OStatic

Ulteo is an interesting company. Started by former MandrakeSoft developer Gael Duval, the company aims to make using your computer easier, regardless of whether you're using your computer. The company focuses on the development and delivery of open source web applications and storage.

They offer applications such as the Virtual Desktop Beta, which runs a Linux environment over a Windows installation, allowing users to switch easily between the two, the Ulteo Online Desktop, which allows users access to a remote desktop and applications such as OpenOffice 3, and its full distribution the Ulteo Application System. Having used a few of these products, some are hits (the Windows Virtual Desktop is really sleek) and others (the Application System) still need significant work.

Today Ulteo announced another application, the Open Virtual Desktop.

Today, on his ZDNet blog, Paul Murphy wrote about non-IT managers examining the upkeep costs of an IT department. While I agree wholeheartedly that open source software is a great option for businesses (regardless of economic climate), there is more than cost to consider. Just switching everything to Linux likely will save money in the long term, but it might not be right to do, right now.

When cashflow is tight, it's madness to make snap decisions -- even if they seem to save huge amounts of money. I am by no means saying it isn't worth making this switch. But do it wisely, for everyone's sake.

Over at TechRepublic, Jack Wallen details ten points to consider prior to moving your organization to Linux.

Some points are far more critical for operation than others (it is easier to switch to a more suitable desktop environment than make some highly specialized proprietary applications work with Linux, for instance), but all require attention. Depending on the workplace and industry, it might be worth an administrator's time to consider a few other points as well.

This is a 1.0 that I wasn't sure would ever come. No, I'm not talking about the Duke Nukem game that's been vaporware for the last decade or so. I'm talking about Wine 1.0, which is slated for release on June 6th of this year. That's a mere 15 years after development was started.

Wine, if you're not already familiar with it, is an application that allows Windows apps to run unmodified on Linux and other *nix operating systems.