Linux Hits Critical Mass

Call it Linux's official coming-out party. If you attended the first annual LinuxWorld convention, held from March 1-4 in San Jose, Calif., you could have registered to win a Harley Davidson, heard presentations about topics ranging from the obvious ("Why Linux?") to the obscure ("The BitKeeper Distributed Source Code Management System"), or even witnessed the heroic arrival of Linux creator and keynote speaker Linus Torvalds.

Much of the activity was driven by the new Linux kernel--the heart of the operating system. Version 2.2.0 was released on January 25, and it's considered to be a significant landmark in the short history of the alternative OS. (Three upgrades have been issued since then; the current version is 2.2.3. -ed) The upgrade gives developers more tools, supports more drivers and devices, and makes it easier to set up a multiprocessor configuration or configure Linux for sound and graphics. You can download Linux 2.2.3 from www.kernel.org.

Clash of the Hardware Titans

Meanwhile, the big vendors continue to throw their weight behind the Linux movement. At LinuxWorld, Corel, Compaq, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, and Sun were all pitching new products. Other major players simply threw money into the Linux movement. For example, Intel confirmed an investment in the Linux PC-maker VA Research, while Oracle invested in Linux software distributor Red Hat Software. The one-time outlaw OS is finally getting the corporate stamp of approval.

Among the major players, Corel has long been one of Linux's most enthusiastic supporters. The firm has already issued a Linux version of its WordPerfect 8 application suite, and during his keynote address at LinuxWorld, Corel chief Michael Cowpland dropped another bomb: Linux would soon be brought to the masses. Aiming beyond the OS' traditional developer and server markets, Corel Desktop Linux will feature a graphical interface that lets users play with Linux without having to learn the code. Details are still sketchy. Corel hasn't even decided whether to develop its own GUI or use open source tools like Gnome (a graphical interface that tries to make Linux look and act like Windows). All Cowpland is promising is that the interface will install easily and run on top of the Linux OS--and that the software will ship in November. Corel, 800/772-6735, www.corel.com.

Not to be outdone, IBM has been making some noise of its own. Just weeks before LinuxWorld, Big Blue announced a deal to deliver Red Hat Linux on its servers, workstations, desktops, and notebooks. IBM won't actually install Red Hat on its machines (resellers or customers will have to do that on their own), but it will optimize its systems to run Linux faster and more reliably. Perhaps most important, IBM also plans to provide technical support. The company has recently announced similar comarketing deals with Linux distributors Caldera, SuSE, and Pacific HiTech. IBM, 888/411-1932, www.ibm.com.

That's not all. One by one, other big vendors have fallen in line with the Linux movement. Compaq is preloading Linux on its ProLiant and ProSignia servers; its AlphaServers are already Linux-powered. Dell is offering to install Red Hat Linux on its Precision workstations and PowerEdge servers. And Hewlett-Packard and Silicon Graphics have started new divisions devoted to contributing to the open source community. Compaq, 800/888-5858, www.compaq.com. Dell, 800/999-3355, www.dell.com.

The Software: Too Soon to Tell?

Where hardware goes, software (or at least vaporware) shall follow. The LinuxWorld show floor teemed with software vendors pushing everything from streaming media packages to word processors. Yet many of the packages aren't yet ready to ship, and some aren't even past the planning stage.

Corel, for example, unveiled plans to issue a Linux version of WordPerfect Office 2000 later in the year, but CorelDraw and Corel Photo-Paint for Linux won't be ready until 2000. Meanwhile, Oracle announced that a Linux version of Oracle8i, its new Internet database, will ship in early May. When it's ready, you'll be able to automate business processes (like procurement and supply), manage data online, and run an e-commerce store, all by using the Linux engine.

Browsers and search engines are also porting over to Linux. Opera Software, for example, showcased a prototype of its compact browser running on Linux, though the browser won't ship until the second quarter of this year. Info seek, on the other hand, had a Linux version of its Ultraseek Server 3.0 search engine all ready to go. With Ultraseek you can index documents in XML and run date-range searches. Moreover, with the Content Classification Engine add-on, you can organize Web site and intranet content for easier searching (although it's meant mostly for big sites with at least 20,000 documents). Ultraseek for Linux costs $995 for a 1,000-document site, and prices go up from there. Opera Software, 216/229-4382, www.operasoftware.com. Infoseek, 800/ 781-4636, www.infoseek.go.com.

