Red Hat's desktop operating system for consumers has
been enhanced to handle multithreading better than its
predecessor.
Red Hat Linux 9, which will be available for download by members
of the Red Hat Network
(rhn.redhat.com) and in retail
stores, features threading technology called NPTL (Native Posix
Thread Library) said Matt Wilson, manager of base operating systems
at Red Hat.
NPTL will allow for better execution of applications that
perform multiple tasks simultaneously, commonly known as
multithreading.
Red Hat engineers developed most of the NPTL in conjunction with
the open-source community of developers.
Another enhancement to the operating system is its tighter
integration with the Common Unix Printing System (CUPS), which will
make it easier for users to print files by dragging and dropping
them to a printing icon on the desktop.
CUPS were included as an option with version 8, along with other
printing utilities, but it is now integrated with Red Hat Linux 9
as its default printing system, offering a more unified
capability.
The Bluecurve graphical interface, which was introduced in Red
Hat Linux 8, has been polished to enhance its ease of use in this
latest version.
Red Hat Linux 9 also ships with upgraded versions of the
open-source OpenOffice.org office productivity suite, the Mozilla
open-source web browser and Ximian's Evolution e-mail and groupware
client software.
Users will also benefit from later versions of core Linux
components in Red Hat Linux 9, such as version 2.4.20 of the Linux
kernel, whereas Red Hat Linux 8 carried version 2.4.18. For users
planning to perform web server tasks with their PCs, the open
source Apache 2.0 web server software is also included.
Red Hat Linux 9 will be available for download on 31 March and a
week later it will be in stores.
The product costs $60 (£38) if downloaded and includes a
one-year subscription to the Red Hat Network and full electronic
access to the product's documentation, as well as automatic
security updates, bug fixes and other product information.
In stores, buyers get two options: Red Hat Linux 9 for $39.95
(£25.40), which includes 30 days of access to the Red Hat Network
and web-based support; and Red Hat Linux 9 Professional for $149.95
(£95.35), which includes the operating system on a DVD, extra
software, extra documentation and 60 days of access to the Red Hat
Network and to web-based support.