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Microsoft vs. Ximian

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the blatant-Linux-advocacy-in-the-mainstream-press dept.

Kappelmeister writes "The open source movement gets some great mainstream press today as the Washington Post reports tht Ximian's Volunteer 'Army' Fights Microsoft on Open-Source Code. It mentions Linux progress in the server market, Shared Source, and how both sides are courting Mexican President Vincente Fox for use in his 'eMexico' initiative to get 98 percent of the population online. Best of all, though, it tells a lot of people that there is a decent alternative to Microsoft software."

3 of 308 comments (clear)

  1. "Nobel laureates and the like.."? by update() · · Score: 3, Informative
    De Icaza is in the United States on a special "genius" immigration visa typically reserved for Nobel laureates and the like.

    Say what?!? Anyone have a more detailed explanation of this status and who the "geniuses" are who get it?

    Anyway, on a less combatative note than this article, here's KDE's Konqui visiting the Ximian booth at LWCE and trying out GNOME. From Rob Kaper's photo gallery.

  2. Linux vs Microsoft and vice versa by TangoCharlie · · Score: 5, Informative

    I think the Gnome people have got the right idea. But, I'm not sure they're there yet. It is important to focus on the HCI. Apple did just that. The result a superior user experience which has generated fanatical support from its users (OTOH Apple has made many many mistakes which is why Apple Macintosh is a niche market). By focusing on the user interface, the Gnome people counter the biggest single critisism of Linux: usability. In a rather different market, the embedded market (where Linux has already made a significant impact), Microsoft, I see have released thier 2nd beta preview of Windows XP Embedded code named Talisker. See the article in PC World. (Talisker as you may or may not know, is a town on the Isle of Skye, Scotland, famous for its rather distinctive whisky.)

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  3. IBM's Involvement by Eloquence · · Score: 5, Informative
    And International Business Machines Corp. pledged $1 million to help research and develop the free Linux operating system, an alternative to Microsoft Windows.

    Um, wow, $1 million, I guess that shows they really care about Linux. Fortunately, it's really $1 billion :-)