I enjoyed this article about Vista.
http://www.linux-watch.com/news/NS2930812631.html

Although I don't predict that MS will open source Vista. I think they have one more chance at a Windows OS, possibly in 2009, then they'll have to release their own version of Linux.

I read recently that Bill Gates was set to retire in 2008. I can easily see him pulling a Steve Jobs, coming back in a few years, and revamping the company with Microsoft Linux and Office Linux.

Microsoft won't be able to compete any other way:

Why can't we have some of the cool stuff from Star Trek for a change?  Star Trek had transporters, phasers, warp drive, impulse drive, artificial gravity, inertial dampers, and deflectors.  But what catches the eye of modern-day designers and electronics makers?  You guessed it, the goofiest looking headphone-type device ever created.  Behold the original bluetooth headset.

Here's the article about Web 2.0 on Wikipedia:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web2.0

Here's a 2.0 site that has many examples of other Web 2.0 sites:  http://www.killerstartups.com

In a nutshell 2.0 is what you get when anyone on the planet can create a virtual product or service.  It occurs when an entrepreneur leverages the Internet to create a central meeting place for a given type of service.

Take YouTube as an example.  They've created a place where people can upload and view videos over the Internet.  The uploaders want their video seen, the viewers want some quick entertainment.  YouTube, the company, sits in the middle tracking popularity, ratings, and users' comments.  That's Web 2.0.  YouTube didn't really create anything new.  All it did was provide a medium that allowed people to connect to each other in a new way, and for a centralized purpose:  sharing video clips.

One security myth is that when alternative software (like Linux, OS X, Firefox, Thunderbird, Open Office, and just about any non-Microsoft product) becomes as popular as the MS equivalents, there will be just as many viruses, malware, and security vulnerabilities as we have with MS products. 

The thinking behind such statements is fairly simple. 

1. Software is difficult to produce. 
2. Therefore all software contains bugs and malware authors exploit those bugs.
3. Therefore the only thing keeping alternative software free of the security problems we deal with in MS products is a lack of interest (and incentive) on the part of the malware creators.  If you're going to spend time researching and writing a virus that will cause damage to computers and networks, you want it to cause as much damage as possible.
4. Therefore when alternative software becomes more popular, malware authors will begin to target it just as much as they target MS software today.

Unfortunately, this type of thinking isn't sound.  Item 1 is true. 

Why should you start thinking about Linux now?

The next version of Ubuntu is being released next month (April '07).  That version will have the Ubuntu Migration Assistant which will convert your existing Windows settings, like your email address, your documents, your Internet favorites, and more to your new Linux system.

It's never been easier to make the switch.  Linux is already compatible with more hardware than Vista.   See some of the screenshots of it in action at http://shots.osdir.com/slideshows/slideshow.php?release=751&slide=4. 

Download a LiveCD and try it out.  It's easy, it's free, it works.  Just think about it. :)

If my logo doesn't look like the picture below, you might be using IE6.

Unfortunately, IE6 doesn't handle PNG files well. PNG files work really well on websites. They're very easy to create. They're small. They're easy to work with once you get them on the site. PNG files support true transparency, meaning you can put them over any kind of background and they still look good. Alas, IE6 can't handle PNG files.

I could do the normal webmaster thing and jump through a bunch of hoops to make my site look good with 5 different browsers. I could write some Javascript to detect which browser you're using and supply the appropriate graphics and design for your particular browser.

Instead I decided to call a spade a spade.  If you're using Internet Explorer instead of Firefox, you're using an inferior browser. 

Welcome! I'm in the midst of redesigning my website. My old site is here.

Please visit my old site using the link above. All my programs and articles are still there.