Peter Fuckup - oops I meant Peter Firstbrook - has made a valid point.
In fact, he also shows why you shouldn't develop *any* software 'in house' as anyone could tweak the code and make changes that no-one else knows about!! The general principle seems to be 'STOP PROGRAMMERS CHANGING PROGRAMS'.
Alternatively, you could just implement a sturdy change control process! Now isn't that a Good Idea?
I think it is is inevitable that Microsoft are working on a port of Office for Linux... however, I think that this is something they will hold back from releasing so as not to assist Linux for the desktop. If Linux does increase significantly on desktop machines they will have to evaluate which is the worst threat to them: the threat to Windows or the threat to Office. When they gauge the time to be right and decide that ignoring Linux is working they will deliver Office in minimal time. Alternatively, if Linux doesn't make headway on desktop machines the Linux port of Office will be binned. Microsoft aren't stupid and I can imagine that there are a lot of people inside the company preparing battle plans to combat further Linux encroachment on what they regard as their territory. What I *really* wonder about is if they are thinking about creating a Linux distro of their own, or indeed a Windows desktop for Linux with Windows GUI and APIs.
Tim Berners-Lee (& CERN): developed/invented the Web, and then gave it away: that invention is now worth billions. The whole Web/HTTP/HTML thing is one of the most important Open Source developments - even though it is almost never refered to as such. Also, the Web is probably the most important contribution to the popularisation of the Internet. If the web had been invented by any other commercial organisation, it would have been subject to restrictive licensing arrangements, which would have slowed its growth. The W3C organisation tries to ensure that the Web continues to be open to all irrespective of platform or software. It would be nice to recognise Tim's contribution by granting the prize to Tim and the W3C.
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Peter Fuckup - oops I meant Peter Firstbrook - has made a valid point.
In fact, he also shows why you shouldn't develop *any* software 'in house' as anyone could tweak the code and make changes that no-one else knows about!! The general principle seems to be 'STOP PROGRAMMERS CHANGING PROGRAMS'.
Alternatively, you could just implement a sturdy change control process! Now isn't that a Good Idea?
I think it is is inevitable that Microsoft are working on a port of Office for Linux... however, I think that this is something they will hold back from releasing so as not to assist Linux for the desktop. If Linux does increase significantly on desktop machines they will have to evaluate which is the worst threat to them: the threat to Windows or the threat to Office. When they gauge the time to be right and decide that ignoring Linux is working they will deliver Office in minimal time.
Alternatively, if Linux doesn't make headway on desktop machines the Linux port of Office will be binned.
Microsoft aren't stupid and I can imagine that there are a lot of people inside the company preparing battle plans to combat further Linux encroachment on what they regard as their territory.
What I *really* wonder about is if they are thinking about creating a Linux distro of their own, or indeed a Windows desktop for Linux with Windows GUI and APIs.
Tim Berners-Lee (& CERN): developed/invented the Web, and then gave it away: that invention is now worth billions. The whole Web/HTTP/HTML thing is one of the most important Open Source developments - even though it is almost never refered to as such. Also, the Web is probably the most important contribution to the popularisation of the Internet. If the web had been invented by any other commercial organisation, it would have been subject to restrictive licensing arrangements, which would have slowed its growth. The W3C organisation tries to ensure that the Web continues to be open to all irrespective of platform or software. It would be nice to recognise Tim's contribution by granting the prize to Tim and the W3C.