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Microsoft-Novell Takes Open-Source to China
Bibek Paudel writes "In a move to tap the growing market of free and open source-softwares in developing economies, Microsoft and Novell have announced they were expanding their alliance into the Chinese market. Microsoft and Novell believe big enterprises in China are willing to pay to have the US firms keep hybrid systems updated and running and for assurances that there is permission to use patented software involved. The companies are marketing 'supported Linux' in which they take a fee to maintain software systems blending the open-source programs with Microsoft products such as Vista, Office, Excel and Outlook.The longtime US computer software rivals unveiled their alliance in late 2006, saying their engineers were 'building a bridge' between Microsoft's proprietary software and Novell programs based on the Linux operating system. Sunday was the first time the firms publicly targeted a specific country with their effort."
Considering how rampant software piracy has been reported to be in China, is this perhaps a sign that Microsoft is looking for a way to make a buck on that market, even if they can't sell much software per capita?
Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
I'm not sure if "being supported by giant corporations" was such a good idea for the so called "linux movement".
Sure, easy cash was one thing, but selling out to Novell and the rest was a pretty stupid mistake. Recall the kindness of Novell when they buried one Kevin Mitnick for "looking at, and copying their source code"... yeah, that Novell.
I have 50 bucks that say this will all be done to try to put Red Hat and the other useful groups out of business. After that, expect to see them claim that "most of the GPL source is no longer in use" etc. Hell, after Stallman dies, I can almost guarantee that they'll buy out the entire GNU foundation or buy seats on the leadership of the GNU and steer it back into the fold.
Am I surprised? Nope, not one bit.
" What luck for rulers that men do not think" - Adolf Hitler
Because they figure that they will get the least resistance from true open source users there. Microsoft is going to try everything it can to dilute the effects of open source on their business strategies. China is the perfect place to build some momentum, and then trumpet their success on the rest of the market.
"To those who are overly cautious, everything is impossible. "
China plans to export Democracy to the US. Film at 11:00.
What if the Hokey Pokey really is what it's all about?
WARNING: DO NOT CLICK the link in parent post. Contains malware and popups.
"The New Age. The New Beginning."
"Microsoft and Novell believe big enterprises in China are willing to pay to have the US firms keep hybrid systems updated and running and for assurances that there is permission to use patented software involved."
How do I mod the article +1 Funny?
China plans to export Democracy to the US. Film at 11:00. I'm glad I'm not the only one that sees it too. When MS comes up with an effective business model (or, you know,starves as a company) wake me up.
If it happens in China, how will they deny the same offering from the rest of the world? Ain't gonna happen...
Hey everybody, I'm looking at gay porno! Seriously, the above link is last measure.
THAT will teach those pesky Chinese not to infiltrate our networks!
Down With Slashdot BETA!!! I've been around the corner and seen the oliphant; you can only abuse me from your perspecti
Microsoft is actually a perfect match for Communist China. The MSFT corporate philosophy is very similar to the Communist party: it thrives in monopoly, eliminates rivals by any possible means, behaves as if they were above the law, ignore criticism, etc.
So in other words, Novell tells us that the Microsoft deal was a mistake, when the result is appeasing those who are mad at them for betraying open-source to Microsoft. Now? Oh look, there's more money to be made -- by the way, it was a good idea after all. All this will do is establish a link between Linux and Microsoft patents in this unstable software market; a link which I assume Microsoft wants be able to export to software markets in the US. China is a big corporate player, and if they're able to say that MS approved Linux is being sold in China, they are much more likely to be able to swindle naive CEOs into paying for MS Linux here as well. Anyone else getting tired of this general corporate swindling?
Is MS going to support "Red Linux" or whatever its called. They don't seem to trust any software made somewhere other than China, and I don't blame them. I think MS is doomed on this initiative. Hey, maybe the Chinese will eventually buy MS? They have so much of our money now.
http://www.novell.com/zh-cn/CN/news/press/microsoft-and-novell-extend-reach-of-interoperability-collaboration-to-china/
...once the malware link has been modded to -1 Troll or worse, there's no need to mod the warning to +4 Informative -- it just gets in the way of the real posts. So long as WarningPostScore > BadPostScore, it'll be seen!
(Thanks to the people pointing these out though.)
The first one is always free...
Extreme Programming - Redundant Array of Inexpensive Developers
If history is any indication, this is a ploy by MS to get Novell to totally destroy Novell
Novell, per usually is more than willing to participate
It serves the leaders of the country to retain control of the people by making sure that every piece of software contains something for the government. Free software leads to free minds, is what they might be promoting. I think monopoly and autocracy are good friends. Just MHO.
Or take distros. Look at the well-put-together and widely used distributions, and they all have one thing in common: whilst being community efforts, they are usually sponsored by or affiliated with a corporation. Ubuntu - Canonical; Fedora - Red Hat; Madriva - Mandrakesoft, etc. The only major exception I can think of is Debian.
