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Will Microsoft Open Windows Source Code? (No!)

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the wouldn't-that-be-crazy dept.

mTor writes, "Cnet.com is reporting in this story that Microsoft is willing to open the source to Windows to settle its case with government. " Personally I think this would be pretty sweet. It'd definitely be a boost for projects like WINE. Wonder what license they would use? *grin*. CT : several folks sent us this Yahoo story where Bill denies the cnet story linked above.

8 of 571 comments (clear)

  1. Who cares? by Uruk · · Score: 5

    Dammit, I'm tired of this "Take over the world" mentality. I don't particularly care if linux has 2% or 20% of market share. I just like to use linux because as a developer, it kicks tremendous ass. Windows, on the other hand, might kick ass if you spent several thousand dollars on development tools, but it still wouldn't be as cool as linux.

    For 99% of people, the computer is to get something done. If you can get your job done, and work with other people, then who cares what OS you're using? Just use the one you like most! For me, that happens to be Linux.

    So basically, who cares if a bunch of hackers improve Windows? If it was GPL'd today, it would probably take 2 years of hacking at least before it even approached linux in terms of stability.

    --
    -- Truth goes out the door when rumor comes innuendo. -- Groucho Marx
  2. Not Entirely... by David+Mooney · · Score: 5

    They interpreted this to mean 'opening up the Windows source code'...

    After the on-camera portion of the interview was completed, Gates was asked whether the company would be willing to open the Windows source code in order to settle the case, and Gates said ``yes.'' He then added, smiling, ``if that's all it took.''

  3. "source available" is not Open Source by Jay+Carlson · · Score: 5

    please Please PLEASE do not confuse "I can read the source code for Product Foo" with "Product Foo is Open Source". I can read the source code for Java, but I'd be in a world of pain if I did anything with it that Sun didn't like. Especially if I wanted to sell it.

  4. Microsoft now denying this by er333 · · Score: 5

    ABC News is re porting that Microsoft is denying Gates ever said this. From the article: "Microsoft Corp. strongly denied that Chairman Bill Gates had told Bloomberg Television in an interview that he would be willing to open the Windows operating system source code antitrust suit with the U.S. Justice Department. "Bill did not make any of the comments attributed to him about the settlement," Microsoft spokesman Jim Cullinan said. "The comments they said Bill made are just not true."

  5. Less in my mind by Cplus · · Score: 5

    We're talking about ridiculous amounts of code here. IF it was open sourced most people/"hackers" wouldn't even be able to compile it. It would take a huge amount of concerted effort to release a *fixed* Windows.

    The problem with this in my mind is that the majority of Winusers are very apathetic towards their OS. They don't get bug fixes, hell a lot of them don't even know what that means. If Windows code is released it's available for the scrutiny of people who want to do damage. These people.....should they exist and find/take advantage of the weaknesses in Windows code could take out a lot of users at the knees.

    I hear a lot of people say that security through obscurity doesn't work but in this case I have to insist that when you take away the obscurity you show all of the flaws. It really hasn't seemed that hard thus far to find security problems.....imagine it multiplied on this scale.

    --
    "Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality." -- Dalai Lama
  6. Microsoft recants open source offer by Platonic1 · · Score: 5

    It turns out that MS is NOT offering to open source Windows. I got this from MSN Investor, a site that requires a login, so I'm posting the relevant part of the artcile here:

    Microsoft denies Gates offered to open Windows code
    February 17, 2000 08:38 PM
    SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp.MSFT on Thursday strongly denied that Chairman Bill Gates had told Bloomberg Television in an interview that he would be willing to open the Windows operating system source code to competitors to settle an antitrust suit with the U.S. Justice Department.

    "Bill did not make any of the comments attributed to him about the settlement," Microsoft spokesman Jim Cullinan said. "The comments they said Bill made are just not true."
    _____________
    I'll bet / with my Net / I can get / those things yet.

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    I'll bet / with my Net / I can get / those things yet.
    --Dr. Seuss
  7. Could this make Windows more of a threat to Linux? by Wraithlyn · · Score: 5

    What happens if Windows goes Open Source, an entire legion of pissed off Win32 hackers goes to work on it and it becomes stable and secure, and starts winning back market share from Linux?

    Another good question: Would this be a bad thing? Real competition would probably improve Windows AND Linux.

    --
    "Mind, as manifested by the capacity to make choices, is to some extent present in every electron." -Freeman Dyson
  8. They cant open source their OS code! by jailbrekr2 · · Score: 5

    When people ask if I am ever going to cut my hair short (My hair is currently below my shoulders, and growing), I respond by saying 'I'll cut my hair when Microsoft goes open source!'.

    This is not good. Nope. Not good at all.

    JB

    --
    Feed The Need[goatse.cx]