How Microsoft Could Embrace Linux

securitas writes "In a commentary and analysis piece, BusinessWeek technology editor Alex Salkever discusses how Microsoft can embrace Linux, and asks the question, 'Considering Redmond's slim odds of conquering developing nations, why not offer them a low-cost Linux version of Office?' Salkever explains that 'Microsoft faces increasing competition in both PC operating systems and in desktop applications' which are its core businesses, while corporate customers would likely adopt Microsoft Linux products." (Read more below.)

"He goes on to cite the governments of Paris, Munich, Brazil, Peru, China, Korea, and Japan which are all embracing open source software to varying degrees. Meanwhile, when they choose Microsoft software, fast-growing emerging markets like China and India opt for pirated copies. Salkever explains that the concerns for customers like these are the 'relatively high price of Microsoft software' and the 'concerns about buying proprietary software to run critical government operations.' Finally he points to recent moves by Sun and IBM to leave the commoditized software and hardware business behind, writing 'When the world's largest and most respected IT consultancy draws a clear bead on your crown jewels, it's time to mount a bold counterattack.'"

Comments

Re:Office for Linux? who'd use it?

[!the!bad!fish!]

why would any linux user use MS Office

There are some things that just don't work on other word processor. :-)

Re:Why?

[secondsun]

Because in 2000 Microsoft was broken up by the justice department into an Operating Systens unit and an applications unit.

Oh wait sorry, the yellow header sent me into my happy space where the world was fair and McCain was president.

Re:argh! my eyes

[Ralph Yarro]

Congrats on the new section, but the color scheme is killing my eyes.

Color scheme looks okay to me, nowhere near as bad as the Games ones but I'm wondering whether they really have enough Italian readers to justify a special 'it' section.