Help is On the Way

Despite the flurry of new products, even Linux's most fervent backers agree that the OS won't begin to supplant Windows until technical support is available. Many businesses are terrified by the idea of building their networks on a renegade, open source OS, with no one to hear their cries for help when something goes wrong. So far, Linux users have had to rely on a flimsy network of newsgroups, FAQs, and e-mail to get answers. However, those days are rapidly fading, and as they do, Linux looks better and better to companies that long for fast, reliable, and affordable server software.

Most of the big hardware vendors are coupling their new Linux products with technical support hotlines, and companies that specialize in Linux support are also popping up. One new firm, LinuxCare, offers help 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can talk to experts over the phone, route your customers' phone calls and e-mail messages to LinuxCare engineers, and even have consultants visit you on-site. The advantage over hardware-vendor support is that LinuxCare can lend a hand with all versions of Linux across all platforms, not just the specific brand of Linux installed on your machine. Linux Care, 888/546-4878, www.linuxcare.com.

Red Hat Software has also launched its own telephone support service, Response Link. If you're installing a Red Hat server, you might opt for the 90-day contract just to get you through the early stages. Or, if you have dozens of Linux machines to keep running, you can sign up for an annual subscription and get full-blown, round-the-clock support. Further, Red Hat plans to roll out more support packages for small businesses and end users. Right now, prices for Response Link range from about $1,000 to $60,000, depending on the scope of service. Red Hat Software, 800/546-7274, www.redhat.com.

For ongoing Linux news, keep an eye on Freshmeat.net (www.freshmeat.net), LinuxHQ (www.linuxhq.com), Red Hat Software (www.redhat.com), and Slashdot (www.slashdot.org).

--Stephen Lee

Iomega Shocker

Iomega is recalling 60,000 power supplies it shipped with external Jaz drives or sold as replacement units since September 1, 1998. Manufactured by Cortech Systems, the power supplies' casings are constructed of substandard plastic that may crack and expose users to electrical shock.

Iomega says that the Cortech power supplies were included only with external 2GB Jaz drives and remanufactured 1GB Jaz drives, not with the company's Zip, Clik, or Ditto drives, and that about 13,500 U.S. users are affected. To find out if you are one of the unlucky ones, check the label on the bottom of your Jaz drive's power supply. If it's stamped with the model number GPC14-2001 and a serial number beginning with any three digits from 837 through 907, you can order a free replacement unit from Iomega by calling 800/781-3296 or going to www.iomega.com/support/recalls/index.html. Iomega aims to send you the new power supply within five days of receiving your request.

--Doug Dineley

New 3Com Palm Devices

3Com is shipping the latest additions in its line of Palm products, the $369 Palm IIIx and the $449 Palm V. Like earlier Palm devices, the Palm IIIx and Palm V are handheld computers that let you keep track of calendar, contact, to-do, and expense information, take notes with a stylus on the touchscreen or by tapping an on-screen keyboard, and exchange information wirelessly with other PC or Palm users by beaming information out an infrared port.

Both the Palm IIIx and the Palm V ship with a cradle that plugs into your desktop PC's serial port, allowing you to synchronize the Palm's data with that of Symantec Act, Microsoft Outlook, or another PIM. The handhelds also come with Palm e-mail software, enabling you to read messages downloaded from your PC, compose replies, and upload them to your PC for sending. The Palm IIIx and V are compatible with Micro soft Exchange, Microsoft Outlook, Lotus cc:mail, and Qualcomm Eudora Pro.

