Microsoft Names Linux its Number Two Risk 485
Jorkapp writes "Microsoft has officially moved Linux up to the Number 2 Risk to the company (With Economic Environment at No. 1). Bill Gates has taken the threat very seriously, and has identified Linux and non-commercial software as 'out there and very pervasive.' In response, Microsoft has dropped the price of Windows CE and opened the embedded OS to developers. This will not only allow developers to view and modify CE, but also distribute software incorporated to the modified code."
By publicizing this... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:By publicizing this... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:By publicizing this... (Score:5, Insightful)
Publicity==Publicity (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:By publicizing this... (Score:5, Interesting)
For example, working for a small, university library, I have to deal with a small budget in a shrinking economy. I would love nothing better than to switch over to Linux. However, we still have a few programs that we rely on that requires Windows. Now, if our vendors were to write their programs for Linux, then the switch would be a real possibility. A pipedream? Maybe, but then again a lot of things started out the same way and are now not only a reality, we have come to depend upon them (e.g. computers, cell phones, etc.)
Oh, and I just can't leave this post without something funny, and considering the wording of the topic, it screams for this one.
Number One, I order you to take a Number Two. -- Beavis
Re:By publicizing this... (Score:3, Interesting)
If you want software for a company all you can use to cause it's development on Linux is demand with money. "I have a need for your software but we're on Linux now.
Re:By publicizing this... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:By publicizing this... (Score:5, Insightful)
That is why free software is only #2 on Bill's list.
Re:By publicizing this... (Score:5, Funny)
Well, mate we know that the economy is in a bind, but if you don't sign up for our new and improved licensing extortion plan it will be mighty difficult to open your DRM protected word documents by January 1, 2007.
Re:When #2 becomes #1 (Score:3, Informative)
It's not growing as much as all of us would like, for sure.
20 Minutes into the future... (Score:4, Funny)
UNIX replacement. (Score:5, Interesting)
I'd rather have Linux with no dos/windows/macintosh emulation on a nice UltraSparc than Lindows on a PC, even if that latter had a perfected fork of Wine installed.
I think that Microsoft knows they can't best Linux in the server market, where buyers are more educated. They are more afraid of losing bundling with the smaller PC companies. How many people are running a $199 Walmart C3 with an illegal copy of Windows?
As for the Windows CE source, where is it? If they expect us to pay money to work on their code for them, they are sadly missing the beauty of OSS.
Re:UNIX replacement. (Score:3, Insightful)
Actually, even GPL allows that kind of distribution. I can sell you GPL'ed code (and source) and not give you the source if you don't buy it, since I'm not distributing the product before you buy it :)
If one limits the redistribution, then it's no longer Free Software. I'd like to know what
Re:By publicizing this... (Score:3, Insightful)
NOT WITH MY MULTI-LAYERED TINFOIL HAT!!!! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:By publicizing this... (Score:4, Informative)
Microsoft made Netscape their # 1 threat back in 1996...and as they say, the rest is history and so is Netscape
Look what happened to them.
Microsoft also zeroed in on Palm back in 1998. Today, Microsoft has gone from 0% share to some 32% and rising share in the pda market, meanwhile Palm OS share has been falling every single year sine.
As for Linux, figures from Netcraft this week are shwoing Windows 2003 taking share from linux in the web server market, with some 8000 linux servers having switched to Windows 2003 already!
I wouldn't be so pleased if I were you.
From what I have seen , Microsoft has trained its guns on linux but good. Watch out!
Re:By publicizing this... (Score:5, Funny)
decision. Some VP probably decreed it and the techs had no choice but to
comply.
I would only start worrying if it turns out that the migrations were,
in fact, due to technical decisions.
The Register had a link to the netcraft uptime summary of Colt's
internet facing server that migrated from Linux to WS2003. Since
migrating, the machine hasn't had an uptime of more than 4.45 days.
Just thought someone might find that interesting.
