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Microsoft Names Linux its Number Two Risk

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."

27 of 485 comments (clear)

  1. Great humor by seinman · · Score: 3, Funny

    Coincidentally, when I clicked the view comments link, a large advertisment for Linux.com appeared under the article.

    1. Re:Great humor by Trigun · · Score: 3, Funny

      Also, do we really need the hyperlink to www.microsoft.com in the article? I think we all know how to get there by now.

      This article is shaping up to be pretty funny.
      RELEASE THE ZEALOTS!

    2. Re:Great humor by Eccles · · Score: 5, Funny

      Also, do we really need the hyperlink to www.microsoft.com in the article?

      It's so we can slashdot Microsoft.

      --
      Ooh, a sarcasm detector. Oh, that's a real useful invention.
  2. Well I hope you're happy! by Trigun · · Score: 2, Funny

    Mr. Torvalds, Mr. Cox, Mr. Stallman.

    I lay the blame solely on you!

    (Good Job, and thanks for everything!)

  3. Wow.. CE? by aerojad · · Score: 4, Funny

    How nice of Microsoft. That's like someone asking for a steak and being given in-flight peanuts. Maybe a glass of water, too.

    It's a start, I guess.

    --

    SecondPageMedia - Wha
  4. Obligitory, of course by Loundry · · Score: 5, Funny

    1. They ignore you
    2. They laugh at you
    3. They fight you <----- YOU ARE HERE
    4. You win

    --
    I don't make the rules. I just make fun of them.
    1. Re:Obligitory, of course by Wiz · · Score: 1, Funny

      I can't resist!

      5. .....
      6. Profit!!! (hopefully at M$'s expense of course)

  5. Linux no threat... by rusty0101 · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...to the products that Microsoft actually does well at.

    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

    --
    You never know...
  6. #1 risk by ricky_W · · Score: 0, Funny

    #1 risk should really be that their software is crap!

    oops...

    Thats not a risk, its a fact

  7. Re:Well, well... by MisanthropicProggram · · Score: 2, Funny
    From the article: Microsoft chairman Bill Gates said in February that he took Linux and its threat to his company seriously, saying the operating system is "out there and very pervasive."

    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?

    --

    There is no spoon or sig.

  8. Surprising by wackoman2112 · · 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 bound by a bunch of other restrictions.

    If I were Bill Gates, I'd be worried sick about it and I would probably have nightmares about giant penguins chasing me with pitchforks.

    --
    /usr/bin/complain > /dev/null
  9. Re:Eh? by Trigun · · Score: 2, Funny

    Or slipped off the stage into the front row.
    There goes MS's board of Directors. Next week the interns sit up front.

  10. And so, the war began... by Noryungi · · Score: 4, Funny

    And the flames rose higher and higher, and a million emails were fired in anger...

    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!]

    --
    The right to offend is far more important than the right not to be offended. (Rowan Atkinson)
  11. What number is Steve B? by AndroidCat · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Dancing Steve" Ballmer has to be on that list somewhere. What's his number?

    --
    One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
  12. Coincidence? I think now! by chickenbak · · Score: 5, Funny

    The CFOs name is John Connors, coincidence, I think not! Time to Terminate boys.

  13. Re:Cool by geoff+lane · · Score: 3, Funny

    No well run company would get into a situation where they have $40B in the bank.

  14. Re:Number 2 Risk? by Trigun · · Score: 2, Funny

    No, that's just what Ballmer does in his pants everytime an entire city chooses Linux over Microsoft. Hell, if it were my job, I'd be doing that too.

  15. Actually... by little+alfalfa · · Score: 2, Funny

    I thought Microsoft's products were more #2 than anything else.

  16. Oh to be a DOJ employee... by DohDamit · · Score: 3, Funny

    and to know that Microsoft thinks that Linux is more threatening than you by a long shot. How sad.

  17. Re:Really, 1 and 2 are the same thing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    You are, number six.

  18. Re:By publicizing this... by CaptainZapp · · Score: 4, Funny
    You're precisely reflecting my toughts. GNU/Linux (and the entire free software microcosm) is the biggest threat to Microsofts business model. I just can see licensing 8.0.

    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.

    --
    ich bin der musikant

    mit taschenrechner in der hand

    kraftwerk

  19. Re:By publicizing this... by RabidOverYou · · Score: 1, Funny

    > MS did not come to have $40 billions in chash for beeing stupid.

    Clearly not, or you'd be rolling in it.

  20. Chappelle show by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    During the 2nd episode of the chapelle show, they did a skit to rip up on Kinko's (a copy and office-supply store). They had a line in there to the effect of - "If they give you a Windows disk, tell them we only run Mac. If they give you a Mac disk, tell them we only run windows. IF they give you both, tell them we use linux. And if they give you all three, tell them the computers are down"

    I think it's safe to say when Dave Chapelle uses you in one of his skits, you're reaching the forefront of public consciousness.

  21. 20 Minutes into the future... by Geek+of+Tech · · Score: 3, Funny
    And in other news, the Microsoft corperation has just moved itself to number 1 space on its list of greatest threats. According to rumor, MS Chairman, Bill Gates is said to hold position number 2, with Linux weighing in at a distant third....

    --
    Stop the Slashdot effect! Don't read the articles!
  22. Re:By publicizing this... by Dan+Ost · · Score: 4, Funny

    But you know the migration from Linux to WS2003 probably wasn't a technical
    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.

    --

    *sigh* back to work...
  23. Linux in at ... number 2 ! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    But the economy is still on the number 1 spot ! ... well, Linux will take care of *that*.

  24. NOT WITH MY MULTI-LAYERED TINFOIL HAT!!!! by Clockwurk · · Score: 2, Funny