While the Palm IIIx is mainly an update of the existing line of Palm products, the Palm V is thinner and lighter (4.5 by 3.1 by 0.4 inches, weighing 4 ounces), and it has its own line of peripherals. The unit comes with a PC serial cable, a cradle that automatically recharges its lithium ion battery (rated at one month on a full charge), a leather cover, and a combination pen/stylus. Options include a $149, snap-on 33.6Kbps modem for dialing into your desktop PC or office LAN and a $49.95 travel kit with a serial cable and an AC/DC converter/charger. The Palm V has 2MB of RAM (not expandable) for storing data and running third-party applications.

The Palm IIIx comes with 4MB of RAM (expandable to 8MB) and a new, internal expansion slot for adding peripherals such as memory cards or pager modules. It is the same size as the original Palm products (4.7 by 3.2 by 0.7 inches, weighing 6 ounces) and is compatible with traditional Palm peripherals. Like the Palm V, the Palm IIIx boasts a clearer screen than those of earlier models.

Palm IIIx or Palm V users can synchronize their data with Mac-based PIMs with the help of Palm MacPac Version 2, available for $14.95. The MacPac includes a Mac serial cable and Palm Desktop 2.1, a PIM for the Mac that is based on Claris Organizer. Current Palm users can download the MacPac 2 software free from www.palm.com/custsupp/downloads/macpacv2.html.

Bargain hunters should note that 3Com has cut the prices of the Palm III and PalmPilot Professional Editions to $299 and $199, respectively. If you'd like the Internet in the palm of your hand, keep in mind that the Palm VII--due later this year--will offer wireless Internet access.

Palm IIIx and Palm V, street prices: $369 and $449, respectively. 3Com, 800/ 881-7256, www.palm.com.

--Stephanie Groll

Record Your Own

While we all weigh our bank balances against the promise of rewritable DVD, rewritable CD-ROM drives just get faster and cheaper. Hewlett-Packard has lifted the curtain on four CD-RW drives for Windows PCs, ranging in price from just $249 to $599. The new HP CD-Writer Plus models include two internal IDE drives, one external parallel drive, and a portable SCSI drive that plugs into a desktop PC's SCSI-2 adapter or a notebook's PC Card slot.

All four drives let you record audio CDs or store up to 650MB of data on a single CD-R (write-once) or CD-RW (rewritable) disc. They come with Adaptec's Direct CD and Easy CD Creator Standard Edition for Windows 95, 98, and NT 4. Direct CD lets you save data, image, audio, and video files to disc simply by dragging them from Windows Explorer, while Easy CD Creator lets you back up selected files to disc and copy CD-ROMs and audio CDs.

The fastest drive of the bunch, the HP CD-Writer Plus 8200i ($349) is an internal IDE drive that reads data at speeds of up to 24x (3.6MB per second) and writes at speeds up to 4x (600K per second). The HP CD-Writer Plus 7500e (external parallel, $349) and 7500i (internal IDE, $249) read data as fast as 24x and write as fast as 2x (300K per second). The portable drive, the HP CD-Writer Plus M820e ($599), reads data as fast as 20x (3MB per second) and writes as fast as 4x. The M820e weighs about a pound and measures 5 by 6.5 by 1 inches, so it's easy to tote.

Hewlett-Packard says the HP CD-Writer Plus 8200 and 7500 models will be available on May 1, 1999. The M820e is scheduled to ship in July. Hewlett-Packard, 970/635-1500, www.hp.com/go/cdr.

--Doug Dineley

Norton Fights PC Problems--Round 4

When disk problems strike, most Windows users turn to Norton. Symantec is now shipping a new version of the venerable utilities suite, Norton Utilities 4.0 for Windows 95 and 98 (but not Windows NT), which adds utilities that let you scan and repair the Windows Registry, trouble shoot modem and connection problems, and wipe all traces of files and folders from your hard drive. Norton Utilities 4.0 comes on a bootable CD-ROM.

Symantec is also shipping Norton CleanSweep 4.5 for Windows 95, 98, and NT, an uninstaller that can remove outdated or unused applications and their accompanying files; clean your system of Internet cookies, browser plug-ins, and browser cache files; and routinely free up disk space by automatically deleting temporary files and other unwanted files that clutter your hard disk. Symantec says you can configure CleanSweep not to remove certain files or file types and to back up other files before deletion. CleanSweep 4.5 costs $39.95. The Deluxe version of the program, which costs $49.95, throws in the Zip-It file compression utility, a Netcom subscription offer worth 150 hours of free Internet access, and a six-month subscription to Norton Web Services, which includes PC diagnostic software, an online guide to resources for PC users, and software that locates and downloads software updates for you.

