Microsoft Flirts with Open Source

Vin Daryl writes "ZDNet reports on Microsoft's love-hate relationship with open-source software." From the article: "The interoperability lab focuses on getting products from open-source ISVs such as JBoss, to work on the Microsoft platform, he said. 'For example, we often collaborate with JBoss, but in certain areas we might compete with them. It's competition and cooperation,' Hilf explained. 'Over time, as you see the open-source marketplace maturing and becoming more commercial, I think you'll see more of that kind of dynamics. It's not something that's unique to Microsoft,' he said, adding that IBM and Oracle also compete, and at the same time, cooperate with open-source vendors. "

Comments

Re:Gates Words

[Ruie]

For example, we often collaborate with JBoss, but in certain areas we might compete with them. It's competition and cooperation

More like part of their usual "embrace, extend, extinguish" cycle.

Open Sourcing Old Versions of Windows

[reporter]

Some people have old computers that function fine with their slower processors and more limited memory. Unfortunately, these computers run on older versions of Microsoft Windows (like Windows 98) and cannot handle Microsoft XP. If the owners of these old computers ever lost their recovery CDs, then they would be hosed: these people cannot re-install Windows in the event of a catastrophic operating-system (OS) failure (e.g. accidentally deleting some of the critical OS files).

If Microsoft management wants to generate some goodwill, then the management should open-source old versions of Microsoft Windows that are no longer being sold. In this way, people who have the older computers could easily get a copy of the older versions of Windows.