■ Computers
HP to offer Linux
Hewlett-Packard Co (HP), the world's second-largest computer maker, has announced plans for what it says is the world's first notebook computer from a major manufacturer using the open-source Linux operating system. HP made the announcement on Tuesday at the LinuxWorld conference in San Fran-cisco. Pricing will begin at US$1,140. The move opens a door to the rival of the Microsoft Corp's Windows operating system. "Linux is a key part of the HP Adaptive Enterprise strategy as it is central to HP's unique approach to IT standardization," said Martin Fink, vice president of Linux at HP. The computer also will be equipped with OpenOffice, an open-source software program that includes word processing and other functions. HP is also including the Linux in its fastest servers to court large companies that are trying to cut computing costs.
■ Software
Microsoft update ready
Microsoft Corp is close to releasing the biggest update ever for the Windows operating system, aiming to plug holes that have led to massive security problems for computer users the world over. Microsoft senior product manager Matt Pilla said late Wednesday that it is expected to release the update for Windows XP, called Service Pack 2, "in the coming days." He would not be more specific. The update comes in response to a series of Internet viruses and other attacks that have slowed businesses and hurt consumers. Service Pack 2 bolsters security on a number of fronts. Among the changes, it automati-cally turns on a firewall to better guard against bids to infiltrate personal compu-ters. The update also fortifies protections on the Internet Explorer browser and offers tougher policing against e-mail-borne attacks.
■ IPO
Google admits bad move
Google Inc may have illegally issued more than 23 million shares of its stock to hundreds of employees and consultants, injecting an unexpected legal risk into the online search engine leader's highly anticipated initial public offering (IPO). The company disclosed the possible violations on Wed-nesday in a prospectus offering to buy back the affected shares and out-standing stock options for a total of US$25.9 million, including interest payments. During that time, the com-pany says it neglected to register 23.2 million shares of common stock and 5.6 million outstanding stock options with securities regulators. The oversights might have broken federal and state laws, according to the filing. The stock is owned by 1,105 current and former employees, and consultants. Google warned that its buyback offer may be rejected by some people who prefer to sue.
■ Retail
US online sales strong
US online retail sales are on a strong growth track, and will likely hit US$316 billion by 2010, a technology research firm said on Wed-nesday. Forrester Research pegged US online sales at some US$144 billion this year, and sees a 14 percent annual growth rate that would bring the Internet sector to some 12 percent of retail sales, from less than 2 percent currently. US gover-nment data showed online sales at US$54.9 billion last year, representing about 1.6 percent of all retail sales last year. Forrester said online retail sales will make up 7 percent of the total for the US this year.
NO-LIMITS PARTNERSHIP: ‘The bottom line’ is that if the US were to have a conflict with China or Russia it would likely open up a second front with the other, a US senator said Beijing and Moscow could cooperate in a conflict over Taiwan, the top US intelligence chief told the US Senate this week. “We see China and Russia, for the first time, exercising together in relation to Taiwan and recognizing that this is a place where China definitely wants Russia to be working with them, and we see no reason why they wouldn’t,” US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told a US Senate Committee on Armed Services hearing on Thursday. US Senator Mike Rounds asked Haines about such a potential scenario. He also asked US Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lieutenant General Jeffrey Kruse
China’s intrusive and territorial claims in the Indo-Pacific region are “illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive,” new US Indo-Pacific Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo said on Friday, adding that he would continue working with allies and partners to keep the area free and open. Paparo made the remarks at a change-of-command ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii, where he took over the command from Admiral John Aquilino. “Our world faces a complex problem set in the troubling actions of the People’s Republic of China [PRC] and its rapid buildup of forces. We must be ready to answer the PRC’s increasingly intrusive and
INSPIRING: Taiwan has been a model in the Asia-Pacific region with its democratic transition, free and fair elections and open society, the vice president-elect said Taiwan can play a leadership role in the Asia-Pacific region, vice president-elect Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) told a forum in Taipei yesterday, highlighting the nation’s resilience in the face of geopolitical challenges. “Not only can Taiwan help, but Taiwan can lead ... not only can Taiwan play a leadership role, but Taiwan’s leadership is important to the world,” Hsiao told the annual forum hosted by the Center for Asia-Pacific Resilience and Innovation think tank. Hsiao thanked Taiwan’s international friends for their long-term support, citing the example of US President Joe Biden last month signing into law a bill to provide aid to Taiwan,
UNWAVERING: Paraguay remains steadfast in its support of Taiwan, but is facing growing pressure at home and abroad to switch recognition to Beijing, Pena said Paraguayan President Santiago Pena has pledged to continue enhancing cooperation with Taiwan, as he and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed opposition to any unilateral change to the “status quo” in the Taiwan Strait using force, Japanese media reported on Saturday. Kishida yesterday completed a trip to France, Brazil and Paraguay, his first visit to South America since taking office in 2021. After the Japanese leader and Pena spoke for more than an hour on Friday, exchanging views on the situation in East Asia in the face of China’s increasing military pressure on Taiwan, they affirmed that “unilateral attempts to change the