The fact is that without the support of corporations, following from the efforts of people like Bruce Perens to persuade companies of the benefits of following an open-source business model, Linux would be vastly behind where it is today.
What's purple and commutes? An Abelian grape.
I'm not sure if "being supported by giant corporations" was such a good idea for the so called "linux movement". my thoughts precisely.
I had forgotten about Redflag Linux.
To the rest of us this is a LOL story, but lots of people around the globe still don't know Linux yet. Ready for MS/Novell to put the spin to paint themselves as the face of Linux to the developing world? MS-Novell knows that a rising powerful nation with 1/5 of entire planet population is the biggest user market they can pursue. MS will do anything to muscle in on the Linux action, maybe even including creating its own Linux brand (Windows 8?). OOXML is just a sampling. Still feel safe staying in the server market only, Redhat?
That can't be said enough, a lot of the things Linux is currently capable of would not otherwise have been possible, or at least would not have happened yet.
Vendor support and development is a huge advantage.
This is equivalent to Microsoft throwing a few cases of SuSE coupons in with each freight container of surplus CRT monitors. Ultimately all of it winds up shredded and scattered in farmer's field somewhere, leaking its toxins into the ground.
And from their point of view, better there than here.
When they did this deal I suggested using them as wallpaper, but the labor to paper that many halls in Redmond is probably more expensive than doing it this way.
Help stamp out iliturcy.
If anything, the Chinese will just learn whatever magic sauce the MS/Novell alliance can offer and then just do it themselves. If yo
Engineering is the art of compromise.
Novell is quick becoming the legitimizing company for microsoft in the "open source" arena.
The quotes become necessary, when the community allowed Novell, without strongly punishing it for it, to split the FOSS camp between "Microsoft backed FOSS" and just plain foss.
Novell's sales strategy, their willingness to leverage of microsoft to move into what has, until now, been a Red Hat (a red hat that contributes to free software, that doesn not play into microsoft's hands, that only shipped GPL compatible java) dominated market; proves that theyll go wherever they have to go to enter the FOSS market... even lying to the whole Industry about microsoft claims of ownership of IP within FOSS projects.
They are essentially saying that they are the "Microsoft-Compatible" Linux, the one that plays nice with windows, without also saying the truth: they cant do ANYTHING with ANY part of their OS that they dont have to SHARE with the rest of the distro's. They are using the microsoft deal to differentiate their brand. Its a lowly tactic that goes straight into the heart of all of our ideals, even if youre strictly an "Open Source" kind of guy.
I told you. We needed Linus to retire the right for novell to sell anything with the Linux brand on it.
They are not friends of us anymore.
NO SIG
Debian is sponsored by many companies who use it, and lately some development is sponsored as part of the Google Summer of Code. Now you could even argue it's indirectly supported by Canonical, since a lot of the work done on Ubuntu benefits Debian almost as much.
Sam ty sig.
Ultimately all of it winds up shredded and scattered in farmer's field somewhere, leaking its toxins into the ground. And from their point of view, better there than here.Ultimately all of it winds up shredded and scattered in farmer's field somewhere, leaking its toxins into the ground. And from their point of view, better there than here.
There's propaganda and real market value going on here. I read they were also selling them to the French Police for desktops and Renault for automotive systems, so there's more to this than waste disposal. Notice that they are pretending to have some kind of patent lever over both free software and China. If they convince China that real trade sanctions would follow if they disobey, there will be some insignificant return of US Import dollars. The real goal is to convince US companies that the Soft somehow owns all free software - that's where the money is. It's not like either US or China is going to buy into Vista and Office 2007.
I am a name troll of Westlake. Visit my homepage to learn why.
I doubt China wants any software from Microsoft on a long run. They would prefer to write their own and sell it around the world. There is nothing to prevent them, Windows, Office, Exchange is not rocket science, China has plenty of qualified programmers. It would not only eliminate "backdoor security risks" for the new superpower, MS is also a perfect target to demonstrate the world the increasing power and influence of China.
Microsoft spent 5 years and an estimated 10 billion dollars on the miserably failed Vista, a clear indication of fundamental flaws and weakness at the Gates empire.
You can say the same kind of thing about what constitutes "Windows". What Microsoft provides is a rather sparse framework for the non free community to fill in with drivers and applications that do useful things. This is natural because there are far more of us than there are people working for Bill Gates directly.
The difference, of course, is freedom. In the free software world, there's no central tyrant to extract tolls for every little piece of information or SDK. It is true that a lot of work is now coming from companies, and not just for the kernel, but none of that grants real control when the code is copyleft. Just as in the world of Windows, no single company contributes a very large share on it's own and they can't.
This is all bad news for Microsoft because they are being replaced. They go their revenue from controlling a few central and critical pieces of the hardware and software world. Free software can do the same things, why would anyone go back to paying the Microsoft tax when they can get everything done by simply cooperating?
Microsoft can exterminate commercial vendors but they will always crop up faster than they go down. Community developed distributions will continue, with or without commercial help and there will always be a market for customizing that free software for particular clients. Customization is what most IT work is and most IT workers would prefer to have restrictionless raw material.