In addition to the new Registry Doctor, Connection Doctor, and WipeInfo utilities, Norton Utilities 4.0 includes System Check, a menu that lets you run any or all of Norton's diagnostics with a single click.

Symantec has also added CrashGuard 4.0 to the Norton package. According to the company, CrashGuard 4.0 is better at intercepting application crashes than previous versions, walks you through the crash recovery process, and suggests how to proceed after a crash. If you wipe out while surfing the Web, Crash Guard can relaunch your browser and return you to the last URL you visited. CrashGuard 4.0 is also sold separately for $29.95.

Naturally, Norton Utilities still includes Disk Doctor, which finds and repairs disk problems; WinDoctor, which finds and repairs lost shortcuts, missing .dll files, invalid file associations, and other Windows problems; Unerase Wizard, which can recover lost or deleted files; Speed Disk, a disk defragmenter and optimizer; Zip Rescue, which lets you create a bootable rescue disk from a Zip or Jaz disk; and Rescue Recovery Wizard, which walks you through steps needed to bring an unbootable PC back to life.

Norton Utilities 4.0 costs $49.95 after a $10 mail-in rebate. Users of previous versions may upgrade for $39.95 until May 31, 1999. Symantec, 800/284-6856, www.symantec.com.

--Stephanie Groll

PageMaker 6.5: An Arsenal for the Design-Challenged

Adobe's PageMaker has long been a favorite of businesses for laying out company brochures and other corporate materials. Scheduled to hit U.S. shelves in mid-April, PageMaker 6.5 Plus for Windows and the Mac caters to business people without training in graphic design. The package comes with 300 business templates for brochures, newsletters, and the like; 300 300dpi stock photos; and several thousand stock illustrations created in Adobe Illustrator. Templates are formatted with the service bureau in mind and include printing instructions.

PageMaker 6.5 Plus also comes with Adobe Distiller, Adobe Photoshop 5 LE (a limited edition), and tutorials by Robin Williams, author of Design for Non-Designers.

PageMaker 6.5 Plus costs $499 new and is available as an upgrade for $99. Microsoft Publisher owners can up grade to PageMaker Plus for $299.

Adobe Systems, 800/888-6293, www.adobe.com/prodindex/pagemaker.

--Kathleen Cullen

Scan It In

This new crop of scanners has something for everyone. Hewlett-Packard is pumping up its ScanJet line with two new, low-cost flatbed scanners for the SOHO market. The $99 ScanJet 3200C and $199 ScanJet 4200C both come with Caere's OCR software and Adobe's PhotoDeluxe. Both let Windows users (the 4200C requires Win98) make color scans at 600dpi by 1200dpi. The 3200C scans in 30-bit color and hooks up to your PC's parallel port. The more sophisticated 4200C scans in 36-bit color and connects to your PC via USB. Both scanners come with software that lets you use the scanner as a copier in conjunction with your printer. The 4200C comes with software that lets you scan directly into an e-mail program. The bundle also includes document and image management programs.

Umax's $895 PowerLook III is geared toward business and professional graphics users. It offers 1200dpi-by-2400dpi scanning resolution (9600dpi by 9600dpi, software-enhanced), 36-bit color (42-bit "extendable"), and 3.4Dmax optical density. The $1,795 IIIse comes with a transparency adapter for scanning slides, negatives, and transparencies. The scanner connects to a PC or Mac via SCSI and comes with TextBridge OCR software, Adobe Photoshop 5.0 LE, and more. The scanner supports Windows 95, 98, and NT, Mac OS, and Unix.

