Microsoft Developing Linux Policy, Plan of Attack

Lil' Bobby Gortician writes "This new MSNBC article talks about Microsoft's developing strategy to deal with Linux. They are actually getting some of their sales people certified as Linux experts, and say 1/10th of their test servers now run Linux. My favorite quote? "There's no set architecture in Linux. All roads lead to madness"."

Comments

Not so easily manipulated

[erick99]

Microsoft's strategy so far is to find people who used to be proponents of Linux and other open source products and get them to do a 180, possibly as a result of a very fat paycheck though who knows. Anyway, here is an example from the article:

In January Taylor poached one of IBM's former Linux technical leaders, William Hilf, to test 20 versions of open-source software in Redmond. Hilf two years ago was in front of audiences touting the cost effectiveness, reliability and performance of open-source software. Nowadays he's working the Microsoft spiel: "There's no set architecture in Linux. All roads lead to madness," and "the devil is in the details. This stuff is not easy to run."

How can this fellow's opinion turn on a dime like that? Is he really credible to a corporate audience? I don't think people are quite that stupid or so easily manipulated.

Another strategy is to fund studies that are purported to be neutral regarding Microsoft vs. Open Source. Once again, from the article:

Microsoft has funded 13 studies over the past year comparing Linux with its own products. Guess what: All of them come out in favor of Microsoft. The studies are generously referenced in an advertising campaign dubbed "Get the Facts." Can Linux really handle crucial areas such as security and e-mail?

Here is a skeptical customer:

"I'm not sure how relevant this stuff is," says PCMS Datafit's Matt S. Scherocman. One Microsoft customer, ADC Chief Information Officer Jamey S. Anderson, agrees: "You don't know who's paying the bills. You can't trust the surveys."

Of course, if all else fails, try an "SCO" and claim property as yours and sue the hell out of everybody:

At a recent gathering of venture capitalists Ballmer went so far as to suggest Microsoft might own intellectual property in Linux and assured the audience that Microsoft would pursue any violation of its own patents. Before he spoke, a fire alarm went off. "It was eerily symbolic," says a venture capitalist in attendance. "We all scattered." Microsoft denies this, and says it will not litigate.

Once again, I don't think corporate IT staff and managment can be so easily manipulated. I believe that the very health growth in Open Source is proof.

Cheers,

Erick

Re:Not so easily manipulated

[savagedome]

I don't think people are quite that stupid or so easily manipulated.

Don't underestimate the power of stupidity, my friend. You'd be surprised.

Re:Not so easily manipulated

[unother]

How can this fellow's opinion turn on a dime like that? Is he really credible to a corporate audience? I don't think people are quite that stupid or so easily manipulated.

Plain to see you haven't been in the underbelly of corporate America, my friend...

Re:Not so easily manipulated

[fitten]

How can this fellow's opinion turn on a dime like that? Is he really credible to a corporate audience? I don't think people are quite that stupid or so easily manipulated.

Quite easily actually... there's an old saying... there's no greater fanatic than the converted. I've seen staunch supporters of something do a 180 within a day when exposed to something they thought impossible (switching from Windows to Linux or from Linux to Windows... yes, I've seen both).

Re:Not so easily manipulated

[Anonymous Coward]

Don't underestimate the power of stupidity

You misspelled money .

Re:Not so easily manipulated

[dave420]

You're not actually showing why he's wrong, just screaming that he used to be in the linux camp and is now touting MS. It's hardly a good debating tactic (unless you're a republican :-P).

Instead of looking for behind-the-scenes back-handers, actually stand up and show why he's wrong.

Still, personally, I can kinda see where he's going with his arguments. I don't agree 100%, but there is at least a grain of truth behind them. Of course, this is slashdot, so I'm getting the fire-extinguishers ready ;)

Re:Not so easily manipulated

[LibrePensador]

Hi Erick.

Microsoft has started the largest FUD campaign that I can remember against open source. It is doing all it can to portray Linux as not a real operating system, but the hobby of bunch of loony hippies.

I guess the fact that the focus of the campaign appears to be foreign governments and businesses means that it has stayed largely below the radar of US journalists and Free Software advocates in the US.

They are taking page-size ads in the most recognized newspapers in Argentina, Brazil, Spain, and Mexico (those are the ones that I know about directly, but I am told that the campaign is global) and they are displaying the stories of people who allegedly tried to switch to Linux and came back running to the safe arms of Microsoft mamma.

And the stories are all very similar. For instance, in Argentina, they used Grimaldi, a shoe manufacturer as the example. When you dig into the story, you discover that the company that was supposed to carry out Grimaldi's migration to Linux is a Windows certified partner and a windows-only shop. The idiots could not get sendmail or postfix up-and-running and thus claim that it doesn't work. They then told Grimaldi, surprise, surprise, not to bother with Linux because it just doesn't work.

The Free Software and open source communities need to have a global response to this last smear campaign, lest we allow others to define how Linux truly works. I can't tell you how many Windows techs I encounter who are convinced that there are no GUIs or IM clients for Linux or that it is impossible to watch multimedia content on a Linux box.

