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Ballmer Admits 'Linux Changed Our Game'

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the sir-is-that-what-you-meant-to-say dept.

wackybrit writes: "We've all known Linux has got Microsoft all worried, but they've always denied it. On Monday at a conference in LA, however, Steve Ballmer (of Microsoft) confessed that the FUD surrounding Linux isn't quite what it was made out to be. The Register has also covered the story in an easier to read fashion. They point out that Microsoft has just changed a page on their site which originally derided Linux, but now simply states what 'Windows does better.'"

4 of 628 comments (clear)

  1. How do they do it? by tedDancin · · Score: 4, Funny

    My favourite Steve Ballmer quote from this article:

    "We haven't figured out how to be lower priced than Linux"

    (:

    --

    Ladies, form queue here -->
    1. Re:How do they do it? by Skevin · · Score: 5, Funny

      Actually, I recently ran two webservers on identical machines... the exact same machine in fact, at the same time.
      I don't get it - I had them running side by side: IIS with SQL Server 7 on my Windows side; and Apache on my SCO distro out of VMWare from Alpha WINE under SuSE from yet another instance of VMWare on my Win2K destop with data backend consisting of an early Windows MySQL port whose ODBC DSN is traversed across two localhost subnets, thanks to a hacked Samba mod for allowing OLEDB share names over NETBIOS connections.
      Guess which setup ran faster? I could hardly believe my eyes! Everyone here on /. keeps touting the speed of Linux, but no one can tell me what I need to buy to make my Linux setup run faster! This OSS hype is obviously BS.

      Solomon

      PS: But is all seriousness, my reluctance to make my move is based on the apparent lack of Sequencing software and hardware support for my music equipment (MIDI interfaces, multitracking recorder cards, etc.). What *does* exist out there only seems to be able to recognize a (*cough* *cough*) Sound Blaster MIDI port. Any suggestions?

      --
      "Twice half-assed makes an ass whole." --Solomon K. Chang
  2. Re:Wow, these execs are dumber than I thought. by $carab · · Score: 5, Funny
    How about selling Microsoft Action Figures for 30 bucks a pop? There could be a role playing game and everything! This could easily drive the price of Win XP Home to 10 bucks a CD.

    Imagine the glint in a child's eyes when they see their new:
    1. Steve "Basher" Ballmer - Crushing Competitors as easily as he totally freaks out about Microsofts "Message". Now with optional Club to beat you choice of AOL icon, Penguin, or Whatever-the hell-that-demonic-OSX-Platypus is!
    2. Bill "Money" Gates - Teached Children the values of sound financial management - buy low, sell exorbitant. Also instructs on how to "borrow" TCP stacks from BSD Licensed software! Now comes with optional "Small Carribean Island with mountain shaped like Skull" (150$ retail) - a perfect lair.
    3. Richard "Get a Job you Hippie" Stallman - Comes with Stinkbomb activated when you touch his software - The message is clear Long hair and free software are Communist. The ultimate in family values - America, Microsoft!
    4. Evil Tux - Painfully teaches children early about the dangers of playing with penguins - Keep him away from face and Groin areas!
    5. Bob, the Well-Bankrolled FUD Software Study producer - Just poke his belly, he'll come up with classics like..."Linux is less secure than Windows", "Nobody ever got fired for buying Microsoft", "The first hit is free!" and everybodys favorite "Did I mention youre going to need some backup servers?"


    6. Microsoft - The Toys. The Game. Resistance is futile!
  3. Re:What does Microsoft has to fear from Linux? by pubjames · · Score: 5, Funny

    So just what makes Microsoft fear Linux so much?

    MS Rep: So, the deal is $20 per unit then.

    Dell Rep: Actually, you know, we've really been seriously looking at this Linux thing. We've been considering offering it as an option on our desktop machines.

    MS Rep:People aren't going to buy that. Can you just sign here please?

    Dell Rep:We're not so sure. Many customers are really mad as MS at the moment. If we heavily promoted Linux on the desktop...

    MS Rep:Ok, I hear what your saying. $15 a unit.

    Dell Rep:$10.

    MS Rep:You've got to be kidding!

    Dell Rep:We actually have a few people working on our own Linux distribution at the moment. With StarOffice on top, well, it's real pretty. You want to see it?

    MS RepOk, OK! $10 a unit it is.

    One of the main reasons MS must fear Linux is because it gives OEMs a serious negociating position. MS aren't used to that.