Episode 51 - And then there was the linux desktop....

Running Time: 1:06:38

1) Introduction

Brian got an HP Touchpad and is running Linux on his Work Desktop.(sort of)

Joe still likes the GTV and is salty about not getting an HP Touchpad.

2) News

HP Touchpad Drama 

Will WebOS live?  Who will own it? 

Brian’s HP Saga Continues with this letter from OfficeMax.com

August 31, 2011 

Re: Cancelation of HP TouchPad Order 

Dear OfficeMax Customer: 

Recently you have been contacted and informed your HP TouchPad order was canceled due to HP discontinuing the item and OfficeMax not being able to source the item. 

It was brought to our attention that HP may be shipping additional inventory to its suppliers. Our Merchandising team has contacted HP and is pushing to acquire enough stock to cover the orders we had to cancel. HP has posted the following statement on their website - "Despite announcing an end to manufacturing webOS hardware, we have decided to produce one last run of TouchPads to meet unfulfilled demand. We don't know exactly when these units will be available or how many we'll get, and we can't promise we'll have enough for everyone." 

We have saved all canceled orders, and if we are successful in attaining additional HP TouchPads, we will contact you to fulfill your order. 

As always, we value your business. Thank you for your patience and loyalty throughout this situation. 

While we deeply regret any inconvenience this has caused, we ask that if you have questions, please call customer service at 1-877-OfficeMax. 

Brian really wants one of these $25 Linux computers...

Raspberry PI the $25 Linux machine is a real toy now...

Linux is 20....Next year Tux can Drink....

An Interview with the Linux Foundation President

What happened at LinuxCon?

Desktop Marketshare breakdown

Linux moves into a new decade here is how it compares to 10 years ago..

Lawsuits

Is Open-Source Illegal in your country?

Maybe just Maybe SCO Vs. Linux is finally dead...

RedHat VS Vmware?

RedHat announces Aeolus  

Is VMWare really RedHat's Biggest Enemy

3) Conclusion

Recommendations for People to interview

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In case you missed it Linux Turned 20....

Here are a collection of cool articles of things happening over the last couple of week to celebrate the big event:

What happens at LinuxCon should never stay there.  Espically picture of Linux's fearless leader Linus in a TUX!!!(not the peguin either)  This is a nice recap of various stories and blog posts from the event.

We have two cool charts showing the growth of Linux in different but equally impressive infographics:

Desktop Marketshare breakdown
Linux moves into a new decade here is how it compares to 10 years ago..

And last but not least is a pretty interesting interview with the President of the Linux Foundation

We want some Raspberry PI....

According to this interview on Electronics Weekly the devices not only are real, 50 prototypes have been delivered, and are already running Debian.  They will come in two versions to start.  One will be a 128MB machine with no network and only one USB port and cost @$25.  The second will have 256MB of RAM, a network port and 2 USB ports and cost @$35.  Both will have a 700MHZ processor, Stereo Sound Output through a standard Headphone jack, HDMI and the old composite connection for hooking up to your TV.  All of this will end up on a package the size of a credit card.  The goal for the developers is to inspire the next generation to want to tinker with PC's like the current generation did.

HP Touchpad Drama

What everyone wants to know right now is:  Will WebOS live?  If so, Who will own it?

Why does Brian want one?

From Brian himself:

"It's simple they are cheap movie watching/web surfing devices if nothing else.  They support HTML 5 and at leat MPEG Video.  The really impressive thing is how fast both Ubuntu was made bootable and Android already has beta's out.  So even if WebOS doesn't survive we will likely be able to run at least honeycomb and ubuntu.  So the apps issue shouldn't be a long term problem.  Oh and did I mention it was a $600 tablet just a few weeks ago?  I think the roughly $160 is pretty awesome." 

Brian's wife Christa used her amazing shopping powers to get Brian and several members of the extended families five HP Touchpads.  She ordered 8 in total but 3 of them got canceled.  Or at least they thought they did until they recieved this E-Mail from Office Max.( 2 of three of the canceled ones were from OfficeMax)

August 31, 2011
Re: Cancelation of HP TouchPad Order
Dear OfficeMax Customer:
Recently you have been contacted and informed your HP TouchPad order was canceled due to HP discontinuing the item and OfficeMax not being able to source the item.
It was brought to our attention that HP may be shipping additional inventory to its suppliers. Our Merchandising team has contacted HP and is pushing to acquire enough stock to cover the orders we had to cancel. HP has posted the following statement on their website - "Despite announcing an end to manufacturing webOS hardware, we have decided to produce one last run of TouchPads to meet unfulfilled demand. We don't know exactly when these units will be available or how many we'll get, and we can't promise we'll have enough for everyone."

We have saved all canceled orders, and if we are successful in attaining additional HP TouchPads, we will contact you to fulfill your order.

As always, we value your business. Thank you for your patience and loyalty throughout this situation.

While we deeply regret any inconvenience this has caused, we ask that if you have questions, please call customer service at 1-877-OfficeMax. 

So we will keep you posted on what Brian does with his and if Joe manages to get his hands on one.  To everyone who did buy one enjoy it.  Go install some linux on it.

What does the future hold for Linux?

The guys at Tuxradar created a survey about the future of Linux.  The folks at Linux Insider did a nice job of wading through the comments and trying to distill what people think the future of Linux is.  The write up is pretty good but of course Joe and I had  to put our spin on it in the podcast.  Since no one really knows what they future holds. I mean who saw Goggle buying Motorola Mobility 5 years ago.  So check out what we thought in the podcast.