The bMighty Blog -- Matthew McKenzie

Matthew McKenzie covers open source issues for bMighty.com. For more than a decade, he has followed the fast-moving world of Open Source software, open standards and the Internet as an open publishing platform. In the 1990s, as an editor and analyst for Seybold Publications, McKenzie tracked the evolution of the Web as it reshaped -- and revolutionized -- the publishing industry.

In 1997, McKenzie relocated to San Francisco, to serve as Seybold Publications' West Coast Editor and as a planner/content creator for Seybold Seminars' annual publishing-industry conferences. He subsequently worked as an editor and educator for a number of prominent print and online publications, including CNET, PC World, AllBusiness.com and Computerworld.com.

More recently, McKenzie served as an editor for TechWeb's Pipeline sites, launching the company's Developer Pipeline and as editor of Linux Pipeline; he contributed to other TechWeb publications, including InformationWeek.com and NetworkComputing.com. Today, he continues to apply his experience as a journalist, industry analyst and professional cynic to topics including Linux, open-source software and computing technologies and open Internet and IT industry standards.

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BitPim: A Smart(Phone) Move For Backing Up Mobile Data

Posted by Matthew McKenzie 09:42 AM ET | Aug 19, 2008

A lot of cell phone owners share the same problem: Their phones store data the way a black hole "stores" light. Before you spend hundreds of dollars or sign another contract for a new phone, however, consider another solution that might not cost your a dime.

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Backup | Hardware & Software | Mobile | Open Source

Linux Thin Clients: A Big Idea For Small Business?

Posted by Matthew McKenzie 06:06 AM ET | Aug 13, 2008

Are endless cycles of PC "upgrades" downgrading your company's bottom line? Maybe it's time to revisit an IT concept that has never been a very big hit with small-business owners -- but whose time, perhaps, has finally arrived

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A Word To The Wise: Working With Firefox Spell-Checking Tools

Posted by Matthew McKenzie 06:18 PM ET | Jul 31, 2008

When you work online, words are like clothes: Use them carelessly, and you might as well show up for a business meeting in dirty flip-flops and an "I'm with stupid" T-shirt.

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How-To | Internet/Web | Open Source

Tame The Web With A Powerful Pair Of Firefox Extensions

Posted by Matthew McKenzie 10:39 AM ET | Jul 30, 2008

Do you use Firefox? If so, allow me to introduce two other members of the Mozilla menagerie that can help you to get things done when you're working online.

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How-To | Internet/Web | Open Source

Mobility Modder: The Best Insurance Against Bad Drivers

Posted by Matthew McKenzie 01:28 AM ET | Jul 30, 2008

If you own a Windows laptop with ATI graphics hardware, updating the display driver is often much harder than it needs to be. The solution to this problem is quick, easy, and free -- and now, it works on laptops running Windows Vista.

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Hardware & Software | Windows

Yahoo And Zimbra: Walking The Line Between 'Killer App' And 'Endangered Species'

Posted by Matthew McKenzie 10:12 PM ET | Jul 25, 2008

Yahoo is clearly gunning for big game with its next-generation Webmail technology Before the company bags an elephant, however, it will have to avoid blowing off its own foot.

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Open Source

Business As Usual For Dell's Linux Lineup

Posted by Matthew McKenzie 04:43 AM ET | Jul 19, 2008

Dell's partnership with Ubuntu looks to have something the PC maker's last desktop Linux effort did not: a future.

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Business & E-Business | Hardware & Software | Linux | Open Source

Open-Source Support: The More You Know, The Better It Looks

Posted by Matthew McKenzie 01:49 PM ET | Jul 18, 2008

Open-source support has a problem: People who assume, for no good reason, that it has a problem.

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Hardware & Software | IT | Linux | Open Source | Services

Wubi: The Easy Way To Test-Drive Linux On A Windows PC

Posted by Matthew McKenzie 06:23 AM ET | Jul 11, 2008

Linux has long made life easy for tire-kickers. The latest version of Ubuntu, however, makes it simpler than ever before to take Linux for a realistic test drive -- without risking a single byte of data on an existing Windows system.

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Hardware & Software | Linux | Open Source | Windows

Can You Keep A Secret?

Posted by Matthew McKenzie 07:58 PM ET | Jul 9, 2008

A typical laptop computer is a disaster waiting to happen. There is a quick, cheap, simple, totally effective way to fix the problem -- preferably, before it fixes you.