Re:By publicizing this... (Score:3, Interesting)
Until '94, Gates thought that the world would be connected by MSNet and that the Internet would fade away. When he realized he was wrong, they began implementing extortionware/IP.
Maybe they will offer some of their key technologies on Linux, but only if the user loads some type of software drm module. I dunno, just speculating.
Re:By publicizing this... (Score:3, Informative)
Re:By publicizing this... (Score:4, Insightful)
They did ignore Linux, they have made fun of Linux, now they're fighting.
Really, 1 and 2 are the same thing (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Really, 1 and 2 are the same thing (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Really, 1 and 2 are the same thing (Score:5, Interesting)
That is actually a very good point but I would take it one step further. The economuc environment and saturated market are THE reasons for Licensing 6.0. Licensing 6.0/Software Assurance is an attempt by Microsoft to maintain an economy of scale in a stagnating market. They know that without Licensing 6.0 they will be unable to invest as much time and work into the further development of Windows.
Along comes Linux.... Now Licensing 6.0 doesn't look so hot to the corporate customer. Nor does product activation, etc. There are parts of these practices that actually *detract* from the use value of the software. So regardless, Windows becomes more expensive as time goes on.
So the real problem is that Linux restricts Microsoft's reactions to the economic times in ways that no other competitor can.
Great humor (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Great humor (Score:3, Funny)
This article is shaping up to be pretty funny.
RELEASE THE ZEALOTS!
Re:Great humor (Score:5, Funny)
It's so we can slashdot Microsoft.
Well I hope you're happy! (Score:2, Funny)
I lay the blame solely on you!
(Good Job, and thanks for everything!)
Wow.. CE? (Score:5, Funny)
It's a start, I guess.
Obligitory, of course (Score:5, Funny)
2. They laugh at you
3. They fight you <----- YOU ARE HERE
4. You win
Re:Obligitory, of course- more fun here! (Score:3, Insightful)
The Economy!! How can the economy be a 'risk'??
Okay I see... Economy bad--> People find MSware expensive --> People start to think --> discover MS is lousy despite all Gartner reports --> read Slashdot --> get to learn about this thing called Linux --> adopt it...yes!
All risks lead to Linux!!
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Re:Obligitory, of course- more fun here! (Score:3, Interesting)
Okay. Let me explain it to you.
The economy is starting to show signs of getting somewhat better. This is bad, because people will begin to spend money again. This means some money will be spent on computer upgrades. This means that vendors of non-Microsoft products might see an improvement in their business. This is bad.
When the economy is bad, this is good for Microsoft. Microsoft can weather the storm just fine. But vendors of competitive pr
Re:Obligitory, of course (Score:2)
2. They laugh at you ----- WE ARE HERE
3. They fight you
4. You win
Notice the top posts here are "Funny"
Re:your sig (Score:3, Insightful)
Funny thing is that I looked at that website and it reminded me of the reasoning that religious zealots have on the subject of evolution: "You say that all live evolves through evolution, so show me the missing link between monkeys and humans. You cannot, so this proves that God, and not evolution, created man."
Also, a lot of the quotes (which can quite easily be torn out of their context) are some number of years old. A lot can happen in a few years of scientific research.
Linux no threat... (Score:5, Funny)
If Microsoft would stick to hardware, such as keyboards, mice and joysticks, elements that Linux and the Open Source movement, and Free Software Foundation has no interest in, Microsoft would soon realize that their only competition is Logitech.
-Rusty
Re:Linux no threat... (Score:5, Insightful)
Actually this is not funny at all - I'd say Insightful.
Let's realise that Linux is successful 'cos MS divided the h/w folks, and that led to competition and commodity pricing, at the same time market aggregation.
In a way, MS not getting into h/w is good for Linux. OTOH if they make a modified XBox, say XXBox (what about XXXBox
Be careful what you pray for!
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Re:Linux no threat... (Score:5, Interesting)
Of course, this is also why MS is successful; if they had tied themselves to a single hardware vendor who was therefore also capable of selling with fat profit margins and little competition, many more of us would be using Macs right now.
