EngrBohn writes "They've changed the contents of the web page! This morning, Nicolai Langfeldt [janl@math.uio.no], a fellow subscriber to the Beowulf mailing list, informed me that they changed all references to Linux such that they now read Digital-UNIX: This is odd. The page appears to have been changed, it reads 'Digital-Unix' all over, instead of 'Linux'. The reference is still the same. :-("

Mr. Daemon not only has a cool nick, but he also writes "Compaq and Mitsubitshi are going to build a Beowulf of 130 Alphas to Japan's Institute of Physical and Chemical Research." It's cool because its Beowulf, and its cool because its good to see Compaq pushing Alphas forward.

This Internet World article makes some interesting predictions. The first being that Kaffe will end up shaping Java as much as Sun does, and even that Microsoft will end up adopting Kaffe. While that might be a little far out, the second set of predictions are believable: IBM and Compaq may be lining up a ton of software to release as open-source. However, unlike the article I expect it will be go beyond server software. Improving support for Java, existing Xterminal and WinTerminal support will increase the number of users whose GUI is Linux based. By helping make Linux into a fully fledged desktop OS, large vendors' reliance on Microsoft is reduced, increasing the ability of their own software departments to compete without being constrained by undocumented APIs, and the like. I'll make the bold prediction that by 2000 Linux will be a very strong desktop contender, with some desktop features Windows 2000 does not have.

In an update on a previous article, Compaq is still on-track with its Linux support program. Despite claims that it was previously pressured by Microsoft not to invest in software, Intel is now openly investing in software not only for Windows, but also Solaris, Monterey and Linux: they will be funding Linux initiatives.

John A. Turner writes "Haven't seen anything on /. about how much Linux-related stuff there was at Supercomputing '98 so thought I'd mention it. One of the best things was a panel discussion titled "Clusters, Extreme Linux, and NT". There's a nice summary of the Linux-related events at SC '98 at the Extreme Linux site " Note that reactions to Red Hat's support options announcements included One area in which Linux is far ahead of the pack is clustering . Has any participant written up a summary we could post? Update Rahul Dave has written a report for us.

TreZ writes "Numerous advertising parodies on Microsoft, Apple, and even Linux can be found Here. The "Linux is More Geeky" ad parody is of particular interest to /. readers. I did not realize that J.D. Power and Associates had a Geek Rating.. " A lot of those things look really funny (the Womb Raider one and the Compaq one both look good). Course, I don't have a pdf viewer installed. Isn't that always the way? You'll need one if you want the chuckles- from what I can see, its probably worth it.

Eddie Rebel writes in with this interesting question: "At work, we have some Compaq 850s with 2Gb of RAM. Recently I was told that the extra RAM we thew into them might not do any good, if the machine's cache memory was not lage enough to handle it. As I understood it the RAM is cached in the L2, but if you have only 64k of L2 it wouldn't be able to store more than 64Mb of RAM, and so on. Is there any truth in this, could someone please tell me or point me to some information about this?"

Microsoft is not going to wait for the outcome of its trial with the DOJ before attacking Linux. The battle scene is France, where Microsoft's new (expendable?) regional director Marc Chardon has just issued an open letter to his clients. Click below to read the translation of the Linux-section (it's in French) and some commentary.

Joel Stone was the first to tell us "Stop the presses! Compaq has thrown it's weight behind Linux - For details see link " This follows on from Compaq's announcement back in September. However, this goes one step further: Compaq will help the Linux community get Linux working on Compaq hardware (as they did with with their donation of an Alpha to Debian), they will provide telephone support, and port Compaq software to Linux on the Alpha and x86/IA 64 platforms.

Although Intel is required by its agreement with the FTC to supply Compaq with Alpha chips, it's not exactly enthusiastic about producing and marketing a competitor to Merced. Instead, Compaq is looking to IBM and Samsung to build its Alpha chips. Indeed, IBM's process technology map appears more impressive than Intel's, while Samsung is aggressively pushing the Alpha to 0.18 micron. Interestingly, AMD has not yet closed its deal to allow it to build clone Alpha processors.

5 hours ago, Rise revealed details of its new mP6 x86 core: it is 3 way superscalar, is pipelined and has a 3 way superscalar MMX unit. According to this EETimes article sent to us byChris Howard the processor is specifically targeted at multimedia applications, while boasting low power consumption Ed: It would be interesting to know how much of a performance boost the 3rd way gives them: for normal C code the V pipe of the pentium is used around 30% of the time. A third pipe would be used even less. 3-way superscalar MMX makes more sense however as only a few critical routines need to be changed. If a large OEM like Compaq were to ship a DVD-player on each of its boxes, it could expect the DVD software to be tailored for the chips it uses. update: The mP6's measured speed is around 1.15 times the speed of a Pentium II on Windows Apps. However their use of a 6-stage pipeline may reduce their ability to reach high MHz.

This week's Linux Weekly News' lead article discusses the possible impact on independent VARs if Robert Young's prediction that 6 of the 10 major PC manufacturers will start distributing Linux turns out true. An article in PC Week lists likely contenders to be Gateway (has been doing certification tests with Linux for six months, and most likely will install Linux across its enterprise server line next year, said Ray Hebert, senior manager of servers), IBM, Dell, Hitachi, Toshiba, Compaq and HP which have all made some sort of positive noise about Linux...

Timodious wrote in to say that "ZDNet has a story entitled "Compaq Embraces Linux Groundswell", and claims that Compaq is considering shipping servers with Linux. Direct quote: "adding Linux to their quiver could give them the lift they need to overtake Sun Microsystems." Too cool. " Wonder what it means for the Alpha stuff.

After reading a lot of stories about RH/I/N (including Chuck Milam's submission from CNN) I decided to write up my opinions on the whole deal and dump them online. Hit the link below to read it if you care.

Donnie Barnes from Red Hat Software dropped us a line to let us know how things are going at ISPCON. Click on the link below to see the full report.

THotze writes "After visiting Digital's recently Compaq-ized web page, I noticed the word 'Apache' VAGUELY written in one of the graphics. I click, and it got me here. It seems that shipping with Free Software's becoming a trend. Nice to know that they haven't brainwashed EVERY DEC employee with MS-ism yet." Ed Free Internet software ?= Free Software.

Stephane Arguin writes "The french site "Les Nouvelles neuves de Linux" say that Compaq France will support Linux on all their Intel and Alpha machine by the year 2000..." Mind you the page is in French, so for all I can tell they might be talking about anything. Update There is a quick translation attached now.

K-Man writes "This article in InternetWeek covers Compaq's plans to migrate Tandem's Himalaya servers from MIPS to Alpha. It looks like Compaq is keeping the chip around after all. "

mrorange (aka Patrick Berry) writes "The iMac, which only sold for 15 days in August, may set a record for monthly PC sales. The final count isn't tallied yet, but the only thing that is close, according to the article, is a Compaq machine that sold last Christmas." I finally saw one a few days ago (I don't go outside much). I still want one, but until Linux is good to go on it, I don't really know what I'd do with it beyond run an X-Server on it :)

ockman@penguincomputing.com writes "It looks like IBM, Hewlett-Packard and Compaq have decided to get back in the game of adding real value. They have a PCI spec. [Ed's note - will have] that's six times faster than the current one. This was created without the support of Intel, as what these companies call "a grass-roots type of backlash" Sounds like good news - either Intel supports the superior technology and competes with Mylex and the gang, or loses market share. Besides, it looks as if Intel will support it anyway. More MHz never hurt anybody (no pun intended).