Carl wrote in to to quote Linus regarding the 2.2.0pre2 release:"If you haven't had problems with pre1, there should be no major cause to look at pre2. But if you haven't even looked at pre1 yet, please consider looking at the pre-2.2.0 kernels before it's too late. I'm going to be extremely rude to people who knew better but didn't test out the pre-kernels and then send me bug-reports on the released 2.2.0." An anonymous reader also wrote in to say that gnome.org has updated and announced the 0.99.1 release of several of the relevant packages. Lot's of stuff to download and compile if *cough* you don't have plans for New Years.

Nicholas Petreley explains his recent InfoWorld statement that "Should Microsoft ultimately win the case, however, I guarantee vendors will abandon Linux faster than a rat out of an aqueduct". While his point that the war is not won is valid, he has missed some crucial details: home computer prices are collapsing making Microsoft's software a very expensive component. In the business world, Windows-terminals save money by reducing administration costs and reducing the number of software licenses that must be bought. Windows-terminals can run other OS's than Windows -- for instance, Linux with the Citrix client. Finally the enormous emerging market is the consumer appliance market which needs an idiot-proof UI -- not Windows compatibility. Some links from LT.

Donnie Barnes wrote in to say " LinuxExpo apologizes for the confusion and does intend to provide several booth spaces to non-profit organizations on a first come, first served basis. " Interested folks should contact stacy@linuxexpo.org.

An anonymous reader wrote in to send us a link to your basic ZD article that asks Is the Linux Desktop DOA? It's basically some bits about Corel and Red Hat where they talk about Linux's dominance in the server realm and its struggles on the desktop. My favorite part is the line that says that in 1998, Linux captures only 2.5% of the market. Up from like what, .0001? Grin. 1999 is gonna be sweet.

Nick asks: "I'm looking for a great statistical package to use under linux. Unfortunately, I use SPSS for WinNT, and I can't afford to cough up cash to upgrade as a student. If anyone could point me to statistics programs, I'd be much appreciative! "

Gopal Sarma asks: "Hi, I am a relatively new linux user, and recently a friend called me asking me if I knew of any Windows alternatives, because he is sick of it. I naturally recomended Linux, but I have a problem. He uses AOL's Instant Messenger, and I can't seem to find any clones on Linux. I found gaim, but i don't know how stable it is. Does anyone have any ideas?"

Steen Suder wants some answers to this interesting question: "A couple of friends and I are talking about starting a LUG. Now we're discussing what to do and what's important. Mailing lists, homepage, facilities, budget, locations, meetings, etc. What are the important things to remember when starting a Linux User's Group?"

Charles Bronson writes "To give credit where credit's due, I got this off of LinuxToday, but I thought it might stand a chance at Slashdot. It's the same routine OSS article we've been seeing, only it has a quote I haven't seen before. The excerpt: Microsoft executives dismiss open-source as hype. ``Complex future projects to add such functions as automatic translation of e-mail require big teams and big capital,'' said Ed Muth, a Microsoft group marketing manager. ``These are things that Robin Hood and his merry band in Sherwood Forest aren't well attuned to do.'' I just thought that was hilarious. " All I wanna know is who's Little John?

Geek of the Week writes "Alan Cox has posted a hint sheet listing common problems with switching to kernel 2.2.0pre1 along with solutions. " In other pre2.2 news, haaz wrote in to say that LinuxPPC has a 2.2pre1 kernel running on a machine that's also using the LinuxPPC R5 beta. He also says they will have an installer for the R5 beta by December 30.

James LewisMoss writes "Debian would like to participate in the Linux Expo being held in Raleigh in May. Unfortunately, non-profits are only offered a 20% discount on the cost of a booth. $1200 is still needed. Debian is not able to come up with this money to attend. We are currently seeking companies or individuals who would like to sponsor a Debian booth at Linux Expo. Partial or Full sponsorship would be gladly accepted. Any sponsor would, of course, get a notice at the booth that they had helped sponsor it. " Email James if you can help.

Jeff Glover writes "An AP wire story is out about how hot Red Hat is despite being open source, and other obstacles. More of the same that's been coming out of late, but it's nice to see. " This is about as mainstream as you can get I guess. It's a swell little typical article.

Jesda Gulati wrote in to plug his Linux based iMac Rival. It's from Infinital Spacial Technologies and it's called the Infinital One. It costs more ($1500) but it has an LCD screen, it weighs less and is smaller than the iMac. I'm not quite sure why, but the press release says you have to add $10 for Linux, but Win98 is free. Has ethernet, PCMCIA, USB etc. It's also better looking than the iMac, although it's a P233 so I suspect a LinuxPPC iMac will outperform it. I still want one. one.

peyote wrote in to say Linus has finally released 2.2.0pre1. A good mirror for kernel.org is ftp.tux.org. The file is in the v2.2 directory. See below for Linus's note.

mackga writes "Nick Petreley seems a bit put off by Linux advocates. A slight dig at the OSS movement? This one is interesting, seeing how Nick P. is involved w. Linux World. " Overall, I'd say it's a fairly good natured jibe at things.

KodaK writes " Jesse Berst has *gasp* listed Linux as one of the top stories in 1998." Just wait for 99...

Michael Howard writes "netproject is sponsoring the Linux and Open Source Software Conference and Exposition to be held January 20, 1999 at the Venue Commonwealth Institute in London." Sounds sweet for the UK readers. Wish I could go, but there's that big blue thing in the way, and its a bit cold to swim it.

Larry McVoy writes "LinuxExpo is extending the call for papers. The details are at here but the summary is that you have until January 14, 1999 to get us an abstract for a published paper; and until March 1, 1999 to get us an abstract for a talk without a paper. Also, the restriction to groff only has long since bitten the dust, only Rich Stevens and I know how to tyoe in groff, apparently. So we'll take LaTeX with extra brownie points for groff submissions. Thanks! "

H. Peter Anvin writes "The Linux Kernel Archives Mirror System is now available for use! A number of sites across the world have graciously offered to help distribute the Linux Kernel using a common file structure and site-naming scheme. These sites have agreed to mirror the /pub/linux and /pub/software trees (i.e. the original software distributed from our site) from ftp.kernel.org in its entirety. To get connected to a mirror site near you, connect to: "ftp://ftp.xx.kernel.org/pub/linux" where "xx" is your two-letter country code. Note that not all sites archive both .gz and .bz2 format files, and that currently not all countries have both FTP and HTTP support. For more information, including the list of countries currently supported by the Linux Kernel Archives Mirror System and how to register a mirror, please see that page. In addition, a list of the individual mirror sites should be available online sometime next week. To all the sites that have offered their time, disk space and bandwidth, I want to give a huge "Thank you!", and to everyone else, I hope you will find this service useful."

As most of you know, Linux Weekly News issue is out. One thing that I truly liked there is the Linux 1998 timeline (and specially the Jesse Berst part). Although this timeline is not full (and there is some stuff missing - anyone want to help him to fill it?) I think it should be definetly a keeper for the Linux enthusiastic :)

Joab Jackson writes "Feature article on Linux from the Jan 1999 M.I.T. Technical Review. Little in the way in new stuff, but nice in-depth history and with some information on Gnome. I always appreciated this magazine's writing. "