In summary, Microsoft has been paying some big names to use them as poster children of their "Linux is too messy and difficult adn thus expensive campaign". We need to create a site where we exposed Microsoft lies and we need to do it soon. Anybody can get a plone site up and running that we can use to debunk these myths?

Re:Not so easily manipulated

[k98sven]

How can this fellow's opinion turn on a dime like that? Is he really credible to a corporate audience? I don't think people are quite that stupid or so easily manipulated.

You're working on the assumption that he either likes or hates Linux, and thus that he either now or before was compromising himself.

Things aren't black-and-white like that. Presumably he just doesn't care, either way. He used to point out pros of Linux and is now pointing on the cons of Linux. It's what is paid to do, and presumably he doesn't think that his personal opinion on the overall situtation is relevant, and so he is not compromising any personal integrity.

I'm a Linux user and OSS developer. And I can talk for quite a while about what's bad about Linux. I wouldn't do it for a living, but hey - that's because I do care about the issue, and have a sense of integrity.

But just because you care, doesn't mean everyone else does.

Re:Not so easily manipulated

[NoMoreNicksLeft]

and "the devil is in the details. This stuff is not easy to run."

While I can't explain the 180 easily, this line here says it all. Is brain surgery easy for a brain surgeon? Somewhat. For me? Impossible. Should brain surgery be easy for me? Only if I want to take the time to be a bain surgeon.

Most people don't. Microsoft claims they can make brain surgery easy, with their "Windows Brain-Surgery-Made-Easy robot", and sure sometimes it works. Those initial incisions, cutting with the bonesaw... and then it slices the cerebrum into ribbons like a maniac. And people say "Gee, I hope when it's my turn to have the tumor removed, it get's it right."

It's nuts. But then maybe this guy realizes that there will be a need for more computers, than there can ever be clueful people to use and maintain them, and this is his justification. Since they're clueless anyway, it doesn't matter... and it's better to be on the winning side.

Re:Not so easily manipulated

[LibrePensador]

Although I much prefer postfix, I can set up a complex Sendmail site with multiple domains and aliases in under an hour. I can do postfix in 20 minutes.

You failed to read my comments closely. I expect a company to hire qualified Linux professionals if they intend to deploy Linux, not the first monkey that walks through the door and certainly I wouldn't hire a Microsoft-shop to do a Linux job.

There is no truth to the campaign, period. What your response tells me is that there are a bunch of fearful Microsoft techs that are spreading vile about Linux because they don't want to take a few hours a week to do a little retraining. Their loss.

Re:Not so easily manipulated

[FauxPasIII]

> He has a MySQL database with a master user database he implemented, and various scripts to syncronize mail accounts,
> shell accounts, web-admininistration panel accounts, news server accounts, ftp accounts, etc. It starts simple, and
> gets more complex.

Only if you don't know aobut nsswitch, which your friend apparently doesn't. Everything in Linux makes more sense once you
know about pam and nss. I have linux systems here authenticating against an NT domain, it's easy!

Re:Not so easily manipulated

[EvilNight]

You don't even need to buy Microsoft services for a lot of that, as the open source equivalents will readily run on Windows in most cases, and plug directly into the windows system using its own authentication. This lets you have single sign-on from Microsoft without paying for all of the premium packages. You simply pay for the Active Directory (a couple of servers) and the desktop operating system. The rest can be done freely taking only a small hit in quality that most users won't notice or care about. Samba is unfortunately not suitable for the backend yet because it only supports signon... which is only one of about fifty good features of a windows server that are included in the price.

The real problem with linux is the backend. Linux is missing (or has poorer implementations of) a lot of enterprise-level software that is taken completely for granted in the Microsoft world. Poorer here means that overall, Linux becomes more of a headache to manage than Microsoft, for a wide variety of reasons, but I assure you that lack of understanding of both platforms is not among them.

This is one area where Novell can kick Microsoft right in the junk. Novell has a lot of the enterprise level management software that linux is sorely lacking. What's more, Novell's enterprise architecture has had years (decades!) of wildly stable and successful deployment, it has well understood standards, and there is a large technical user base that understands how to support it. Hooking the myriad linux services into a Novell backend would be easy... not trivial, but certainly no major headache. Not moreso than hooking other open source apps into windows, anyway, and that's the target.

I really hope Novell doesn't go the greedy proprietary route here. If they convert and open-source their entire enterprise management suite, Microsoft is in for butthurt like they have never had before, because one of their biggest advantages will be eliminated instantly. There are many of us who would be only too willing to convert to linux to avoid Microsoft (mainly due to their horrific license agreements and prices), but only that kind of enterprise management on linux can make Microsoft into the lesser of two headaches. Contrary to popular opinion, Microsoft's problems are easy (nearly effortless, in fact) to mitigate if one has a proper understanding of the software and how to manage it.

Once that is done, desktop use will skyrocket, and so will desktop development. Linux is going to own the corporate desktop long before it makes any real dent in the home user market. People will use it at work and then decide they like it, and the IT department can give them a free copy to take home. It'll sound almost too good to be true.

Re:Not so easily manipulated

[DMadCat]

I agree and postfix is very easy to set up. It's just a text-file that you modify. Once you have done it a few times, it is really, really easy and it can be done remotely.