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Will Google Pull The Plug On 'Android?' Don't Bet On It

Posted by Matthew McKenzie 06:46 PM ET | Jun 27, 2008

As anyone following this week's Nokia-Symbian hoopla already knows, Google is still several months away from launching its Android smartphone platform. Thanks to another open-source mobile technology initiative, however, we can get a pretty good idea of how Google expects Android to fit into the mobile-technology picture -- and, in the process, see why Google is unlikely to abandon the project.

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Hardware & Software | Linux | Mobile | Open Source

Abiword: One Lean, Mean, Word Processing Machine

Posted by Matthew McKenzie 03:54 PM ET | Jun 26, 2008

OpenOffice.org gets a lot of attention these days as a practical, no-cost alternative to Microsoft Office. While OpenOffice.org does a fine job, however, there are times when a smaller, faster, feature-packed word processing program would be useful. There is another open-source application that fits the bill perfectly here -- and it deserves far more attention than it gets.

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Business & E-Business | Hardware & Software | Open Source | Windows

Mozilla's Pain, TippingPoint's Gain -- And, Perhaps, A Tipster's Game?

Posted by Matthew McKenzie 10:38 PM ET | Jun 20, 2008

The recent news of a Firefox security flaw illustrates the dangers of security through obscurity. In this case, however, the obscurity I'm talking about doesn't involve the software.

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Hardware & Software | Open Source | Security

Open-Source Firmware: Old Routers, New Tricks

Posted by Matthew McKenzie 09:54 AM ET | Jun 18, 2008

Is your small business ready for a network hardware upgrade? There are two ways to tackle a job like this. Here's the one that won't cost you an arm and a leg.

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Hardware & Software | IT | Linux | Networking & Communications | Open Source

When Desktop Disaster Strikes, Linux Rides To The Rescue

Posted by Matthew McKenzie 02:43 PM ET | Jun 13, 2008

A friend in need, the saying goes, is a friend indeed. And the next time your Windows PC goes belly-up at the worst possible time, your new best friend just might turn out to be a Linux rescue CD.

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Hardware & Software | IT | Linux | Open Source | Windows

Web Conferencing Goes Open Source

Posted by Matthew McKenzie 11:02 AM ET | Jun 11, 2008

A few years ago, I put together a long article reviewing all of the major Web conferencing tools. It did not include any open-source options for a very simple reason: There weren't any. Today, however, it's a very different story.

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Workrave Puts The Hurt On Repetitive-Strain Injuries

Posted by Matthew McKenzie 06:55 AM ET | Jun 5, 2008

Repetitive strain injuries are a serious problem for millions of computer users -- and, of course, for the companies that employ them. If you're looking for a better way to avoid workplace-related RSI problems, this open-source application could be just what you're looking for.

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Hardware & Software | Healthcare | Linux | Open Source | Windows

Mozilla's Add-On Army (Finally!) Makes Its Move

Posted by Matthew McKenzie 02:02 PM ET | May 30, 2008

As Firefox 3 takes its final steps towards a final release, some users are wondering whether their favorite extensions will fall by the wayside. As it turns out, most of them won't have to wonder -- or worry -- much longer.

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Hardware & Software | Internet/Web | Open Source

Stretch Your Budget With Acrobat Alternatives

Posted by Matthew McKenzie 04:55 PM ET | May 23, 2008

If you're looking for a free, functional alternative to Adobe Acrobat, then I have bad news and good news. Here's the bad news: No single application can do everything that Acrobat does. Here's the good news: No single application tries to do everything that Acrobat does.

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Hardware & Software | Open Source | Professional/Creative Services | Windows

Open-Source VNC: Remote Access Made Easy (And Free!)

Posted by Matthew McKenzie 07:43 AM ET | May 16, 2008

There are a lot of great remote access tools available these days, and some of the very best happen to be open-source software. Read on if you would like to learn more about a couple of my personal favorites.

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Firefox 3.0 Release Schedule Update

Posted by Matthew McKenzie 08:15 AM ET | May 13, 2008

In a previous post, I mentioned that we would probably see a Firefox 3.0 release candidate before the end of the month. Based on a senior Mozilla developer's recent remarks, that estimate looks to be right on track.

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OpenOffice.org Readies Its Mac Attack

Posted by Matthew McKenzie 07:27 AM ET | May 13, 2008

Mac support has never been a big selling point for OpenOffice.org. Fortunately, this is about to change in a big way.