OTOH if they make a modified XBox, say XXBox (what about XXXBox
They've already got the equivalent of Palladium on the XBox, and it's already been cracked. The XXBox would be cracked too, as will Palladium for the PC. In order to make Palladium work, even if they had magic reverse engineering proof hardware, Microsoft would need to only sign software that is 100% free of exploitable errors. I doubt they could write software like that themselves, much less expect everyone else in the world to write it, if they still expect to sign other companies' software to maintain a facade of market competition.
Re:Linux no threat... (Score:4, Informative)
Needs more detail (Score:5, Insightful)
What he actually said was "Linux and non-commercial software" (emphasis mine). The question is, what is the greatest threat to MS - Linux vs Windows? Or maybe it's NetBSD versus WinCE. Or SAP/DB vs SQL 2000. Or Java vs
There's a lot more to "non commercial software" than just one OS kernel, you know. Also remember that Linux is a bigger threat to Unix vendors than it is to MS, because the barriers to migration are lower. I would be very surprised if Sun didn't consider "Lintel" to be its #1 threat.
Re:Needs more detail (Score:3, Insightful)
Frequently as this BS is put out I find it hard to believe. Why should Linux be a threat to Unix. Let's take Solaris. Why would someone buy a Sun system? 'cos many folks write s/w for it - great CAD/CAM s/w, telco s/w, graphics etc..... there's a lot of stuff avbl for Solaris on a cafeteria basis. Same with IRIX (film and video) and HP-UX.
Not with Linux. You gotta go hunting for folks t
Re:Needs more detail (Score:5, Interesting)
There sure is. Not only that, but "Linux" -- or rather, the universe of free-software Unix-like components -- is not entirely a noncommercial space. It contains a lot of commercial competitors to Microsoft, such as Red Hat, Zope Corporation, IBM, and so forth -- it isn't just volunteers hacking code for fun. It's these commercial competitors -- not a bunch of random hackers -- who will eat Microsoft's lunch if they get the chance.
("Commercial" is not the same as "proprietary". There is plenty of commerce possible, and existent, in the world of free software.)
It doesn't have to be that way. Because the portability barriers between GNU/Linux and Solaris are low, customers can migrate easily, yes -- but so can good code. For instance, Apache is often thought of as "Linux software" by people who don't know very much, but it also ships with Solaris.
Sun has to compete more closely with free-software systems than Microsoft does ... but Sun can also benefit much more easily from free-software innovation than Microsoft can.
(Of course, portability is not the only reason for this; ideology is, as well. One of the planks of Fundamentalist Gatesism is that free software doesn't do anyone any good. And they call us fanatics?)
Re:Needs more detail (Score:4, Interesting)
That is an excellent point.
One of the planks of Fundamentalist Gatesism is that free software doesn't do anyone any good. And they call us fanatics?
Oh, Gates has no problems with "free as in beer" - look at IE, for example.
Re:Needs more detail (Score:4, Insightful)
Its LAMP vs. IIS/ASP/MSQL. Microsoft's standard web-server line and the Apache/P[erl|hp|ython]/MySQL combo are both relatively equal in capabilities, support, and stability. Its the one area where Free is more than worth it, FAR more.
Then there's the web admins' impressions. People aren't taking Microsoft seriously when they try to make inroads into the J2EE/Oracle domain with
In order to take on the web heavyweights like BEA, IBM, and Oracle, they need to show that they're better than the low-end free stuff like MySQL and Apache. And they aren't succeeding in that. Thus, Linux and friends is the current threat...its a threat to the future they REALLY want to control.
I take it as a compliment (Score:2, Insightful)
Linux names Microsoft as number 2 risk... (Score:2)
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Cool (Score:5, Interesting)
Tho I personally believe Microsoft's biggest threat are themselves. They sometimes do make cool stuff (Media Player 6.4) but then quicky ruin it (Media Player 7+).