What?!!! You have to look at a text file?!! You mean to tell me you actually have to read?!!!

Sounds to me like you actually might have to do a little reading to set up a linux box properly.

As someone who is in the midst of getting his MCSE (however reluctantly) through self study, it seems to me the ones blubbering about Microsoft products being "easier and more intuitive" are probably the same ones who sat in an actual classroom learning how to use it or did a whole lot of reading to get it to work properly (and to get those nifty certifications).

So why then do all the MS techs (including my bosses) all balk at anything that might involve a command line and a different approach to the same tasks?

Frankly I put it down to ignorance born of laziness.

Oh, and to answer anyone who has asked (can't count the number of times) why they should use Linux when Windows is so much easier? Check your wallet. The difference is in there (or if you're using Microsoft, it's not in there).

Ignorance isn't cheap.

Soon to be greatest sigg'd quote evar:

[bigdady92]

"There's no set architecture in Linux. All roads lead to madness" -Microsoft

I can see it now...

There plan of attack..

[Embedded2004]

There plan of attack should include attempting to make a superior product. It will get harder and harder for them with an inferior product as they are now finding out.

Aha!

[rde]

He's been at Microsoft since college and rattles off techie jargon like value proposition and customer sat (short for satisfaction) like any seasoned Microsoftie.

Techie jargon? I think I've found Microsoft's problem.

All roads lead to madness?

[Noryungi]

Sure.

And this should be written on all boxes of Windows:

Abandon all hope, ye who are about to open this.

WinXP SP2, anyone? ;-)

MS should start selling Linux

[xiando]

It's nice to know they actually have a "Microsoft's top Linux strategist".

And he has realized that "Linux is a different kind of opponent. It's not a company to bash, but a software movement with the backing of the entire tech industry.".

And this is why the Linux community is winning. We are more developers in the Linux scene, we are better skilled and higher motivated.

Understanding this, Microsoft should turn around and start providing Linux support and services as part of their portifolio. There is nothing wrong with selling both Linux and Windows! Software is all about support, not the product, today anyways.

^5

[maelstrom]

"Before, Linux was this cloud we didn't get, now it is Red Hat, Novell, IBM. We know how to compete with companies. I was high-fiving everyone I could find when Novell bought [German Linux distributor] SuSe. We already won once against Novell."

I think I'm going to run around high-fiving everyone here, because to me this shows they still don't get it. You can kill SuSE, you can kill Novell, IBM, and Red Hat and you still wouldn't kill Linux.

Microsoft, if you are reading this, you screwed me over once with OS/2. There is no way you will ever take Linux away from me. :)

Re:^5

[Judg3]

I think I'm going to run around high-fiving everyone here, because to me this shows they still don't get it. You can kill SuSE, you can kill Novell, IBM, and Red Hat and you still wouldn't kill Linux.

No, they wouldn't kill Linux, but they would shove it so far out of the public view it might as well be Amiga. I don't think they want to kill Linux completely - just the big players, the ones that matter to the high dollar corporate customers. The ones really stealing sales from MS.

But MS is a tad to late to come to the table, they are trying to crush it after it's gotten to large. If they destroy distro X, another will rise out of the ashes and be just as big (I hope!). 10 years ago, if they'd invested all their energy into it, they might have kept Linux small - but it's gaining momentum now, and it's hard to stop a freight train.

Re:^5

[Daniel Dvorkin]

Don't forget, though, this is part of a two-edged strategy. On the business front, they want to turn Linux back into a "hobbyist OS" that doesn't have support from any major corporate users or suppliers. On the legal front, they want to buy legislators who will then effectively outlaw F/OSS with DRM and "security" requirements ... which is only possible if they've removed the corporate support.

I don't think they'll succeed, but don't be too sanguine yet.

"Architecture"!?!

[the_skywise]

You mean like OLE? DDE? The Printer Driver interface where everything is standardized, but nothing prints the same?!

No no... all roads lead to madness on Windows programming. I assure you. (Of course, if you HAVE the roadmap...)

Re:"Architecture"!?!

[lpontiac]

"OLE? DDE?"

Sorry, I think you meant to say:

"DDE? OLE? OLE2? COM? COM+? ActiveX? DCOM? SOAP? .NET?"

Um, The Windows APIs?

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah, there's a really startling lack of self-awareness in the statement that there's no set architecture to Linux and that all roads lead to madness.

Re:Innovation

[Tim C]

Any network-aware service or program can potentially be exploited; what would you have people do, simply stop developing new network-aware stuff?

Besides, I'm sure many similar comments were made about redsktop, and yet I don't recall any exploits appearing for that.

good advice for MS fans

[pohl]

I think Microsoft is setting an excellent example that happy customers (and fans) of Microsoft should imitate: learn everything that you can about Linux. Install it on your PC. Intentionally break your configuration just to practice fixing it. Install new hardware and figure out how to get it working no matter how much it seems like torture. Find free equivalents to software that you would normally run under Windows, and live with them for a while even if it means sacrificing features or quality. Absorb as much of this knowledge as you can, and share it with your other Microsoft-loving buddies. And once you all are as conversant in Linux as are those people who are choosing it over Windows, you'll be able to more effectively lobby against it...beacuse you'll be armed with knowledge. Never mind that you'll be helping the Linux culture to spread. Hey, look over there...it's an angel, and she's giving away free bacon!

