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Is Red Hat the Microsoft of Linux?
RadioheadKid writes "This article featured on eWeek asks the question 'Red Hat: Next Redmond?' It quotes an IBM VP who says, 'There is a backlash against Red Hat from many consumers and government agencies, who fear it is increasingly becoming the Microsoft of the Linux world with respect to its dominance and attitude,' while Red Hat states: 'Our commitment to open source remains absolute, no matter what our competitors are saying.' Is this just some pro-UnitedLinux spin, or a valid concern? What do you think?" Such characterizations are nothing new, but a response on NewsForge from Red Hat's Jeremy Hogan supplies a counterpoint to make the eWeek article worth reading. (Has anyone really seen a Red Hat backlash?)
Must be a slow news day!
This is sensationalist journalism. Just because RedHat is in the OS business, and it happens to be somewhat successful does not automatically mean that it is becoming the next Microsoft. Journalists that have little idea of the architecture and licensing behind the two OS's are the only one that could propose this specious metaphor.
I drink to prepare for a fight; tonight I'm very prepared. -Soda Popinksi
I guess so. Not much back up in the article but the headline is sure catchy.
The situation remains that changing between Linux distributions is like changing your underwear while changing from Windows to Linux (depending on what services you are running) is like a sex change. I know this i've done both. Changed a small server farm between linux distros and changed over from windows to linux that is, not a sex change. I do change my underwear though. I'll just stop typing now....
This comment was generated by a Squadron of Ultra Ninjas
Let's show those evil (evil I say!) bastards at RH. Everyone post an ISO image of their software on the internet! Make copies or said ISOs and sell them for profit! Ha!
Then, use their software on *all* your machines at work, and don't pay them a red cent! Ha!
Oh, wait a minute...
the Redmond of Macinthosh.
Installing woody on a new box? Is that a euphemism for something?
Oh no, the Linux community is turning on itself! This must be a Microsoft plot to divide and conquer the Linux community!
Vote for Pedro
Every article about redhat over the last 2 months I've said Redhat was the microsoft of the linux world... and been modded to -1 about it.
Now, there's an entire article expressing my view.
I wish moderators could moderate articles, so I could take my revenge apon thee.
It's about the politics of market share.
People want balance and choices - not dominance.
One example of RH monopolism is RPM.
RH used its muscle to insure that LSB chose RPM over APT even though APT is next-gen by comparison. Everyone who uses APT raves about it and no one thinks RPM is superior. This is one example of MS like behavior.
I can understand that RH has it's pride and wants to continue to support RPM. But why not offer a choice? We have umpteen desktops? Why not a choice in package managers too? Why punish or deprive your users? Because RPM keeps the customers locked into the RH market. They can't go wandering off to Debian or somewhere else. Ergo MS! Hence fear.
tb