Re:Cool (Score:3, Informative)
You can get a similar version of Windows Media Player 6.4 by typing mplayer2 at the run dialog box.
Sunny Dubey
Re:Cool (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Cool (Score:5, Insightful)
So linux is a threat now? (Score:5, Interesting)
MSFT is playing to your vanities (Score:3, Interesting)
Err, how about when Linux zealots realize that MS is just playing to their vanities. Where exactly is the great Linux desktop rollout? Sure, there are inroads to the server-side of things, but Linux is also pushing out Solaris, not just NT.
Why would MS list linux as their #2 threat is they don't mean it? It answers a couple important questions:
1. Why do your products cost so much
Eh? (Score:2)
Re:Eh? (Score:2, Funny)
There goes MS's board of Directors. Next week the interns sit up front.
Microsoft is like USA (Score:2, Insightful)
Luckily Microsoft just can't use real weapons to beat them. They will have to make better products for cheaper price.
Competition is good if there's no weapons involved.
this is why MSFT is not a stock to own (Score:5, Insightful)
I predict that very soon MSFT will have to lower substantially the cost of Office, further eroding its margins. Better start cashing in Bill.
Re:this is why MSFT is not a stock to own (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:this is why MSFT is not a stock to own (Score:4, Informative)
Microsoft profit up 26% [newsday.com]. No sign of any eroded margins there!
Windows CE (Score:3, Interesting)
---
1-800-759-0700
Problem 1 and 2 (Score:5, Interesting)
1. MS can't buy the economy
2. MS can't buy Linux
So traditional MS strategies don't work.
Surprising (Score:2, Funny)
I'm quite surprised that Linux isn't #1 on the list of threats. I don't think Microsoft has too much to worry about individual use of Linux, but rather companies switching to Linux to avoid paying the hefty licensing fees. And I don't think lowering the price of CE will help much. As I stated, the threat's with companies getting fed up with licensing.
I don't think opening the source code will help much either. It costs a lot to get the code, you aren't allowed to recompile it, and you're probably boun
Flawed logic or FUD? (Score:5, Insightful)
This is subtle but very, very important. Open Source "gatekeepers," like Linus, only get the job of gatekeeper because they are the most popular. And there is nothing stopping anyone else from releasing their own version and taking over the project. However, non-Linus releases must COMPETE with Linus' releases for MINDSHARE based on MERIT. This is truly an evolutionary process.
MS is simply the gate keeper because they have a monopoly. There is no competition based on merit, no evolution takes place. If MS is the default gate keeper, what you contribute automatically belongs to them. Congratulations, you are now the most poorly paid employee at MS.
Re:Flawed logic or FUD? (Score:4, Insightful)
Actually, only the Open Source community has gate-keepers. The closed source giants have toll booths instead - a one-way traffic. And if you don't like the picture, you can't get your money back as well.
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Re:Flawed logic or FUD? (Score:5, Interesting)
Microsoft doesn't let anyone but itself re-compile the code to Windows
I may freely build my Open Source executables, along with any changes I've made to it.
If re-compiling Windows where an option, the DRM and Palladium would not be possible.
os x? (Score:5, Insightful)
I think apple is a much larger threat to M$ now than they've ever been do to os x and the attraction of developers they've been able to aquire over the last few years.
I switched six months ago and have been encouraging a lot of others to do the same.
I'm also curious what the next big app. that directly threatens M$ will be- I'm sure keynote was just a starter!
Re:os x? (Score:5, Insightful)
The fact that Linux is setting itself up as the 'middleware' of all OSes is really what makes it so dangerous. When you buy an NT server, you buy NT workstations. When you buy an Apple server, you buy Apple workstations. When you buy a linux server, you buy whatever the hell you want.
That is why it is so dangerous.
Doesn't Matter (Score:2, Interesting)
And so, the war began... (Score:5, Funny)
Script kiddies and geeks, UN*X gurus and bearded free-software prophets all sharpened their r00tkits and compilers and started beating louder and louder on the war drums...
