Many have tried, tested and fumbled. But not everyone has been as lucky in cracking a successful business model around open source. What's the trick? Is it the services and support periphery around the free core that makes revenues possible?

Red Hat and Dell have announced an alliance that will see the systems giant offer the new midrange Red Hat Application Appliance.

Open source is an incredible deal for customers big and small. There is immense value to be derived from controlling your own code, and for getting programs free of charge.

Linux will be a passenger in every seat on Qantas’ Airbus A380s aeroplanes. All of the airline’s superjumbos – the first of which will commence flying next week – will have their in flight entertainment systems powered by the operating system.

Mac users might less vulnerable to Internet security threats than those who take the Windows route to computing nirvana, but 'less' is not the same as 'not at all' and that's why the world's first miniature hardware Internet security devices for the Mac have been announced today with a little help from Linux.

Released under the Microsoft Public License, the Touchless project is a good example of Microsoft doing its own experimentation around open source.

The Flying Kangaroo will soon become the Flying Penguin. Qantas Airways, Australia's flag carrier, will use Linux-powered in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems from Panasonic.

Overall it seems a complete overhaul of the venerable open source office suite. There are dozens of new features and improvements.