ZDNET.co.uk reports: “Intel will unveil on Wednesday its fastest microprocessor yet for
low-cost personal computers and has also started selling a
lower-cost version of its new Pentium 4 chip.”

FreeOS review: “StarOffice is an alternative Office Suite with one very tantalizing
feature — Zero cost! Beyond the price however, StarOffice is a
full-featured suite of programs that offer compatibility with various
file formats and good cross-platform capability. But, is the latest version
worth upgrading to or installing on your system?”

“These days its hard to be surprised by anything. No millennium (the real one) planet explosions, dangling chads, and the NVidia-3dfx buy-out are just a few
indications that truly anything can happen in the world we live in. Linux is no stranger to these new developments, either. We’ve seen technology stocks bounce up
and down and people write off Linux as being just a fad. I’m here to say that Linux is no fad, simply because it isn’t supported primarily by corporations for profit
like “the other OS.” It’s supported by the people who use it and designed by the people who use it, which is the untarnished beauty of Linux.” More at The Duke of URL.

LinuxToday has posted a link to the download page for the new release of GIMP for Windows.

Starbucks Coffee Co. and Microsoft Corp.
on Wednesday said they are teaming up to connect Starbucks’
coffee shops around North America using MobileStar Network
Corp.’s wireless network.

Customers will be able to sit in a Starbucks and look up information
about local arts and entertainment or shop online, the companies
said, according to PCWorld.

More from ZDNET: “Attorneys representing a
group of current and former employees of
Microsoft Corp. said Tuesday they will file a $5
billion class action lawsuit against the world’s
biggest software firm and its chairman Bill
Gates for alleged employment discrimination.
The complaint, scheduled to be filed
Wednesday on behalf of seven current and
former employees, will allege discrimination by
the company in evaluations, compensation,
promotions, wrongful termination and
retaliation, they said.”

From ZDNET: “Online gamers on Monday saw their champion
characters mercilessly killed off by computer
hackers who gained access to their players
through a security hole in Blizzard
Entertainment’s games server.”

“The past two weeks have been weird, haven’t they? Most people are working this week, but not the entire week, maybe just a couple days in-between. It’s after
New Year’s and we all have to go back to work. We’re all full of holiday food, and we just want to roll over and take a nap. You’ve watched enough holiday
programming to make your eyes fall out, and you’re Officially Done with The Holidays.” Read more at LinuxJournal.

From 32bitsonline: “PHP has become a huge force especially in the deployment of interactive, database-backed website. PHP is a powerful, interpreted language. In this book review, we take a look at one of many books available. Is it worth your money?”

Nando Times reports that Napster has a new friend. Edel, one of the music labels involved in suing the service is joining Napster’s proposed payed service.