[dundee] Microsoft/Linux Equation

[Bruce Stewart]

It's fairly simple, MSFT knows that because of the development method, 
Linux/FLOSS is a real threat, because they cannot buy out or undercut the 
competition like with Netscape, OS/2 etc.
Nevermind it cannot co-opt the ideas like Stacker, etc.
In addition you have a company that doesn't really understand the ideas of 
partnership; "A Microsoft partner is just a victim they haven't gotten round 
to yet.", competition;  "Windows [n.]
 A thirty-two bit extension and GUI shell to a sixteen bit patch 
to an eight bit operating system originally coded for a four bit 
microprocessor and sold by a two-bit company that can't stand one 
bit of competition." or standards; "I love the way that Microsoft follows 
standards . . . in the same way that fish follow migrating caribou.".

If MSFT wanted to increase interoperability with 3rd party companies, all it 
would need to do is:
1) Use existing standards and do not extend them.
2) Any changes/extensions are adopted through the existing standards 
processes.
3) Properly document and publish its file and transmission formats. Not like 
with the "OpenXML", "this is how Word 6 did this" style. Though from 
listening to numerous netcasts from Jeremy Allison, it's possible that MSFT 
has not properly documented them in the first place or even lost the 
documentation.
4) Not use its BogoPatents to threaten 3rd party companies.

Bruce S.

On Friday 15 June 2007 10:57:48 Gordon Dunlop wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> When Microsoft started these license agreements with Linux distros, the
> reason given was that is was for to increase interoperability between
> operating systems and hence a benefit to the customer that uses
> heterogenious IT environments. Commentators have said Microsoft has a
> hidden agenda and gave different reasons for this.
>
> Now, what are the Taylug subscribers opinions of what Microsoft's hidden
> agenda could be. I am sure we would get a lot of variance in opinion and
> somewhere through it all snippets of truth would emerge helping to give
> a clearer overall picture.
>
> Gordon
>
>
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