They don't get it

[archeopterix]

"I just want the decision to be based on facts, not religion," says Taylor. "People are saying, 'It's not Microsoft, so it must be great.' Tell us what Linux does that we can't do. Don't tell us you're deploying Linux just because you can."

Let me turn this question around: what does Windows do that Linux doesn't? For me, Linux is already there ( on several hundred desktop machines running a java client). So why should I pay several hundred bucks for each license?

Re:pattern

[I confirm I'm not a]

<pedant>
> 1st they laugh at you
> 2nd they fight you
> then you win
"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win."
</pedant>

Microsoft vs Rest of World

[shoppa]

"Linux is a different kind of opponent. It's not a company to bash, but a software movement with the backing of the entire tech industry.".

So now the whole world is out to get Microsoft. Isn't such paranoia a classic schizophrenic symptom?

"new feature"

[leperkuhn]

Heh, here's a good "new feature"

Allchin points to new features in the version of Windows due in 2007 that will allow users to remotely turn PCs on or off

My dear lord they are innovating at an exponential rate! Quite possibly next they will unleash "a pointer device cabable of interacting with the screen."

But also don't forget...

[Kjella]

...the power of greed. If you can get away with it for free*, it's amazing what great lengths people go to.

*even when said "free" costs you more to achieve than you saved.

SCO has created a lot of negative press, but once eradicated it will turn to positive press "claims found groundless". A lot of huge companies are backing it. And don't pretend MS will be able to use patents at will. They're kinda like nukes - if MS decides to "nuke" IBMs Linux plans, trust me, IBM can "nuke" Windows as well.

Kjella

Re:But also don't forget...

[MikeDX]

if MS decides to "nuke" IBMs Linux plans, trust me, IBM can "nuke" Windows as well.

With winuke.exe ?

Re:But also don't forget...

[Xabraxas]

IBM is still larger than Microsoft and IBM still holds more patents than Microsoft.

Re:But also don't forget...

[Xabraxas]

IBM's revenue for 2003 was 89 billion. Microsoft's was 34 billion. I guess it's all how you look at it.

Your favorite quote

[FreeLinux]

There's no set architecture in Linux. All roads lead to madness

To the newbie this perception is immediately apparent.

First question: Which of the hundreds of distros do I use? Hundreds of different answers.

Second question: If they are all Linux, why will this application run on one but not the other? Development geek speak.
Third question: Of the hundreds of choices of this particular application, which is best? Hundreds of naswers and then a massive flame war.

Microsoft's quote may sound pathetic to you but, when they tell a neophyte to check for themselves, they are "proven" correct. The uninitiated are confused and intimidated by the vast number of choices, incompatibilities and varied advice from a pleathora of zealots. Just ask a technical question about a mail program like Postfix or Sendmail. Half the responses will be to change distributions. Change the OS because of an issue with the MTA???

*cough*AD*cough*

[Craig Ringer]

"the devil is in the details. This stuff is not easy to run."

One could be forgiven for thinking that was intended to describe Active Directory.

I run a mixed network, though mostly Linux these days, for work. I frequently hear about juicy new technologies for MS (I read several of the pro Windows mags) and some sound really good. Mostly, however, as I read the article I quickly find myself thinking "that's nice if you're a company big enough to pay someone to learn this one technology, and you'll really need the myriad options it provides. But for most people who could use that functionality, this is ridiculously complex and over-engineered."

There are also times I curse Linux, often in ways that'd make your hair curl. MTA + spam filter + virus scanner(s) + IMAP/POP server + webmail is all well enough, but give me standard interfaces on each of them or I'll go insane very soon. Then I tried to set up an Exchange demo and, well, suddenly it didn't seem so bad anymore. It's still quite bad, but Exchange also failed to work sensibly by default, was hard to integrate with multiple plug-ins, and generally reassured me that in fact all mail server software is crap (though each may in isolation be quite good).

MS needs to get a handle on the complexity of its own systems before they can talk too loudly about the multiplicity of configurations under Linux and the fact that every admin almost has to be a developer. At least with Linux, I can admin my hideously complex configurations via a collection of individual config files in a consistent place that don't change for no reason, vanish, get corrupted, or get bored and go for a smoke :-P . I can also version changes, which is nice (note to distributors: PLEASE start designing for a versioned /etc .).

If Linux distros could offer a consistent config file format (Pick one. Seriously.), some form of config inheritance (eg load /etc/defaults/[someconfig], then /home/username/.config/[someconfig], then /etc/overrides/[someconfig]) and lockdown (think KDE's kiosk), that would help a lot. Yes, I understand that this is almost impossible given the nature of Linux distros as assemblies of independenly developed software, but nonetheless this would be awfully nice.

If I could get consistent open and save dialog boxes for my Linux terminal server, I think I'd be in heaven.

Overall, I must say that I see a serious case of the pot calling the kettle black here. They're both awful.

Re:Sorry /., but they have a point

[rseuhs]

Apple, Amiga and Atari in the 80s:

The x86-PC has real stability and consitency problems when it comes to competing vendors and running different CPUs on different motherboards.