If you're in the market for some new scanning software, Visioneer is shipping a new version of its ScannerSuite. It comes with Xerox TextBridge 98 and PaperPort Deluxe 6.0 and retails for $79.99. PaperPort Deluxe has two new Web features: It can now capture Web pages for surfing offline, and you can add a scanned graphic or a text page to your Web site by dragging the document onto the Web Publisher Link. PaperPort will automatically link the new stuff to your existing Web site. PaperPort Deluxe lets you send e-mail attachments to Windows users as self-viewing files; the recipient does not need to have the attachment's originating application.

ScannerSuite also includes Xerox TextBridge Pro 98, which will preserve the formatting of the original document and allow you to edit it within Text Bridge. You can also scan directly into a word processor or other application.

Hewlett-Packard, 800/722-6538, www.hp.com. Umax, 800/562-0311, www.umax.com. Visioneer, 800/787-7007, www.visioneer.com.

--Kathleen Cullen

Print It Out

Perhaps you're getting tired of your creaky old toner-eater. In April, Canon will release two new inkjets that feature faster printing and use new ink systems. Canon's BJC-6000 inkjet is geared toward the SOHO user who needs to print color graphics but save a little money. This $249 printer features separate ink cartridges so you can replace them one at a time. The BJC-6000 prints 720dpi by 720dpi (1440dpi by 720dpi on special, coated paper). Black-and-white pages print at eight pages per minute (ppm) and color pages come out at 5ppm. The BJC-6000 works with Windows and Macs equipped with USB ports. It can be networked (via Ethernet) with the separate 140 BJC print server. The BJC 6000 can handle special, photo stock and anywhere from 4-by-6-inch photo cards to standard, legal-size paper.

For users looking for laser quality black printing and color capability, Canon offers the $199 BJC-5100 inkjet (compatible with Windows 95, 98, and NT only). This printer is speedier than the BJC-6000, spitting out up to 10ppm in black-and-white (via dual black-ink cartridges) and 4ppm in color. Color toner cartridges (color and photo ink) can be mixed and matched, depending on the job, for up to seven-color output. The printer handles transparencies and card stock and glossy photo paper as well as regular paper of up to 11 by 17 inches in size. Like the BJC-6000, the BJC-5100 prints either 720dpi by 720dpi on regular paper or 1440dpi by 720dpi on special paper.

Finally, for computing on the go, Brother will be shipping the $299 MP-21C mobile color inkjet printer. It connects to your laptop via its PC Card and works with Windows only. It is powered by your laptop, but Brother claims that the MP-21's "miserly" consumption won't drain your battery. Weighing less than 3 pounds, the printer measures 2 by 11.8 by 4 inches and prints up to 2.5ppm in color at a resolution of 720dpi by 720dpi. It accommodates up to legal-size paper and can print on plain and coated stock, as well as transparencies. You can also get the printer with a 30-sheet feeder, AC adapter, and parallel cable to use with your desktop PC. This package is known as the MP-21Cdx and costs $349.

Canon, 800/652-2666, www.canon.com. Brother, 800/521-2846, www.brother.com.

--Kathleen Cullen

The Xerox WorkCentre Does Quadruple Duty

Wouldn't it be nice if you could save desk space by stacking your printer, scanner, and fax machine in a corner? For Windows users looking for a combined printer/scanner solution, one of Xerox's WorkCentre multifunction devices might fit the bill. The Work Centres 385 and 480cx scan, print, copy, and fax, and can even perform multiple functions at once. The $599 WorkCentre 385 has a black-and-white laser printer, scanner, and copier, as well as a fax machine (fax from your PC or from the machine itself). The $499 WorkCentre 480cx has a color inkjet printer and scanner, but it copies in black-and-white. Like the 385, it packs a fax machine.

Both WorkCentres scan 300dpi by 300dpi and come with Xerox TextBridge Pro OCR software. The 385's laser printer prints eight pages per minute (ppm) at a resolution of 600dpi by 600dpi. The WorkCentre 480cx has a print resolution of 1200dpi by 1200dpi, and it cranks out 8ppm in black and 4ppm in color. The maximum paper size for both is 8.5 by 14 inches and both print on card stock, transparencies, and envelopes. The 480cx can also print on photographic paper.

