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What Microsoft Could Learn from OSS and Linux

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the they-seem-to-be-doing-ok dept.

An anonymous reader writes "An article on OSWeekly.com discusses a few things that Microsoft could learn from OSS and Linux. 'As Microsoft continues to understand that open source does not mean they cannot generate a decent profit, I honestly wonder if they will eventually "get" that releasing MS Office code to the open source community is their only option. Since the whole threatening to sue thing will be met with the same fan base response, just like the RIAA, it is certainly not a wise decision. And if Microsoft thinks Open Office is a pain now, try suing people over it, then see how many people refuse to buy their products.'"

18 of 271 comments (clear)

  1. Right, the next headline will be... by MightyYar · · Score: 5, Funny

    The next headline we'll see is "Hippy's Show Soldiers How to Clean Rifles".

    Leave the money makin' to the convicted monopolists, shall we boys?

    --
    W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    1. Re:Right, the next headline will be... by caluml · · Score: 2, Funny

      What is a Hippy Show? Did you mean Hippies?

      --
      Get your own free personal location tracker
    2. Re:Right, the next headline will be... by CrimsonScythe · · Score: 2, Funny

      Nah, I thought I'd rather point out your missing punctuation:

      Hippy's "Show Soldiers": How to Clean Rifles

      Noone gives better rifle cleaning lectures than Hippy's very own show soldiers!

      --
      The view was horrible and the smell was even worse; Julie severely regretted becoming a proctologist.
  2. There's probably more they could learn from IBM by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    IBM used to be the alpha-dog on the block, only to be displaced by MicroSoft. Now it looks as though MS is on the way down, ready to be replaced by the new kid on the block.

    It may not be an OSS company or product, and it may not be in the next five years, but it's coming.

    1. Re:There's probably more they could learn from IBM by kabdib · · Score: 4, Funny

      *mouse kicks dinosaur in the toenail*

      "Oh, yours is coming! We'll have our day! Yes-sirree!"

      *kick kick kick*

      "We're open source and free and real agile with a moral high ground and all kinds of stuff, and you are goin' DOWN!"

      *lots more petulant kicking*

      The dinosaur looks down, puzzled. It tickles. It also squishes.

      --
      Any sufficiently advanced technology is insufficiently documented.
    2. Re:There's probably more they could learn from IBM by SparkyFlooner · · Score: 2, Funny

      I'll even further that.

      One of these days, Microsoft will completely cease to exist. The end has already begun.

      It may not be in the next five years...or even 5 billion years...but it's coming.

    3. Re:There's probably more they could learn from IBM by colinrichardday · · Score: 4, Funny

      You do realize that dinosaurs are extinct and rats aren't?

  3. hmmm, What could Microsoft Learn from OSS & L by MrCopilot · · Score: 4, Funny
    How to not pay it's developers.

    --
    OSGGFG - Open Source Gamers Guide to Free Games
  4. Re:Code Release by rock217 · · Score: 1, Funny

    Yah but who really wants to implement things like:

    void randomly_BSOD_within(int seconds)

    or

    void set_ignore_show_clippy_preference()

    --
    Wah Sig!
  5. What Microsoft Could Learn from OSS and Linux? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    maybe change the name to Billux or Gatesex?

  6. Correction by BlakeReid · · Score: 5, Funny

    I honestly wonder if they will eventually "get" that releasing MS Office code to the open source community is their only option


    I honestly wonder if they will eventually "get" that releasing MS Office code to the open source community is their only option if they really want to stop making almost 3 billion dollars a year in sales.

    There, fixed that for ya.
  7. Re:Title by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    How about:

    "Trolls Please Share What You Think M$ Could Learn From OSS and Linux. And Does M$ Suck Regardless"?

  8. Re:Code Release by Miguel+de+Icaza · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yah but who really wants to implement things like:
    void randomly_BSOD_within(int seconds)
    or
    void set_ignore_show_clippy_preference()

    For some of us, this is a good living
    --
    Before adopting WHATWG, read the moonlight.NET EULA [http://www.microsoft.com/interop/msnovellcollab/moonlight.mspx]
  9. Release MS Office Code? by phalse+phace · · Score: 4, Funny

    "I honestly wonder if they will eventually 'get' that releasing MS Office code to the open source community is their only option."

    Billg: "That's the dumbest fucking idea I've heard since I've been at Microsoft."

  10. Re:Woohoo! by hondo77 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hey, that's not fair. He fixes PCs & tinkers & stuff. ;-)

    --
    I live ze unknown. I love ze unknown. I am ze unknown.
  11. Re:Office and Exchange are why people buy Windows by asninn · · Score: 2, Funny

    But messing with Office is messing with the crown jewels.

    Or the family jewels, judging from their (re)actions...

    --
    butter the donkey
  12. Re:Damn, I wish I had mod points for you. by Zak3056 · · Score: 2, Funny

    When Merck decides to move to Office 2007, guess what all these companies have to do in order to continue working with Merck?


    Install the compatibility pack?

    --
    What part of "shall not be infringed" is so hard to understand?
  13. Re:Office and Exchange are why people buy Windows by sarathmenon · · Score: 2, Funny

    You modded you interesting? Yup, and I modded I funny.

    --
    Microsoft: "You've got questions. We've got dancing paperclips."