Add to that proprietary modifications and vastly inflated prices of the dominant CPU-vendor and you have a confused customer base that is more comfortable with the consistent Apple product lines.

A little know your enemy would be good for OSS

[ShatteredDream]

Anyone who has had to really use Windows XP knows that the current versions of Linux distributions have fallen down miserably in terms of performance and "shininess" in the GUI. Both of those are important if you want a credible, OSS challenge from Linux. For those that question the latter, I would remind them that the "shininess" of a GUI is one of the biggest things that consumers use to gadge as "modern." It's not a good metric by any means, but it is one that must be taken into serious consideration.

A lot of work on Syllable would go a long way toward hurting Longhorn. If enough Linux guys would get involved with the underpinnings so that Vanders and the rest of the team could take a break to work on the GUI system, it'd be a damn good OSS desktop by the time Longhorn gets here. As it stands right now, their labor is too divided to get its hardware support good enough to boot on many systems. Come on people, it'd be a quick investment of time that'd pay large dividends later.

The strategy may be more insidious than that...

[StressGuy]

First off, I did *not* RTFA. This is just how I would approach the issue if I were Microsoft.

I think they should start making Linux applications, providing Linux support, even making thier own distribution or at least a "Windows for Linux" desktop.

Remember when Netscape was the dominant browser and I.E. first came out?. It took a while but eventually I.E. became dominant. They just have a huge financial pool to draw upon. Makes them well suited to corporate "siege warfare".

You want to migrate to Linux, let us make it easy for you. Here is MS Office ported to Linux so you know your old docs will not only work, but be supported by us as well. Worried about migration? No problem, use the Windows for Linux desktop environment.

With their resources, they can shred Linux from the inside and slowly undermine the GPL. ....at least that's the strategy I would employ.

How many quit reading after...

[linuxtelephony]

I read the article, until I found Laura DiDio, or whatever her name is, referenced as a source. Then I just closed the window. If they are quoting her as an authority, then the entire piece has lost credibility and I don't waste my time reading any further. I then realized this is the third time in as many days that I have done that to an article.

So, how many of you read an article until they quote some person as an authority (could be Laura or anyone else) that you feel lacks any credibility, and then stop reading any further? I'm curious.

I was reading something the other day, when someone was quoted spouting some nonesense that I firmly believe is untrue, and then they referred to the name and the "group" she represents. It seems she gets quoted a lot, especially anything remotely anti-Linux related. I would rather read an author's opinions than have that "group's" opinions quoted as facts. Articles carry more credibility with me when the author stands up him or herself, and doesn't resort to pointing fingers, "see, she said it".

Re:How many quit reading after...

[mattr]

There is an interesting press evaluation system called CARMA which does this.. I had to study it once, interesting. It requires humans to manually grade articles on long questionnaires. Well it lets you find out which authors are sympathetic and which are nasty. Presumably it helps you find people like this individual. I suppose Microsoft subscribes to CARMA too..

Microsoft Is Aiming At The Wrong Target

[Anonymous Coward]

Microsoft is devoting a lot of internal resources to figure out Linux and how to fight it. The problem is: Linux isn't their enemy. Their true enemy is Open Source. (I've mentioned this several times before)

When they almost missed the Internet boat, it was only because of Gates' annual Summer sabbatical (so it is said) which made him realize they were on the brink of being left behind. The 'net, and more specifically, the web, were not quite on the fast track for bringing in the dough. And this is part of what caused Microsoft to wait. They'll either invest heavily in something which they know will make money in the future (and they can lock it down now (or soon); or they'll hop on the bandwagon and start making money now, even if the software quality isn't there. When the "Information Superhighway" was the vogue term, Gates said, "I don't care what the Information Superhighway looks like as long as I have a tollbooth on it." (we know they've wanted more than that for some time: why rule desktops when you can rule the Internet?)

Back to the topic at hand. Microsoft understands money and they know how to fight it and with it. What they don't understand is how to fight something which doesn't show up on their financial slide rule. '$ofties put in massive hours because they think it's cool and they like to do what they do. Open Source people tend to spend a lot of time doing what they like to do. (and make a lot of money, although they're restructuring^killing their stock system, that may change. 8-10 years ago, you could put five years in, cash out, and leave a millionaire. Not any more!) And [not by default], the bug count seems to be much less because there's the issue of oversight of code by anyone who wants to. This doesn't exist at Microsoft and never will.

Microsoft is trying to brainwash itself internally. They need to hire some people who either know & believe in Open Source or some who don't eat, drink, and sleep it, but are young enough they haven't been indoctrinated by Microsoft's corporate culture. I don't think Linux has anything to worry about.

Re:Microsoft Is Aiming At The Wrong Target

[The Conductor]

The problem is: Linux isn't their enemy

The situation uncannily reminds me of Apple in the early 90's. They were so fixated on competing with IBM that they never saw the real enemy was Microsoft.

