Communication Freeware Utilities :

1. chat on IRC : xchat
2. chat with different messenger clients : gaim
3. check multiple email accounts with 1 utility : evolution
4. phone free using the internet : ekiga & openwengo
5. talk to skype and google-talk clients : skype (from http://skype.com)
6. telnet/ssh to a site : openssh (command line based)
7. video conference with others : ekiga & openwengo

This is a list of tools that are available in, at least, Ubuntu 6.10 (Edge Eft).

Business/Office Freeware Utilities :

1. capture the screen : internal gnome function (print screen key)
2. change the date/time on multiple files : renameutils (command line based)
3. convert a document into a different format : OpenOffice Write
4. convert a document into pdf : OpenOffice Write
5. create a small database : OpenOffice Base
6. create pdf file : OpenOffice
7. create/edit css lists : Bluefish / nvu
8. create/edit html color codes : agave
9. show all the fonts installed : nautilus fonts:///

This is a list of tools that are available in, at least, Ubuntu 6.10 (Edge Eft).
I'm trying to complete the tool/utility list from Rich Burridge.

Audio/Music/MP3/Real/Wav Freeware Utilities :

1. burn a CD : gnomebaker
2. burn an audio CD : gnomebaker
3. organize the mp3 collection : cowbell
4. play all mp3 files in a folder : rhythmbox
5. play an audio CD : rhythmbox
6. play an audio file : totem
7. play real audio (.ra, .rm) files without the real software : mplayer
8. record/save streaming music : streamtuner
9. rip music from a CD : rhythmbox, soundjucer
10. show song lyrics for the song playing : rhythmbox
11. tag/fix mp3/audio file tags : easytag

This is a list of tools that are available in, at least, Ubuntu 6.10 (Edge Eft).

You know what's funny? Red Hat is positioned nr 3 and Oracle in ranked 32nd on the Annual Vendor Value list, with 77% and 56% satisfaction ratings.
This makes the Oracle Red Hat Linux spin-off claims even more stupid.

On their site you'll learn they provide a great Linux service; "Oracle's Premier Support provides the same level of enterprise-class support that Oracle provides for its database product.". Why would I want to go for less then I have with Red Hat?

Linus made his stance on binary modules very clear. Why is it important that we know what Linus thinks about it? Well, for starters, there is a lot of discussions going on if distros should enable this by default or not. Now perhaps a lot more people will not be so negative against the idea.

Indeed, if you don't want to you can make the choice for yourself!

Is Novell the next SCO? At least Bruce Perens thinks so. Only time will tell what good will come out of this for Novell. So far the history of companies that fared well when striking deals with MS are thin layered.

The timing is also most interesting. SCO's case is nearing its end and the Oracle Linux release just happened. I wonder what IBM is thinking now as they are the one that pushed Novell into buying Suse and Ximian. And why has there not been any reaction or opinion on the deal from them?

I'm running behind on the facts here, but a lot of stuff is certainly happening in Linux land the last few weeks. One of the more important things is the Oracle Unbreakable Enterprise Linux, or whatever they want to call it.

At this point in time it is a Red Hat rip-off, plain and simple. Hell it barely makes sense to have this product around in it's current form. What is Oracle trying to prove or achieve with this?
They certainly have no Linux reputation, other then releasing their main product (database) for it. The possibility that they provide better support then RH seems questionable to say the least. It is after all just a copy, so why not get support from the creators directly? Lastly, If you are concerned about the costs and do not really want support you just might as well install CentOS and if really needed, get cheaper support from your local Linux vendor.

No, what I would have expected, and what I hope this Oracle Linux will grow to is a lean, mean, data munching, IO crunching database version. Designed and tuned by Oracle to run their ruling database on it, and nothing else. Just like VMware uses Linux in some products.