Gee, I love the smell of FUD in the morning... It smells like... like... Victory! =)
[and all of this is said with tongue firmly in cheek, of course!]
Re:And so, the war began... (Score:3, Insightful)
If that's the case, victory needs a shower.
Has Windows reached a plateau? (Score:5, Insightful)
At the same time, all Linux has to do is play catch up (becoming more user-friendly and so on) to seriously threaten Windows in the next few years. Being free, it is quite competitive.
I can only see Linux gaining territory in the future, while Windows has everything to loose. If Linux attains a critical mass where game developers start making games for it, I will probably switch. And I bet I wont miss Microsoft one bit.
Bill Gates has all the reasons in the world to feel threatened. I mean nobody expects to pay for any of the software you download anymore. The market is becoming increasingly eroded as it only takes one good free alternative for everybody to choose that one over the one that costs money..
May I have some of what you're on? (Score:5, Insightful)
Second, I can't believe you say you like Win2k better than WinXP. Perhaps in a geeky "I like to do everything for myself, no help please" type of way, but for the general user (and the people who buy computers nonetheless) they want to be able to just plug their new digital camera in and Windows to be able to install the correct drivers and even pull up the correct program to download their pictures.
In terms of usability, Microsoft needs to play catch-up to Apple, but Linux needs to play catch up to MS. In terms of security, etc. Microsoft (if implemented correctly, ie. not everyone is given admin rights!) is par for the course. I will guarantee that if Linux were the market leader, you'd see large amounts of virii for Linux as well. Many times it's the admin who doesn't update/secure it properly who's to blame -- not the OS.
I agree with you mostly, but there will never be a plateau in technology. Not until my computer's name is HAL.
Re:May I have some of what you're on? (Score:4, Interesting)
Well, maybe so, but there are limits to how effective any code base and methodology can be. There are reasons to suspect that the Microsoft approach will soon or has already reached a point of diminishing returns in terms of value added per unit effort. It can always be made better, of course, but that doesn't mean it can always be made better fast enough.
Even if true, this doesn't mean Stallmanesque pure open source will win either. I think a hybrid model (see OSX) may be the best. The point is less about morality or motivation, and more that Microsoft's high-pressure release-first fix-later approach has left it with a huge, bloated, unrepairable code base.
Look again at your analogy. You can add motors to your 18th century boat and make it faster, but it's not going to win a race head-to-head against a modern speedboat designed and built with modern methods and materials.
I can't believe you say you like Win2k better than WinXP.
I have seen my mother-in-law try to switch to XP from W98 to manage her photography hobby. The switch seems to have gratuitously confused her. In the end she is marginally less effective. As for me, when I get roped into support tasks for her, I have to deal with a smarmy and aesthetically revolting UI.
Even leaving aside the licensing and spyware aspects, I for one definitely strongly prefer older version of Windows to XP, and have no plans to move any of my Win9x boxes to any current Microsoft OS, nor to purchase any Intel boxes with any version on XP on them in future. I have occasion to run Win95, Win98, Red Hat, and Debian, but mostly I use OSX, sometimes with a Win98 VirtualPC.
By the way I have nothing against decent MS software. Excel is nice, and if it weren't a security risk Outlook, (which has some great features to outweigh its cluttered design) would be very appealing. I recommend MS Entourage on OSX + Palm as the best PIM combination at present, despite the many things I like about iCal. On the other hand I think MS Word is garbage and a curse on humankind. It cannot be repaired. The underlying data structures are too broken.
Has Windows reached a plateau? Yep (Score:3, Interesting)
In a down economy, the next cool thing better be cheap! and online! and be really useful! ...did I mention cheap...
