I ran across a great article on HP’s website that discusses Sun Microsystem’s constant flip flop over Linux:

- February 2002: Sun CEO Scott McNealy dons a penguin suit and says, “We love Linux, and I hope there isn’t any doubt about it…”
http://news.com.com/2100-1001-832463.html

- September 2003: Sun Executive (now President) Jonathan Schwartz was quoted as saying, “Also, let me be really clear about our Linux strategy. We don’t have one. We don’t at all. We do not believe that Linux plays a role on the server. Period. If you want to buy it, we will sell it to you, but we believe that Solaris is a better alternative…”,”
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,4149,1274623,00.asp

- August 2004: The Sun executive vice president for software, is quoted in a Sun press release saying, “Sun’s commitment to Linux and the Linux community is stronger than ever,…”
http://www.sun.com/smi/Press/sunflash/2004-08/sunflash.20040803.4.html

- September 2004: Sun President Jonathan Schwartz was quoted as saying, ”We are absolutely targeting Red Hat specifically” as a competitor.
http://news.com.com/Sun+Weve+turned+over+a+new+leaf/2100-1010_3-5375931.html?tag=nl

- September 2005: Sun President Jonathan Schwartz was quoted as saying, “Stay tuned on the Red Hat-Sun relationship,” … “We think there’s ample opportunity to work together out there.”
http://news.com.com/Sun+extends+olive+branch+to+Red+Hat/2100-7344_3-5860897.html?tag=cd.hed

- September 2006: Sun releases its “Replace Red Hat” campaign saying “Give the Hat the boot”.
http://www.sun.com/software/solaris/hatsoff/sys_admin.html

The fact is, Linux is here. Almost every customer I talk to has some production Linux. It’s just a fact of the modern data center. The problem that companies like Sun have is that Linux erodes the value of their proprietary version of UNIX.

Over the past few days a few of my colleagues have surprised me by not knowing how to use Google to get directory assistance from their cell phones. As a result I thought I’d share this information in case there are some people who could benefit from it.

Using Google for directory assistance is fairly simple:

1. Create a new SMS/text message on your phone. The recepient should be 46645.

2. In the body of the message type in as much information about the person / business as you have:

Joe Young, 123 Main st, Anytown, ST

3. Send the message. In a few minutes Google will respond with any 411 information it finds.

Good Luck!

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