Linux Receives 20th Birthday Video From Microsoft 368
moonbender writes "The Linux kernel has received birthday wishes from an unexpected direction — a video animation from Microsoft. Quoting The H: 'The video picks up on the strained relationship between Microsoft and Linux by displaying the phrase "Microsoft Vs. Linux" and then showing Tux, the Linux mascot, turning his back on the offer of a birthday cake from Microsoft. After a brief outline of the history between Microsoft and Linux, the video ends with a conciliatory gesture: Tux accepts the birthday cake in his igloo and the video ends with "Happy Birthday" and the editing of the initial phrase to "Microsoft and Linux?' The Linux Foundation has more stuff celebrating the kernel's 20th birthday."
There is no Microsoft vs Linux (Score:5, Insightful)
Only a small (though loud) minority of Linux users believes in a Microsoft vs Linux fight. Linux was created in 1991 to be a POSIX compliant kernel, not to be a competitor to MS. The GNU tools were created to have a free Unix. GNU + Linux is a fine example of open source in the Unix world, and is definitely not a reaction/fight/whatever towards Microsoft.
Re:Yeah, right (Score:5, Insightful)
And if you only support companies without patent lawsuits pending then I think you'll find yourself pretty limited on choices.
Re:Yeah, right (Score:5, Insightful)
They sued Tom Tom for merely using a Linux kernel that included FAT32 support. So basically, everything on the planet that ships with Linux could be sued for the same criteria. Someone needs to stand up to these lawsuits.
Re:Everybody aboard the tinfoilhat-train! (Score:5, Insightful)
"...from Microsoft"? (Score:3, Insightful)
I'm not sure I understand. Based on the summary, this video was supposed to have been created by Microsoft? It was posted by The Linux Foundation and doesn't seem like a video that would be produced by Microsoft (not so much the style or content, but the perspective; it doesn't seem like it's Microsoft telling the story at all).
Instead, it plays like some sort of lead-up to an announcement OSDL/TLF are planning to make...?
Re:There is no Microsoft vs Linux (Score:5, Insightful)
This isn't how it works, though. For those of us who actually remember MS in the 90s (and onto the 00s), it MS vs Linux simply because Linux had the potential to (and, obviously eventually has) become a huge competitor in the server and corporate market if never the desktop market. This is from Microsoft's perspective. Linux was not created as a competitor, but they eventually saw it that way, and have had any number of anti-Linux and anti-FOSS marketing campaigns over the past decade or so, in addition to incompatible changes to protocols, trying to not interoperate, hijack open standards, and simply give their stuff away to keep people from switching.
It's nice that they want to whitewash history and pretend Linux was the snobby competitor that has eventually come to play nicely with them, but it's quite the opposite. If anything, this is the indication we've moved from "then they fight you" to "then you win".
Re:Microsoft and Open Source in General (Score:5, Insightful)
Why didn't you just use sed?
Re:Everybody aboard the tinfoilhat-train! (Score:4, Insightful)
The Linux kernel has received ... from Microsoft.
Clearly this is an attempt to hide patent-encumbered code inside Linux kernel so that Microsoft can sue later!
Either that or Microsoft Office for Linux(tm) is coming soon!*
* MOfL might contain traces of subtile but annoying incompatibilities with Microsoft Office for Windows
Re:Everybody aboard the tinfoilhat-train! (Score:1, Insightful)
I read this as a slight against Linux.
NO WAY?! A Linux fanboy on slashdot assuming its MS trying to be insulting? I never would have expected that to happen or get modded to the highest level.
You guys really do need to rejoin reality. You just make yourselves look like assholes all the time with the continual OMG MS IS DOING SOMETHING SNEAKY TO DESTROY LINUX crap. For once in your life turn off the ignorant paranoia and just move on.
This sort of ignorance and paranoia does the work for Microsoft. They don't have to be assholes, they can be nice to you ... and you'll turn around and make yourself look like an ignorant paranoid asshole for them. You are your own worst enemy, spend less time looking for them in the fields and more time looking for the enemy in the mirror. This childish BS is well past the point of being old.
Your best response would have been to say 'Thanks MS!', Your next best response would have been to ignore it ... but no ... instead you all act like a bunch of whiney bitches who make it clear that no matter what happens you are going to be an asshole to them. What does the rest of the world see, those of the world who don't have your retarded emotional baggage? They see you acting like a bunch of elementary school sore losers, which in turn makes them have even less interest in Linux.