Remember Bill ma
Re:Has Windows reached a plateau? (Score:3, Interesting)
Good point. People upgraded from Windows 95/98 to Windows 2000 and marvelled at how stable it was in comparison. Wouldn't it be ironic if Microsoft finally fixing the largest stability bugs became the #1 driver behind people not upgrading anymore? "Why should I buy Windows 2003 when Windows 2000 doesn't crash anymore?"
(Note: as a techie, I don't think Windows 2000/2003 is exceptionally stable. It still pale
cold mean trouble... (Score:4, Insightful)
WinCE may or may not be close, source-wise, to actual Desktop Windows of any flavor, but doesn't this raise the spectre of copyright violation? If WinCE source becomes easily available, Microsoft will soon be able to run around accusing all kinds of Open Source projects of stealing their stuff. Never mind that none of it may be actually useful... Just the possibility of being able to stall OSS projects might be enough to persuade Microsoft to start down the same road as SCO.
What number is Steve B? (Score:5, Funny)
Coincidence? I think now! (Score:5, Funny)
Not just Linux! (Score:3, Insightful)
Remember, there's open source software available for Windows. Quite a lot of it actually. Open office clones are more of a threat than an operating system kernel (which is what "Linux" is).
Times are Changing (Score:3, Interesting)
This includes proprietary software. (isn't that what MS is saying?)
It also includes flushing out the old music industry and more...
So much has been integrated into a larger system of "old business" that as one industry reacts to change other industries tied in integration are as well tugged on.
Note that it's the software industry that tugs on the entertainment industry....
The wave being caused by open source (OSI definition - not MS's definition) is being felt further than just the old software industry.
Economic Environment....
Don't nobody tell MS that there list is incorrect, they will eventually figure it out, when they no longer can ignore their old ways are not working, cause everyone else knows it.
Guess this tells us what MS's next line of irrationality is going to be with the politicians.
"To save our (double speak meaning MSs personal economy) economy you have to outlaw Open Source and then sentance all criminals to have to use our software. A matter of homeland security, you understand...??"
Major point of free software (Score:4, Insightful)
Free software sets the level for what people can do without help from companies. So, if a company wants to sell me some software, it has to demonstrably do something that I can't do for myself (with free software).
By forcing companies like Microsoft to lower prices, rethink strategies etc, free software improves condition in the industry, even for those that don't use it.
spinning even in defeat (Score:5, Insightful)
Open source software is, of course, "commercial" software: it's at least as good as closed source software, it's used by many commercial enterprises, and it's sold commercially.
MS threatened by OS - their best option is obvious (Score:5, Interesting)
what will MS do? they have hundreds of very talented programmers, incredible distribution & support capacity, not to mention $30 billion in cash. after all, customers simply want the outputs of all that technology.
if MS would embrace OpenSource as another input to its products and add credibility and customer service they would have an incredible value proposition.
i predict an MS-Linux release in 2-3 years.
Microsoft's strategy (Score:4, Insightful)
This is FUD intended to align "Shared Source" with Free Software/Open Source. The main difference is of course, that if you disagree with the so-called "gatekeepers" (what a weird analogy), you can just take the source code and run (make a fork).
You can not do that with "Shared Source". And Microsoft knows that. And most of us here know that. But Microsoft hopes that many people will not see the difference (or won't care).
Microsoft's strategy is scaringly obvious.
Number 1 Risk? (Score:3, Insightful)
*cough* Slammer *cough*
Then Linux.
Oh to be a DOJ employee... (Score:3, Funny)
That's some of the best marketing Linux ever had (Score:5, Interesting)
Essentially, Microsoft has had to make the concession in order to rally their own troops to fighting Linux aggressively. To continue saying, Linux is worthless and not a real credible answer, is to look like you have your head in the sand. The Munich deal made them realize that Linux is no longer being used to just squeeze a better deal out of MS, but people will actually implement it if MS doesn't come up with a good deal up front. I think that is what surprised them: they probably never believed that Munich was serious about putting in Linux.