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Apple | Hardware & Software | Open Source

Reliability Study Serves Up Good News For Linux Users

Posted by Matthew McKenzie 01:47 PM ET | May 8, 2008

A 2006 research study caused an uproar when it reported that Windows Server 2003 was more reliable than Linux. This year's results tell a somewhat different story -- at least in terms of which side wins the bragging rights.

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Linux

Can Mozilla Build A Better Web App?

Posted by Matthew McKenzie 10:36 PM ET | May 1, 2008

A Web application is only as good as its delivery platform. Unfortunately, the two most popular choices, Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox, aren't very good at delivering Web applications.

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Open Source

Two Must-Have Open-Source Security Tools

Posted by Matthew McKenzie 11:49 PM ET | Apr 29, 2008

Over the past decade, open-source developers have created some of the world's top-rated IT security tools. While some of these applications have a well-deserved reputation for being complicated and difficult to use, there are some notable exceptions.

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Hardware & Software | Open Source | Security

Google Docs Shifts Into High Gear

Posted by Matthew McKenzie 05:15 AM ET | Apr 28, 2008

Can you guess what new feature Google Docs just introduced? Here's a hint: It doesn't involve a talking paperclip.

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Cloud Computing | Open Source

Portable Applications: Software -- And Security -- On The Move

Posted by Matthew McKenzie 11:15 PM ET | Apr 21, 2008

Using a public computer is something most of us do from time to time. So is leaving data that might come back to haunt us if it falls into the wrong hands. Here's an easy, reliable, totally free way to ensure that you never again walk away from a strange computer wondering whether an identity theft or hacker will make you pay for an innocent mistake.

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Open Source

Managing Your Software Madness With Open-Source Alternatives

Posted by Matthew McKenzie 12:20 PM ET | Apr 21, 2008

Few things are more annoying than software that doesn't deliver the goods -- especially when your business is paying for the privilege of being annoyed. But no matter which application is driving you nuts these days, there is probably an open-source alternative available

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Open Source

Keeping Up With The Linux Kernel

Posted by Matthew McKenzie 08:06 PM ET | Apr 17, 2008

Linux kernel development is a serious, and very complicated, process. You don't have to be a programmer, however, or even a Linux power user, to appreciate the end result -- especially when a new version of the Linux kernel hits the street.

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Hardware & Software | IT | Linux | Open Source

PBX For Small Business: Asterisk Comes A-Callin'

Posted by Matthew McKenzie 08:51 PM ET | Apr 15, 2008

The market for open-source business software today is growing so quickly that it can be hard to single out the really exceptional success stories. If I had to pick just one, however, I think I know which one it would be.

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Pointers For Picking The Right Linux Distro

Posted by Matthew McKenzie 08:55 PM ET | Apr 10, 2008

Everybody loves a good list -- especially bloggers and opinion columnists. Here's a pointer to a list that is likely to make your job a bit easier if you're shopping for the right Linux distro for your business needs.

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Hardware & Software | Linux | Open Source

Linux Minus Linus: No Big Deal?

Posted by Matthew McKenzie 09:41 PM ET | Apr 8, 2008

There was a time when Linux could not have survived the departure of its creator, Linus Torvalds. Today, of course, the situation is very different -- or is it?

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Apple | Linux | Open Source

Old Hardware, New Tricks: Building A Linux File Server

Posted by Matthew McKenzie 05:56 PM ET | Apr 4, 2008

Want to bring some law and order to an unruly small-business IT setup? A Linux file server could be just the ticket -- and if you have an old, obsolete PC sitting around the office, you've got everything you need to get started.

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Hardware & Software | IT | Linux | Open Source

Death And Taxes On Linux: One Down, One To Go

Posted by Matthew McKenzie 08:21 AM ET | Apr 2, 2008

Of the two inevitabilities in life, Linux can't do much about death. Can it do anything to help you with your taxes?

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Business & E-Business | Finance/Accounting | Hardware & Software | Linux | Open Source

Another Good Reason To Quit Feeding Microsoft's Favorite Cash Cow

Posted by Matthew McKenzie 04:01 PM ET | Mar 28, 2008

If you put just one open-source software package to work in your small or medium-sized business, I can tell you exactly where to begin. And as much as I like Linux, I actually have something else in mind for you.

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Business & E-Business | Hardware & Software | Linux | Open Source

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