The way things are going, MS could end up like the GE small appliance business. When Jack Welch was asked why he was selling the business even though GE toasters & irons had dominant market share, and thereby seeming to violate his rules of when to buy/sell a business, he answered that market dominance isn't worth anything if you don't get control. The business didn't have any ability to introduce new, more featureful products at higher margins; they were stuck competing on price like everyone else. In a like fashion Microsoft could end up maintaining dominant marketshare, but with Wine facilitating migration from their OS and open-source solutions running on top of their OS, they may wind up unable drive sales of any new profitable producs.

Best Quote

[BrianWCarver]

From the article:

"Linux at some point could be good enough to run home PCs."

I'm sitting here with my fingers crossed, biting my lip, hoping for that day!

Oh, this message written on Debian Sarge, current uptime: 31 days, 12 hours, 35 minutes.

HA!

As opposed to?

[jridley]

Windows, where there's a one true way; and it's an expressway to madness?

Honestly, I use both Windows and Linux. There are things I use one for and not the other, because Windows is really good at some things that Linux is not, and vice versa.

You'd THINK that if Microsoft wanted to keep Linux from growing, they'd identify the things that Linux does well and Windows does not, and work on that.

I think they have this idea that Windows is really the best at everything, and people are just using Linux because it's free. Sorry, wrong. I pick my operating systems based on which one does the job the best.

Linux and XP --- My upclose observations

[Proudrooster]

I've been working with UNIX/Linux for 10 years and was recently sucked into a Windows 95 to Windows XP upgrade/deployment.

In my opinion, Windows XP is a DISORGANIZED MESS! The XP software process works like this.... image a three sided hand-grendade. On one side you have DLL's, on another side you have Registry entries, and on another side you have executables and datafiles. Pull the pin and that is basic method of windows software installation. Also, there is no standard way to install software and people use everything from custom Java installers, Microsoft Installer, Install Shield which makes creating SILENT installations lots of fun. To get an MSCE you should have to package 20 different applications all using different installers to do silent installs under XP. If you still have your sanity at the end, you get the MSCE.

What if something doesn't work? What if the installer fails? What if you have a piece of software that no one can locate the media for, how can you move it from one XP box to another? What if you have old software the requires a CUSTOM environment that conflicts with newer software?

I imagine XP is a great product if you stick to using all brand new Microsoft products and don't try to run your business with older applications from 3rd parties.

Moving on to security.. policies are an overly complex joke. Anyone with even moderate technical skill and intelligence can defeat domain or group policies.

Now let's take UNIX/Linux. It definately has some sharp edges especially if you are trying to run with new or non-standard hardware. However, Linux has some great strengths...
1. I know what package installed what file. (rpm -qf
2. I can move applications EASILY from one system to another without going through the install process.
3. I can backup and restore a Linux/UNIX box from a centralized tape backup system MUCH easier than a Windows server with custom RAID. You haven't experienced IT to the fullest until you tried to recover an older server class Windows NT/2000 box.
4. I can run multiple version of the SAME software by creating custom environments. Trying installing two versions of an application like MS Office on the same Windows XP. The later install typically uninstalls the previous install. Running it under VMWARE doesn't count.
5. Remote adminstration can be done EASILY from the command line under Linux. In XP I've installed Cygwin SSH on XP and have written some VBS scripts. Windows is definately catching up in the area of remote administration, but is still hard to use and books are scarce.
6. Patching for security flaws is a breeze under Linux/UNIX. With Microsoft, install a SUS server and maybe, just maybe if the planets align the patch will saunter down to the PC. I had to write some scripts to slam patches in and reboot. Seems like every critical patch requires a reboot. 7. Figuring out what's going on under Linux/UNIX is pretty simple. You can clearly see what launches applications, what files they have open, what resources they are using etc ... Try to remove some of the newer Spyware from an XP box. You won't get a sense for how much you don't know and can't see on an XP box until you've tried to kill spyware. In most cases it's faster to reload XP than to try and track it down.

I've been using both Linux/XP Servers and Linux/XP Desktops. Handsdown, I prefer running Linux servers over XP or 2003. If I must run XP or 2003 servers, I feel it's best to stick them into VMWARE ESX or GSX so that they are neatly contained and can be easily recovered, moved, and backed up. I know you take a slight performance hit, but the ability to manage the server and keep it up far outweighs it.

For the desktop I prefer Knoppix and a thumbdrive. :) I can work anywhere and even have access to compilers, it's a beautiful thing :) However, for the population at large Windows XP in CLASSIC VIEW is still the way to go for the massess

Re:Linux and XP --- My upclose observations

[Wulfstan]

Uh? You what?!?

> 1. I know what package installed what file. (rpm -qf

Yeah, on one Linux install. On another one it might be dpkg -l. On another one it might be some portage thing with unknown arguments. And what about locally compiled packages?

> 2. I can move applications EASILY from one system to another without going through the install process.

A man who has obviously never been through .so dependency hell. Good luck to you.

> 3. I can backup and restore a Linux/UNIX box from a centralized tape backup system MUCH easier than a Windows server with custom RAID. You haven't experienced IT to the fullest until you tried to recover an older server class Windows NT/2000 box.

Okay, so you can use tar better on Unicies. Point taken.

> 5. Remote adminstration can be done EASILY from the command line under Linux. In XP I've installed Cygwin SSH on XP and have written some VBS scripts. Windows is definately catching up in the area of remote administration, but is still hard to use and books are scarce.