They've simply been hoping that this point would never come, when they had to actually acknowledge Linux as a serious competitor (and not just for anti-trust reasons; they would call a Vic-20 viable competition in order to get DOJ to leave them alone).
the number one risk is free spread of information (Score:3, Interesting)
I would argue that Microsoft's number one risk is actually the free spread of information over the internet. This is something that can not be controlled (yet).
In the old days IT decisions were made with very limited information. Possibly Gartner group published recommendations, maybe from reading trade journals that were several months out of date.
A popular saying was "well nobody got fired using [insert company here] products". It was all about risk management. Go with the biggest baddest company, and at least you're protected in some way if things blow up. That was the theory.
With easier access to information folks are realizing that this theory doesn't always hold true. When the latest windows/exchange/internet explorer vulnerability is unleashed, now you're just part of the bigger collective that is screwed.
It becomes harder for companies to do damage control when the facts spread quickly and undergo so much analysis by people not on their payroll.
When the internet functions as a self regulating corporate BS filter, then it becomes the biggest single threat to Microsoft.
Context, details, analysts look to Linux's future (Score:4, Interesting)
This story needs to be put in context with recent developments and crowing about Windows being chosen over Linux. The biggest story out of this surprising admission is that analysts and large organizations are starting to recognize the value proposition of Linux and Open Source, as described in the rejected post below. The most telling comment is in the quotation in boldface, which lends support to Mitch Kapor's predictions [slashdot.org].
Microsoft Ranks Linux its Number Two Threat
While most media are focusing on Microsoft's growing sales [nwsource.com] and Microsoft Windows Server 2003 replacing Linux servers [zdnet.co.uk] based on the June 2003 Netcraft survey [slashdot.org], (also at SMH [smh.com.au], but disputed by the Register [theregister.co.uk]) there's a more interesting story to Microsoft's latest earnings report and conference call. Speaking about the top five risks for Microsoft, CFO John Connors [informationweek.com] said, ''The general economic environment is risk and driver number one. Linux and non-commercial software is risk number two [techweb.com].'' The recent Munich win for Linux [slashdot.org] is partly credited for making Microsoft take Linux and OS software seriously [slashdot.org]. Said one analyst about future threats, ''People are underestimating Linux on the desktop. They're going to be surprised at how quickly Linux's threat will be an issue on the desktop.''
Linux will reach the masses at work (Score:3, Insightful)
One important reason is that the difference in price doesn't matter so much for private users. Of course, Linux is free, but most users - and "normal computer users even more so" - usually want to have a convenient up-to-date distribution on a DVD or CDs, and if you buy new versions from time to time, Linux won't be much cheaper any more.
That is, of course, very different for companies and institutions, even if they always buy the latest version of their distribution, they can use it for an unlimited number of computers. Therefore, I think it can be expected that more companies and institutions will use Linux (of course, some can't because they use specialised software developped for Windows, but many can), cities like Munich or Schwäbisch Hall are a show what might happen in many other places, as well. Then, many people will get to know Linux at work, and because they get used to it, many of them will also use it at home and recommend it to others, and educational institutions will have to deal with Linux "because that's what you will be likely to see at work".
I think that if Linux is going to take over a significant share of the desktop, it is probably going to happen in such a way. The grassroot movement for Linux is quite strong, but I don't think it can reach more than a few per cent of the population if companies and public organisations choosing Linux to save money don't play their role.
Isn't this a good thing? (Score:3, Insightful)
Kudos to Linux!
Just how many idiots are there on Slashdot? (Score:5, Insightful)
If there ever was a time to ENCOURAGE comparisons between Windows and Linux, THAT TIME IS NOW. You need to consider the audience, people. The audience is NOT GEEKS. It is all of those under-trained, under-skilled folks who still need a computer to do something for them with a minimum of input or instruction.
Microsoft wants those people looking at Linux TODAY, not a year or two from now, when Linux is much better, or when skill sets have improved to make it less difficult to do a proper install.
