where everyone finds out about it. The strategy helps it attract customers to its products every year. And it makes for much higher revenue figures. But considering the evolutionary upgrade to the iPad 2, customers would be smart to resist the urge to fall into the annual trap this time around.
9. There’s No 4G
   One of the main omissions from the iPad 2 is 4G. Unlike the Motorola Xoom, which will offer a free upgrade to 4G, the iPad 2 only comes with the ability to connect to 3G networks. It’s a misstep on Apple’s part, given the growing importance of the ultra-high-speed connection. And it should be enough for current iPad owners to wait until the iPad 3 to upgrade from their current tablet. After all, that device probably will have 4G.
10. Where’s the Retina Display?
    Prior to the announcement of the iPad 2, rumors started surfacing, suggesting that the device would come with an improved display. Some wondered if Apple would offer its high-quality Retina Display — which is found in the iPhone 4 — in the iPad 2, as well. But it did nothing of the sort. And the new tablet’s screen is identical to its predecessor. That’s unfortunate. Apple had an opportunity to entice more customers to the iPad 2 by delivering a better display. And it fell short.

Half of the Workday is Wasted

 

Knowledge workers at SMBs spend 50% of their workdays on unproductive but necessary tasks like dealing with spam or scheduling meetings, says a study conducted for cloud-based VoIP and unified communications company Fonality. The impact of inefficient communications shows a need for immediate change, said Steve Taylor, editor-in-chief and publisher for Webtorials, which conducted the 2011 Report on UC and Cloud-based Services for SMBs. The report says reducing a worker’s unproductive time by 25% adds the equivalent of six productive weeks each year; a business with 50 employees making between $40,000 and $110,000 per year could save $950,000 annually. Fonality, a unified communications vendor, unsurprisingly touts unified communications as a way of realizing such efficiencies. “You’re going to see the change toward cloud service – it’s going to start with small business,” said Wes Durow, chief marketing officer of Fonality. “All that time that’s wasted seeking information and trying to connect others can be greatly reduced.”

 

• 36% of worker time is lost scheduling, digging up information, and trying to get in touch with people.
• 74 minutes per day is wasted trying to get in touch with customers, partners or colleagues.
• 67 minutes each day is spent looking up information about the business.
• 33 minutes per day is spent trying to schedule meetings with colleagues.
• 39 minutes each day is spent repeating themselves – by email, chat and/or phone.
• 29 minutes per day is spent dealing with Spam and avoiding phone calls.
• 50% of knowledge-worker time at SMB is wasted on unproductive yet unavoidable tasks.
• The bright side: Reducing unproductive time by 25% can give workers back 6 hours each week to do their jobs better.