What Microsoft Could Learn from OSS and Linux

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.'"

Comments

Right, the next headline will be...

[MightyYar]

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?

Re:Right, the next headline will be...

[caluml]

What is a Hippy Show? Did you mean Hippies?

Re:Right, the next headline will be...

[CrimsonScythe]

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!

hmmm, What could Microsoft Learn from OSS & L

[MrCopilot]

How to not pay it's developers.

Correction

[BlakeReid]

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.

Re:Code Release

[Miguel de Icaza]

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

Release MS Office Code?

[phalse phace]

"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."

Re:Woohoo!

[hondo77]

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

Re:There's probably more they could learn from IBM

[kabdib]

*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.

Re:Office and Exchange are why people buy Windows

[asninn]

But messing with Office is messing with the crown jewels.

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

Re:There's probably more they could learn from IBM

[SparkyFlooner]

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.

Re:Damn, I wish I had mod points for you.

[Zak3056]

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?

Re:There's probably more they could learn from IBM

[colinrichardday]

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

Re:Office and Exchange are why people buy Windows

[sarathmenon]

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