Okay, so remote admin is improving, we can agree on that one.

> 6. Patching for security flaws is a breeze under Linux/UNIX. With Microsoft, install a SUS server and maybe, just maybe if the planets align the patch will saunter down to the PC. I had to write some scripts to slam patches in and reboot. Seems like every critical patch requires a reboot.

What about a kernel vulnerability? Last time I looked you still got to reboot a linux kernel. I agree that segmentation of applications is better on unix, but don't kid yourself; security patching linux requires a lot more effort. And to compare apples with apples here, you're talking about supplying a security patch to a bunch of linux boxes? That's at least as hard as deploying a windows security patch and, in a mixed linux distribution environment, an order of magnitude harder.

> 7. Figuring out what's going on under Linux/UNIX is pretty simple. You can clearly see what launches applications, what files they have open, what resources they are using etc ...

Yeah, right. cat /proc/???? is easy?!? The administrative tools in Win 2k, for example, aren't that hard to use. I would say that they're probably even on that front.

Anyway, just correcting a few biases there....

This is hilarious...

[schon]

Tell us what Linux does that we can't do

Allow me to see, modify, and distribute the source code *for free*.

I'm sure MS will get right on that.

There vs. Their

[Macka]

there: a location other than here; that place; "you can take it from there"

their: of or relating to them or themselves especially as possessors, agents, or objects of an action .. you even got it wrong twice!

MS Stock Price

[Bob9113]

Ballmer griped that Microsoft's profits have more than doubled in the past six years, but the stock, at $29, is right where it was then. "Linux creates a cloud of uncertainty over Microsoft. Every time Red Hat reports earnings, Microsoft seems to take a hit," says Goldman Sachs software analyst Richard Sherlund.

Hmmm, let's see - it's a 300 billion dollar company with a P/E ratio of 36.19. To get to the point where they are bringing home a 10% return on that market cap (the traditional good rate of return), they would have to more than triple their earnings. They already have the entire market in their primary fields, which means they've got nowhere to go but lateral markets. Looking at XBox, MSN, WMA, and the like, it doesn't look like Microsoft is going to be able to pull a Microsoft in any other market.

Frankly, Steve, if I were you I'd be real grateful for the 36.19 P/E. It doesn't look like you deserve it.

Bill Hilf not a "Linux technical leader"

[Goonie]

He's a real person, and has been involved in using Linux to develop websites. His speaker bio at ApacheCon 2001 describes him as having developed a number of websites using mod_perl. He has contributed a little to the apache-modules mailing list, with a total of 20 messages the list over a three year period between 1999 and 2001.

However, his name doesn't seem to appear in either the apache httpd or mod-perl credits file, and I can't dig up any evidence of him having participated in any other mailing list. He's never posted to the kernel mailing list, the perl mailing lists (on the basis that somebody using mod-perl might also be interested in Perl more generally), or anything much else.

I don't know what the guy was up to at IBM, but to describe him as a technical leader of the Linux community would appear to be a considerable exaggeration. Somebody who actively adopted Linux for business use, perhaps, but he's hardly Robinson Crusoe there.

Human stupidity

[rvw]

Einstein said once: "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe." And I'm afraid he's right...

It's funny, laugh!

[gillbates]

From the article:

Linux at some point could be good enough to run home PCs.

Yes, but he forgets that Linux could be ready for the home PC as early as 1998. What will Microsoft do then?

No, we're not just a little biased, are we? I've been running RedHat on my home machine since 1998. I've had non-computer-genius friends and family running Linux on their desktops since 1999. If this guy had a brain, he'd be dangerous...

Can Linux really handle crucial areas such as security and e-mail? The Microsoft people are ready with answers...

And those answers would be... "install this patch and reboot..."? Can Linux handle email and security? I mean, really?! Gosh, I just don't know... Of course, to Microsofties, one Linux hole per year makes the OS insecure, but 100 security vulnerabilities a month make Windows "The choice for reliability throughout the enterprise..." As if MS even understood the term "Enterprise computing".

"I just want the decision to be based on facts, not religion," says Taylor. "People are saying, 'It's not Microsoft, so it must be great.'

No, actually, you don't want a decision ... based on facts... - because it wouldn't be favorably to Microsoft. People are looking to leave Microsoft for Linux because of the facts, not in spite of them:

• They want an OS that Just Works(TM) for years on end.
• They don't want to be forced into draconian EULAs.
• They don't want to pay for the same software twice, or in some cases, three times.
• They need something that runs, securely, out of the box. They don't have time to test dozens of "critical security patches", or the risk of applying them to a production server in a mission critical environment.
• They want the ability to simply remove software they don't need, especially when said software has more security holes than swiss cheese.
• They don't want to worry about viruses.

Allchin points to new features in the version of Windows due in 2007 that will allow users to remotely turn PCs on or off, with programs still running. Searches will extend across all data like e-mail, photos, Word. "We're creating things," he says.

I turn off my machine with programs still running all the time - it's called FreeDOS. But yes, you are creating things - more security vulnerabilities. Why on earth would a home user want to power off their machine from a remote location? What - in your hurry to get out the door you forgot to shut down the computer, and at work you now have the sudden urge to turn it off?

