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OSDL Skeptical Of Joint Study with Microsoft

Posted by Zonk on from the may-you-live-in-interesting-times dept.

Jac writes "An interview with ZDNet reveals the low opinion Stuart Cohen, chief of Open Source Development Labs(OSDL), has of a recent Microsoft proposal to conduct a joint study on on deploying Microsoft Vs Linux. From the article: 'As far as working with Microsoft on a study, Microsoft could probably find one negative line on Linux in a 100-page research report that it would spend $10 million marketing while ignoring the other 99 pages...' An interesting follow-up to a recent Slashdot article.

7 of 162 comments (clear)

  1. Use both by froggero1 · · Score: 3, Informative

    I don't get it though. Why bother comparing the two? Use what works best for the job. I don't think that anyone should be using only one operating system all the time anyways.

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    1. Re:Use both by Knome_fan · · Score: 3, Informative

      Ehm, the purpose of these studies is, or at least should be, to find out which one "works best for the job", so I fail to really see your point.

  2. Re:Missing disclaimer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    OSDL != OSDN

  3. The real scare in this - and Microsoft's plight by tod_miller · · Score: 3, Informative

    Microsoft are pushing Software patents into Europe, the legal homeplace of Linux (I assume Linus keeps his legal entity there?).

    The most telling point in Microsofts tactics

    So blatant: look at this quite from that page, in H1 FFS:

    Indemnification Becomes Open Source's Nightmare and Microsoft's Blessing

    There is a linked PDF, also google brings up

    Which is telling as well

    Who funded SCO?

    Microsoft

    Who is pushing Patents in the eu?

    Microsoft

    Who is trying to get a litigation storm to damage and or destroy linux?

    Microsoft

    Who should probably get some more exposure about their bad activities?

    Microsoft

    But they don't, this kinda of cross-reporting (cause and effect) isn't done in mainstream media.

    Everyone will say Linux is getting sued, noone seems to say Microsoft is behind this financially, and patents politically.

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  4. Sun Tzu by ThoreauHD · · Score: 2, Informative

    Never take what the enemy offers you.

    Words to live by.

  5. Re:Double-Edged Sword by jkrise · · Score: 2, Informative

    There's little use 'marketing' Open Source and Free Software adopting the same methods and paradigm as Microsoft software. Microsoft has been on the offensive for the past decade and more wrt competition - Lotus 123 gave up after a few years as did Word Perfect and later Netscape.

    F/OSS is a different kettle of fish. Being aggressive, sponsored research etc. hasn't cut much ice. Customers are interested in 'Getting their Act' more than 'Getting the twisted Facts'. The ones that base their decisions on Gartner reports aren't worth addressing anyway.

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    If you keep throwing chairs, one day you'll break windows....
  6. Get The RIGHT Facts by jkrise · · Score: 4, Informative

    I think the OSDL should politely decline the invite to spend... er waste good money on stupid research and launch a counter capmaign "Get the Right Facts" or some such.

    Facts:
    1. Microsoft is a convicted monopolist - Fact.
    2. Microsoft has written software and spent billions - specifically to crush competition and reduce the user experience - FACT.
    3. Microsoft fudged a demo during trial - under OATH - Fact.
    etc.... instead of simply declining and being labelled a coward.

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    If you keep throwing chairs, one day you'll break windows....