ctrl.altered.mind

MadPenguin.org has a report on Suse’s new Enterprise Desktop 10, and reviewer Adam Doxtater is convinced that Suse has a winner on their hands, with what could be the most impressive distribution released ever. Suse already holds that distinction with Suse Linux 10.1, which is currently ranked second-best (with Ubuntu on top). Just reading the feature list for the new SLED 10 has me convinced as well, and this is one release I will be really waiting for.

SLED 10 is a stellar release and Suse’s attention to detail is praiseworthy (as the article mentions, for example, the desktop reflects the color of the ipod thats plugged into the system, even after hot-swapping black and white ipods). The biggest (and most prominent) change is the desktop switch, with Suse moving away from their KDE-centricity and defaulting to GNOME this time.

While SLED 10 may not be a Vista-killer in the true sense of the term - although its only a matter of time before Windows stagnates into oblivion, unless Microsoft can get its act together and revamp from the ground up. The industry is already going as far as calling the unreleased Windows Vista operating system a ‘Windows Me 2.0′, the most bloated Windows release of all time (they’ve moved from CDs to DVDs now), with features that just about bring the beast on par with OS X (Tiger, not even Leopard) and other popular linux distributions.

Link to the article (a highly recommended read), with installation and interface screencasts (the article has links to more).

Its surprising that National Semiconductor, a company that has been doing well recently, atleast apparently so, would even have to lay off 35 workers at its plant in Arlington, TX. National was in the news some time back for announcing its plans to hand every employee a 30GB video iPod, a reward for its best fiscal year ever.

Employees that are on their way out have to turn in the ‘gifts that were’nt’. For the ones who ended up selling or re-gifting their iPods, the company would like the now-ex-employees to pay “fair market value” for the company hardware - which retails around $300 a pop.

Losing their jobs and even their iPods (Star Telegram Article)

My dear friend Maria is participating in a 150-mile MS bike tour (July 8 - 9) in order to help raise funds for the National MS Society (Colorado Chapter). MS, or Multiple Sclerosis, is a chronic degenerative disease that affects the central nervous system and currently has no cure. With enough effort, a preventive solution or cure can be found. You can also read Maria’s page (excerpt below). The MS Society also accepts e-pledges to sponsor participants, and any contribution is welcome. Good luck Maria!

Multiple sclerosis affects lives every moment of every year. At any time, someone with MS may suddenly be unable to stand up, hug their child or see a friend across the room.

This year, I’ll be participating in the National MS Society’s annual MS Bike Tour to help raise funds for research and local programs. It’s a small thing for me to do for people who face the devastating and relentless effects of MS every day. With each mile I ride, I hope to bring the National MS Society closer to a cure.

Will you help by sponsoring me in this year’s MS Bike Tour? With your generous support, we can end the devastating effects of MS, sooner rather than later.

Thank you!

- Maria Toscano

(Click here to sponsor Maria for the MS Bike Tour)