Slashdotters react to a CNet story saying that Microsoft seems to be changing its licensing schemes so that it’s renting software. Basically, companies must pay new fees after three years or stop using Microsoft software.

Panasonic and SuSE Linux, the
international technology leader in open source operating system software, announced
today that SuSE Linux 7.1 provides complete driver support for
Panasonic 4.7GB DVD-RAM drives. With driver support for the drive, Linux users
have low-cost, rewritable storage for feature-length videos, system
back-up/recovery and multimedia applications as well as a 6x DVD reader
and a 24x CD reader.

SuSE Linux 7.1 is a comprehensive collection of the best solutions on
Linux today and includes the new Linux 2.4 kernal which provides
increased USB support for personal computer users and enhanced scalability for
network administrators. Two versions of the product are available: a
Personal Edition for home and small office users, and an advanced
Professional Edition for developers and network administrators. Both
versions include the link Linux users need to take advantage of the many
benefits that the Panasonic rewritable DVD offers. The Linux driver treats
DVD-RAM media like any other removable hard drive media, allowing users
to treat the DVD-RAM drive just as they would any other hard drive in
Linux.

Easy to install, configure and use, SuSE Linux 7.1 Personal
automatically detects and resizes window partitions during installation so users
can quickly set up their sound cards, Internet access and support for
peripherals such as the Panasonic DVD-RAM drives. In addition to
including a complete office suite package, SuSE’s Personal version offers more
than 700 open-source application packages, web browsing and email
support and sophisticated image editing software.

SuSE Linux Professional is an enterprise-level package with more than
2,500 programs for servers, networking, security, cross-platform data
exchange and multimedia applications. The new version incorporates
comprehensive server support for databases, email, e-commerce, Web, ftp, and
file servers, as well as library and logical volume management. The
longevity and reliability of the removable DVD-RAM media, combined with
its low storage cost, make it an excellent centralized storage solution
for these high-volume applications.

The Panasonic DVD-RAM drive combines the ease of use and random access
of a hard drive with transfer rates of up to 22.16Mb/sec and 95msec
access times. Offering 4.7GB of fast, random access on a single-sided
disc (9.4GB on the double-sided disc) and more than 100,000 overwrites for
about $.005/MB, the drives are ideal for meeting the growing storage
requirements of businesses and individuals that are enhancing their
communications with digitized audio signals, 3-D graphics, animation, and
high-resolution videos.

“SuSE is committed to bringing the advantages of Linux to a broader
audience,” said Roland Dyroff, SuSE Linux AG CEO. “Now that Linux is
easier to use, application and support for peripherals such as the Panasonic
DVD-RAM drive will play a key roll in increasing its market share. With
SuSE Linux,” he continued, “Linux users can simply install the drive
and take advantage of the many capabilities of the drive.”

“SuSE has developed one of the most complete and most well-documented
Linux distribution packages on the market,” said Dana Berzin, DVD
product manager at Panasonic Industrial Company’s Global Computer Group.
“We appreciate their efforts and are certain SuSE Linux will be
instrumental in fueling the growth of rewritable DVD in the Linux market.”

Pricing, Availability
SuSE Linux 7.1 is available now from SuSE’s web site, www.suse.com, and
from software retailers worldwide. The Personal version has a suggested
list price of $29.95 and includes three manuals and 60 days of
installation support by fax or email. The Professional version lists for $69.95
and includes four manuals and 90 days of installation support.

Panasonic Industrial Company’s 4.7GB OEM DVD-RAM drive is available as
an internal drive with a SCSI-2 interface (model LF-D291N) or with an
ATAPI interface (model LF-D211V). The Panasonic-branded internal drive,
model LF-D201U, is available from Panasonic Digital Document Company
(PDDC) and has an MSRP of $549. Double-sided 9.4GB DVD-RAM media, 4.7GB
single-sided media and 4.7GB bare disc media, which are marketed under
the Panasonic brand name, are also available from several other leading
manufacturers.. The 4.7GB bare disc DVD-RAM media can be played back on
the latest Panasonic DVD-ROM drives, as well as Panasonic’s new DVD
Player and DVD Recorder.

About SuSE Linux AG
SuSE Linux AG, Nuremberg/Germany, is one of the world’s leading
providers of complete solutions based on the Open Source operating system
Linux. In addition to operating systems and application software for
private customers, SuSE Linux AG offers software solutions and complete
systems for the deployment of Linux in companies.

SuSE supports its enterprise customers with a comprehensive range of
qualified consulting, training, and support services. The company, which
hosts the world’s largest development team
for Open Source solutions, has made its unique project and support
know-how accessible via the Internet in the largest existing Linux
knowledge database. Currently, SuSE Linux AG has more than 500 employees. The
company runs subsidiaries in six countries.

