Neoware made its name selling thin clients for Windows. Now it has built a new strategy around embedded systems, appliances, and Linux.

Silicon Graphics Inc said that Linux, the open-source computer operating system software that nobody owns, was just right for the country with its vast army of programmers and security minded officials.

In a move that should eliminate a major criticism of KDE as a development platform, Trolltech announced that it was licensing the upcoming free version of Qt/Unix 2.2 under the GPL. Developers will have the option of using the open-source version of Qt 2.2 under either the QPL or GPL license.

IBM AIX 5L raises the issue of how far software distributed under open source/free software licenses can be incorporated into an existing product without triggering licensing issues that would force the release of the entire product as an open source or free software product.

KM vendors turn to this upstart Unix platform as an alternative to Windows.

No one can fault Linux's stability, speed, or configurability. Nevertheless, its weaknesses are also formidable. What do you do when most of the population can't even install your OS?

In a few months, Screen Media will begin shipping a sleekly designed, easy-to-use wireless web-pad device called the FreePad offering web browsing and cordless telephone functions. The device uses Embedded Linux as the internal operating system software platform.

Linux seems to be the ideal to scale down and become the embedded OS in portable devices, video game consoles, microwaves, smart refrigerators and more.

Major Unix vendors concerned about the growing popularity of Linux are seeking some unique solutions, rallying behind the platform to help promote their own -- while keeping one key competitor on the outside.

Face it. If you work with Linux, and IBM hasn't tried to partner up with you yet, you're just not working hard enough.