Tell us what Linux does that we can't do. Don't tell us you're deploying Linux just because you can."

Linux can be installed without any risk of violating licensing provisions and incurring unseen financial liability on my employer. But also, the number one reason why I deploy Linux:

• Microsoft doesn't understand Enterprise Computing.

I could go on for hours on this, but I'll spare you. Suffice to say, Microsoft can't build a secure or stable Windows because they lack the mindset to do so.

Innovation

[hundalz]

From TFA:

Windows group chief James Allchin accuses Linux of being a cheap knockoff: "There's no innovation. Linux is still in the business of cloning existing technology." Allchin points to new features in the version of Windows due in 2007 that will allow users to remotely turn PCs on or off, with programs still running. Searches will extend across all data like e-mail, photos, Word. "We're creating things," he says.

This has yet to be the biggest crap of all time. Linux (or technically, the distribution) has always had remote shutting down, # shutdown now, once logged in. So, who's cloning existing technology now? In fact, one can remotely suspend a machine as well.

Infact, there are not many things that Microsoft has actually innovated, most of the time they use thier financial position to break existing markets (or duplicate technology). Does anyone know of a good product that Microsoft innovated, i.e. one that was a first-timer in the market?

Amusing!

[polyp2000]

Just as Microsoft has gone through a wrenching transformation from a combative bully to a mature corporate citizen --

You have got to love MSNBC's wording !

Nick ...

Re: Their true enemy isn't Open Source either

[Alwin Henseler]

Linux nor Open Source is Microsoft's enemy. If Microsoft would jump on the Free/OS train today, make a 180 degree turn, pour billions into Free/OS projects, they'd be welcome to. Linux, Open Source would profit from that (even when huge amounts of crappy code would be poured in OS; natural selection works quite well), and it wouldn't hurt their own customers either. Customers are always willing to pay for something that suits their needs, even if it's built using freely available stuff.

But Microsoft would have to understand Open Source. Not from a marketing point of view, but in their gut, kidney's & toes. And to make a 180 degree turn, they'd have to totally change their company culture, views, and convince their own customers. And that is the hard thing.

So Microsoft's real enemy is the one within: themselves.

Where are you buying your software?????????

[heybo]

Microsoft equips a lot of these machines. For less than a $1000 you can get the software you need from MS to this: Windows Server, Exchange with Outlook clients, SQL Server, the whole package. Out of the box each user has one password, one username. For e-mail (remote and locale), desktop logins, remote access, for desktop fax routing, ftp, web publishing, etc. Single-sign on.

I don't don't where you got you pricing structure, but you ain't buying all those M$ products for LESS the $1000.00. I haven't checked the prices in awhile, but the last time I bought W2K server it was $11280.00 with ONLY 10 client licenses. That was just for the server software. Last I checked MSSQL was around $3200.00 with ONLY 10 client licenses. Lets say you have just 20 people in an office and they all need a connection the to DB well then there is more money invloved. My MySQL DB doesn't care how many connections and it is faster and more reliable. My files server doesn't care how many connections ti has either.

We are a mixed shop here. Both Windows and Linux servers. With the Windows servers getting less and less in here. Yes Linux and most of its is for the most part harder to set up. It takes about 2.5 hours to set up a W2K box. It takes me about 4 hours to set up a RedHat box. This means that I have spent 1.5 hours longer on the set up. now if I pay $1280.00 for W2K and either got Fedora for free or paid (I think) $150.00 for RedHat Enterprize. Haven't I saved money? Maybe took a bit longer. Then comes the license issue? RedHat doesn't care how many clients I have hanging on my server M$ does! Then we have the security issues (Oh yea I forgot my 34 item security check list for basic server configuration on W2K another 2 hours) A basic Rehat Load everything is turned off. Yes it takes longer to turn on what I need, but isn't this easier and better than with MS going and turning OFF everything I DON'T need or even want? Hell somethings you don't want that comes with M$ you CAN"T TURN OFF!

It isn't that I'm a zelot about any system. I am a Systems Engineer I use what works and is reliable, and cost isn't that big of a factor. If I could find a reason to pay M$ prices for a BETTER OS I would. The reason I don't pay and use Linux is that it is better, more reliable, and more secure. If Windows was better I would pay the price and run it. As an engineer what I know is I spend more time working on the M$ boxes that the Linux boxes. This is what my customers look at too. They like to pay me as little as possible. Time sheets don't lie. Some may say "Oh you spend more time on the Windows platform because you don't know it." WRONG!!!! I have work with NT since 3.51. I have that worthless piece of plastic too. I am the first to admit it that yes I do know Linux as well not near the knowledge that I have on Winders. Yes Linux does take me longer sometimes because of my lack of knowledge on it but this isn't the fault of the OS. It is a matter of my training. Once whatever it is to learn is learned it is simple the next time. I don't bloat the time sheet because of my lack of skill and blame it on the OS. Hey we can't know everything, but I can learn.

Yes single signon is "tightly intergrated" into the Windows OS, but it is right there in the Linux CD too! You just have to load it and turn it on! NIS works quiet well

Is Linux read for Joe User? NO! One day it will be.