About Panasonic
Panasonic is the best known brand name of Matsushita Electric
Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE: MC), a world leader in electronic and electric
products for consumer, business and industrial use.
Panasonic has introduced some of the world’s most innovative DVD
products to the market
including portable DVD players with a built-in LCD screen, DVD-Audio
players, DVD video and DVD-Audio players for automobiles, TV/DVD/VCR
systems and DVD-RAM drives. Panasonic’s DVD expertise ranges from research
and development to the manufacture of DVD mastering and replication
equipment. In Los Angeles, its Digital Video Compression Corporation
(DVCC) performs DVD encoding, artistic authoring, and services for
full-length motion picture transfer. Torrance, CA-based Panasonic Disc Services
Corporation (PDSC) performs pre-mastering, mastering and replication of
discs for DVD and DVD-ROM products. Additional information on Panasonic
and Matsushita Electric is available at www.panasonic.com.

For more information on the Panasonic DVD-RAM OEM drive and media,
contact Panasonic Industrial Company, 1600 McCandless Drive, Milpitas, CA
95035; 408.945-5600, FAX 408.262-4214, E-mail berzind@panasonic.com.
Or, visit the company’s Web site at www.panasonic.com/oemdvd-ram. For
more information on Panasonic-branded DVD-RAM drives and media, contact
Panasonic Digital Document Company, Two Panasonic Way 7D-8, Secaucus,
NJ 07094 800-742-8086, www.panasonic.com/storage or E-mail
vidalc@panasonic.com. In Canada, contact Panasonic Canada, Ambler
Drive, Mississauga, Ontario L4W 2T3, Canada; (905) 238-2254, FAX (905)
238-2414, E-mail rkwong@panasonic.ca.

SuSE Linux AG is not a part or in any way legally affiliated with
Panasonic Industrial Company. Panasonic Industrial Company assumes no
responsibility for the performance of or customer satisfaction with SuSE
Linux products. All company and/or product names are trademarks and/or
registered trademarks of their respective manufacturers. Features,
pricing, availability and specifications are subject to change without
notice.

maxlinux writes, “It is said that if you build a better mouse trap, the world will beat a path to your door. Since I have no interest in vermin control, I’d like to instead try to build a better distro. To that end, I’d appreciate some feedback and ideas regarding the new distro (Maximum Linux: http://www.sourceforge.net/projects/maxlinux/) currently under development. More specifically:

1. What do you feel should be the target audience?

2. Is there anything lacking in other distros that you think would make a good added feature?

3. Where have you encountered problems in other distros in the past?

4. What do you feel needs to be upgraded or improved?

Thank you for your feedback and comments.

Michael
Maximum Linux Project, Founder
http://www.sourceforge. net/projects/maxlinux/.”

Australian IT: “IBM expects to overtake Oracle as
the number-one database supplier to
the distributed computing market by
the end of 2003, largely as a result
of its recent acquisition of
database maker Informix.”

Australian IT: “German trade show giant Deutsche
Messe will have its first go at
running an Australian exhibition
with the launch of the cobranded
now2001-CeBIT telecommunications
show in Sydney today.”

ZDNET.co.uk: “Sun Microsystems has announced plans to release StarOffice 6.0 later
this year. StarOffice is the company’s open-source desktop
application suite, which includes word processing, spreadsheet,
presentation and database applications. The current 5.2 version is
available for Solaris, Windows and Linux.”

ZDNET.co.uk: “According to Alldas.de, a German Web site that records Web page
defacements, a Web server located within Microsoft’s .com domain at
streamer.microsoft.com was cracked and defaced in the early hours
of Tuesday morning by a computer crackers calling themselves Prime
Suspectz.”

ZDNET.co.uk: “Open source community spokesmen scratched their heads in distrust
and disbelief over recent statements by a top Microsoft executive that
the open source code movement “puts at risk the continued vitality of
the independent software sector.”

Linux NetworX announced today an international
partner/distributor agreement with France-based Athena Global Services. Athena
Global Services is the first authorized Linux NetworX distributor in Europe.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Linux NetworX Expands Market Reach into Europe
Cluster Computer Company Developing International Market Penetration

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, May 8, 2001 - Linux NetworX, a leading provider of powerful 
and easy-to-manage Linux cluster computing solutions, announced today an international 
partner/distributor agreement with France-based Athena Global Services. Athena 
Global Services, a leading value-added distributor of new IT technologies in 
France, is the first authorized Linux NetworX distributor in Europe. 

Athena Global Services plans to sell Linux NetworX Evolocity(TM) clusters to 
French organizations demanding high performance computing (HPC) and high performance 
Internet solutions. As a new LNXI Cluster Partner, Athena Global Services will 
have access to a Linux cluster demo unit, product training, lead referrals and 
marketing collateral. 

International sales are not new to Linux NetworX, which was recently named the 
Utah and Regional Exporter or the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. 
Japan-based Best Systems Inc. has led the way in helping to grow international 
sales for Linux NetworX by opening up lucrative markets in Asia.

Clustering is a method of linking multiple computers, or compute nodes, together 
to form a unified and more powerful system. Linux NetworX shipped the world's 
first commercial Linux cluster system in 1997, and focuses on providing the most 
advanced and easy-to-manage clusters on the market.