For every battle against Linux that Microsoft loses today, they will win 20-30 others, because lets face it, the bulk of the people who use computers, both in business and in a personal setting are blithering idiots compared to those of us who know how to use and extend Linux.
Microsoft is brilliant(as usual) in encouraging people to start making comparisons NOW as opposed to later, because if people are turned off by the complexities of Linux now, they are unlikely to revisit the issue anytime soon. Once Microsoft has their dollars, the battle is over for at least a decade.
Some of you folks need to go out and buy "The Prince", and learn a little about winners and losers.
Re:Just how many idiots are there on Slashdot? (Score:4, Informative)
Home users don't care who Microsoft thinks is a threat. Only corporate people do, and they're not the ones who deal with the complexities of computers. I've been selling and supporting IT solutions to small and mid-size businesses for over 7 years, and customers do understand that Linux is the best value out there.
Maybe the
This shows that the SCO lawsuit will fail (Score:5, Insightful)
Fact 0: Microsoft could buy SCO for a single day's worth of revenue.
Fact 1: SCO claims that without their permission, nobody can use Linux.
Fact 2: Microsoft knows that Linux is one of their biggest threat to profits.
Fact 3: Microsoft has not bought SCO.
The natural conclusion of these facts is that Microsoft feels SCO's claim has no merit, and will be struck down in court. Rather than buying SCO and expediting the court-case so that Linux can be quashed immediately, they've chosen to sit back and allow the unsettled allegation to stir up uncertainty and dissuade potential Linux adopters.
Note: this doesn't mean that Microsoft considers it impossible for SCO to win the case- only that they don't think there's a high probabilty of victory. They benefit from allowing the FUD to continue for as long as possible before the dice are rolled in court. In fact, there's another way they benefit from holding off the verdict: if some companies deploy Linux and then have their operations interrupted by C&D orders in the wake of an SCO victory, it will discourage future corporate adoption of all kinds of Open Source software.
LAMP versus SharePoint (Score:3, Insightful)
Does "business value" mean having a bunch of point-and-clickers take over your IT department? It takes a sixth-grade education to get through a Windows Server 2003 patch upgrade. Know how to click "OK" and you've got the job!
What Microsoft is missing is this: unix sysadmin skills have real value, a value tied up in automating business processes. Investing in off-the-shelf boxed products so you don't have to invest in quality skilled IT people is short-sighted.
Get it straight from the horse's mouth: Microsoft Lessons [gregfolkert.net]
The articles last paragraphs are right on! (Score:3, Insightful)
But the server arena isn't really the one to watch how Microsoft reacts to Linux, said Cherry.
"People are underestimating Linux on the desktop," he said. "They think it's all about the servers, and how Microsoft responds there. They're going to be surprised at how quickly Linux's threat will be an issue on the desktop. Linux will get to be 'just good enough' for the desktop faster than people think."
Maybe that will make Microsoft bump Linux to the top of its risk list.
This is what I've been saying since I first saw screenshots of Enlightenment back in 1998. The moment I, sitting in Front of Windows95 and some ancient Explorer, saw [enlightenment.org]
this, I knew M$ would lose in the end. Software wins by widespread use. Widespread use is achieved by public awareness. And, believe me, public awareness is *not* achieved on servers, no matter how much the difference is. Public awareness is achieved on the Desktop. That's the bottom line.
Having seen previews of KDE 3.2 at the LinuxTag I conclude: Not only has GNU + Linux gained momentum but it is close to reaching critical mass.
These threats might be connected... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Well, well... (Score:2, Funny)
On one hand, MS is losing sales ... on the other, MS doesn't look like the monopoly that it once was. Maybe this will get some of the DOJ and politcal heat off of MS?
Re:In other words (Score:5, Informative)
Re:In other words (Score:3, Informative)
(-1, Irrelevant)
Re:In other words (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:#1 risk (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Did anyone else think this? (Score:3, Insightful)
Looking at the current state of the economy, I'd say that their concern may rather be that they own too much of the said environment.