It's doubtful anyone will be able to corrupt the Free Software Foundation or the GNU Project. Too many people understand the practical uses of freedom for Microsoft to ever be able to put the genie back in the bottle. Microsoft and Novell can play silly games in non free countries, no one cares.
SuSE Linux used to be free, prior to the sell out to Novell, that is.
Speaking of which, Im currently searching for a SuSE 9.2 distro DVD which seems a hard task as Google finds bazillions of old news linking to long since deleted mirrors. Is there any spot in the web where outdated ancient Distros get archived (for download)
605413? Yes, it's a prime.
Yep, I'm not talking about the companies we've known and been supported by (and have supported when our cash flows and cheapness allowed) but more referring to those particular bastions of liberty like Novell, Sun, IBM, etc. Sure, IBM may be "reformed" today, but either way, even that company has some blood on its hands far into the past.
:)
Novell has more recent blood. Microsoft I don't even need to go into.
Going off to RedHat, Mandrakesoft and Canonical (or hell, even the nonprofits, Gentoo Foundation, etc) I don't recall them contributing to any mass murders or federal kangaroo courts or burials of individuals or groups. If you can, please notify me. There is a difference between a company that grew up AROUND the OSS and a company that is trying to capture a new piece of something they can make a quick buck on.
While making a quick buck is definitely part of human nature, I can't seem to recall too many of the "pre-OSS" companies that were built around sustainability of any kind (other than vendor lockin type crap.)
So lets rehash... sure, while many programmers may be paid for the code they write for the OSS community at large (and that's a good thing for them, while the current paradigm lasts), lets get serious, it DOES depend WHO pays them and more precisely, whose agenda they are playing into. I can safely bet that Novell doesn't have a huge stake in Linux succeeding, they just needed to buy something they could buy and quickly turn around and sell to replace their rather sluggish Netware 8 (or was it 9? I haven't kept up with versions since then), I believe it was (the one that ran Tomcat and seemed to make extensive use of Java.) I actually ran the trial run of the last Netware and was rather disappointed by how sluggish it was.
That being said, my whole point was, "be VERY careful whom you bed with for the night, or you might wake up with crabs and STD's." While it may seem that your new "born again Christian" girlfriend has "given up her gang bang ways," you should still wear a condom for the first few years
Microsoft and Novell have been "bed buddies" since they've been around (and while I'm sure Novell as an entity would love to do Microsoft one for rendering NDS obsolete with their ADS, they were still "lovers" at some point), you can pretty much guarantee that if you let either into your bed, you'll get whatever STD's they've both got from their past partnership.
" What luck for rulers that men do not think" - Adolf Hitler
I should've proofread. I should've instead mentioned, that it wasn't to replace Netware 8, but instead to replace the Windows desktop which they lost to the competing Active Directory services provided by microsoft's own Windows 2000 and later editions.
As a result, while buying Suse may have been a smart business investment, be assured that Novell will have little compunctions overwriting the will of their programmers who may or may not enjoy working with Unix, if a good screwover/partnership with Microsoft is more profitable.
Customers and employees are only valuable if they have a voice, and most of the monolithic corporations aren't exactly known for their respect for customers or employees.
" What luck for rulers that men do not think" - Adolf Hitler
Copyright infringement is "piracy" in the same way DRM is "consumer rape"
*Click!*
Yeah, right. I'll believe that when I can install Linux and have it detect all my hardware Just Right. /dev nodes for the SAME type of device depending on chipset? Do I need a /dev/nv and a /dev/atirad and a /dev/pieceocrap, one for each of the three graphics chips? NO.
And when it doesn't lock me out of my data because of brain-dead security settings. And when I'll find software that does what I need it to, using all the same toolkit. (KDE is almost there... and has been for ten years...)
When vital applications such as OOo don't take an hour to load.
When X11 finally at long last gets multi-threaded.
When NTFS support does not hog the whole CPU doing I/O, because lobotomized morons thought it would be a good idea to run it in userspace just so that it does NOT use DMA/BusMaster.
When applications that just Make My Life Easier do NOT hog my I/O all the time, like Amarok needs six hours to scan my media library, too. (On an NTFS drive, see above.)
When there is a WORKING ACPI implementation. Working as in "I close the laptop so it goes S3 and when I open it... I take out the plug and battery and pray to $DEITY that my filesystem is not TOO dead."
When lm-sensors includes defaults for all major mainboards. (That's been YEARS. I've tried all the major distros on all my PCs and never ever got that to work.)
When all webcams Just Work.
When TV apps Just Work (and the tuner card too)
When WiFi Just Works. At LEAST with Intel chips, because they're in ALL laptops. O, and, how comes there are three
And so on forever. There is ONE functional, integrated, perfect Desktop Unix and it's MacOSX. Let Linux go where the people who pay its developpers will : on Big Iron.
Making laws based on opinions that stem up from false informations leads to witch hunts.