Slick, digital copier/laser printer WorkCentres are also available for Windows users. These devices are platen-based, crank out 15 copies per minute, and print 8ppm at 600dpi-by-600dpi resolution. They come with a 30-sheet document feeder, accept up to legal- and executive-size papers, and function as stand-alone copiers. These digital copiers allow you to control copy magnification (from 50 to 200 percent).

The XD155df, XD105df, and XD103f are meant to be Windows-networked office workhorses, ranging in price from $749 to $1,299. The $1,299 XD155df is the fastest, copying 15 pages per minute. It also supports dual-side copying. Both the $749 XD103f and $799 XD105f copy at 10 pages per minute.

Xerox Corporation, 800/832-6979, www.xerox.com.

--Kathleen Cullen

CompuServe Ramps Up

The venerable CompuServe Internet service is still alive and kicking, and its new release, CompuServe 2000, promises to add luster to the firm's business-oriented, "grown-up" image. The most significant upgrade is to the e-mail program, which now includes a spelling checker, up to five member names, a scheduler that lets you automatically download and send messages at pre determined times, a picture-formatting tool for sending graphics, and a shorter domain name (username@cs.com). You also get 10MB for hosting a Web site, Internet Explorer 4.01, and faster access via nationwide 56Kbps V.90 lines, although you still have to access CompuServe 2000 through AOL or another ISP. Finally, CompuServe's interface has been given a makeover: The icons are bigger and the main menu features a continuously updated news ticker with feeds from sources such as the Associated Press and CBSMarketWatch.com.

You'll pay less for CompuServe 2000 than for the current version. Member ship now costs $9.95 for 20 hours per month; after that, you'll pay $2.95 per hour. You can get unlimited monthly use for $19.95 or unlimited yearly use for $199. Moreover, your first 100 hours are free, as long as you use them within the first month.

CompuServe, 800/369-5544, www.compuserve.com.

--Stephen Lee

CanOpener for Windows

Ever get a file you couldn't open? Look into CanOpener, the popular Mac utility that has just been released for Windows 95, 98, and NT. Whether the file is damaged or in a foreign format, just drag and drop it onto the CanOpener icon, and the program will crack it open and show a list of any text, pictures, and sounds contained within. Displaying a given item is then just a matter of double-clicking it in the list.

CanOpener also comes with filters that let you extract only the text you want. You can pick out names, phone numbers, URLs, e-mail addresses, HREFs (from HTML files), or sentences with specific properties (such as sentences containing phone numbers, dollar signs, names, or specific words). The same principle works in reverse, which is handy if you want to strip out HTML coding, extra carriage returns, or blank spaces from improperly formatted documents. You can even scan for small islands of clean text in files awash in gobbledygook.

CanOpener 1.0 for Windows costs $39. Registered users of CanOpener for the Mac get a $10 discount.

Abbott Systems, 800/552-9157, www.abbottsys.com.

--Stephen Lee

Expanding Office 2000

Microsoft Office 2000 for Windows isn't even on the shelves yet, and already there are add-ons for it. Prime for Word 2000 and Prime for Excel 2000 add a number of utilities, shortcuts, and customization options to the future versions of Word and Excel. Like Office 2000 itself, both add-ons are now available in beta versions.

The foremost utility is the Prime WorkBar, a menu in which you can list documents you want quick access to. You can add any document to the WorkBar in Word or Excel and open it with a click; if the file isn't a Word or Excel document, the WorkBar will launch its source application. Prime for Word 2000 and Prime for Excel 2000 also let you modify the buttons on Word and Excel command bars, zip to Word document bookmarks and named Excel cell ranges with a click, open any files in the same folder as the one you happen to be working in, and more.

Prime for Word 2000 and Prime for Excel 2000 cost $24.95 each, but you can order them now for $12.95 each, and you'll get a free upgrade to the final versions when Office 2000 is released. You can download a free, 30-day trial version from Prime's Web site.

PRIME Consulting Group, 800/565-7069, www.primeconsulting.com.

--Stephen Lee

© 1999 Computer Currents Publishing. All rights reserved.