"In France, we have several customers demanding turnkey Linux clusters for their 
HPC and high availability needs - we're already working with some potential customers," 
said, Thierry Cossavella, general manager for Athena Global Services. "Linux 
clustering is a proven technology, and a lot of organizations in Europe are seeking 
the completely integrated, ready-to-use and easy-to-manage clusters that Linux 
NetworX offers."

With reseller partners already established in the United States, Canada, Japan, 
Taiwan, Australia, Egypt and now Europe, Linux NetworX aims to continue expanding 
its reach into other top international markets. Companies can find out more about 
the LNXI Cluster Partner Program by visiting www.linuxnetworx.com/partner/ or 
calling 1-800-214-9100.

"Increasing our market presence through strong partners like Athena Global Services 
is one of our key strategies to grow sales internationally," said Clark Roundy, 
vice president of sales and marketing for Linux NetworX. "The demand for powerful 
clustering solutions worldwide makes this an exciting program for us and our 
partners."

Products available for resell include the entire Evolocity product line of cluster 
systems. Evolocity systems are fully integrated cluster solutions including a 
proprietary hardware design, Linux NetworX cluster management software ClusterWorX®, 
and RapidFlow(TM) switches. 

About Athena Global Services
Athena Global Services (www.athena-gs.com) is a French organization which offers 
turn-key solutions to assist IT companies in developing and expanding their business 
in the French market. Athena Global Services is first and foremost a result-oriented 
sales and distribution organization with contacts and strong relationships with 
distribution, VAR/resellers, system integrators and large accounts. Not only 
will Athena Global Services set up strong presence, we will distribute through 
the right channels and help create pull. Athena Global Services offers companies 
the opportunity to have a strong French local sales and marketing beachhead. 
Athena Global Service's comprehensive approach to the French marketplace, marketing 
and operations provides a solid platform upon which foreign vendors can build 
international business.

About Linux NetworX.
Linux NetworX (www.linuxnetworx.com) brings its powerful cluster technology to 
those demanding high availability and high performance systems. With the use 
of cluster computer technology, Linux NetworX provides solutions for companies 
with high performance and high-computing needs, including research, industry, 
government, Web serving, ISPs, ASPs, and other technological fields. Through 
innovative hardware, complete cluster management software and professional service 
and support, Linux NetworX provides end-to-end clustering solutions. To date, 
the company has built some of the largest cluster systems in the world.

# # #

Linux is a registered trademark owned by Linus Torvalds. All other products, 
services and companies are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective 
owners.

CONTACT:         
Brad Rutledge                            Laetitia Bonnot
Linux NetworX                            Athena Press            
801-562-1010 ext. 218                    01.55.89.08.88  
brutledge@linuxnetworx.com               laetitia.b@athena-gs.com 

On May 6th 2001, the first general assembly of the Free
Software Foundation Europe took place at the Villa Vogelsang in Essen,
Germany. It was the first meeting of the members of the recently
founded sister organisation of the FSF (Boston,USA). Representatives
from France, Germany and Sweden agreed on future areas of engagement
for the FSFE.

"Coordinating Free Software based organisations and establishing local
            chapters throughout Europe is one of our primary long-term goals." says
            Georg C. F. Greve, President of the FSF Europe. "So is beginning our 
            work
            as a competence center for Free Software, aimed primarily at 
            journalists
            and politicians who will be able to find authoritative information 
            about
            Free Software from the Foundation."

            Most Free Software is released under the license of the Free Software
            Foundation, the GNU General Public License. One of the first
            projects will be to harmonize it better with local European laws in
            order to keep up with current changes and developments.

            The Foundation will also further Free Software in the educational
            sector where it will seek to coordinate and strengthen efforts 
            by organizations and individuals dedicated to that task. 

            At the same date, the first general assembly of the FSF Europe -
            Chapter Germany has taken place. 

            "We want the advantages of Free Software to be known to almost 
            everybody
            in Germany. German developers are already playing a major role as
            contributors to the GNU project and Free Software in general."
            says Bernhard Reiter, German chancellor of the FSF Europe.
            "The FSFE will help to leverage these efforts on a european level 
            and make sure that we it will stay legal to develop Free Software for
            all needs."


            About the FSF Europe:

            The Free Software Foundation Europe is the sister organization of the
            Free Software Foundation created 1984 by Richard M. Stallman in the
            United States of America. 

            Main purpose of the FSF Europe is to coordinate Free Software
            initiatives throughout Europe, to provide a Free Software
            competence-center for politicians and journalists and to provide
            infrastructure for Free Software projects and especially the GNU
            Project.

            Further information about the FSF Europe can be found at 

                  http://fsfeurope.org


            Contact:
             Europe
               Georg C. F. Greve 
               Tel: +49-40-23809080
               Fax: +49-40-23809081
             France   
               Frederic Couchet  
               Tel: +33 6 60 68 89 31
             Germany
               Bernhard Reiter 
               Tel: +49-541 - 335 08 - 33
             Italy
               Alessandro Rubini 
               Tel: +39-0382-529.554 (o .424)
               Fax: +39-0382-529.424 
             Sweden  
               Jonas Öberg 
               Tel: +46-21-144831

            Further press contact information is available at

                  http://fsfeurope.org/press/