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Microsoft's latest attack on Linux

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by jmottl

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Microsoft recently broadened its attack on Linux and related operating systems by giving away a set of tools for migrating applications to Windows. (Check out the story at http://news.com.com/2100-1016_3-5140237.html).
What impact, if any, do you think this will have on keeping Linux down?
Judy Mottl
Senior Editor, Member Engagement

9 replies

by oldefar

Microsoft lends credibility to Linux as a valid alternative with every attack. After all, why would it bother if Linux was not a threat?

by penguinvitamins2

Check out Wine, you'll be surprised what you can run on Linux!

It's close to impossible to watch all emerging trends and technologies, even for a big corporate like Microsoft. However ignoring a trend for too long, one that is potentially a threat to a core part of one's business, is outright stupid.

These days when I visit seminars of above mentioned firm, I get a bundle of white papers on Linux. Thanks! It teaches me even more of the alternative Operating system. OK, some of these papers outright sucks.

(PS I believe both OS's have its place in the market. I use both, it depends on the situation/need.)

-Stefan

by roy.maines

As a former Microsoft employee - I am not a big basher of MS. - But I really think they are missing the boat on LINUX. The move to open systems standards is picking up momentum. In order to continue their success - they need to embrace the open systems initiatives by developing tools that allow MS products to be leveraged by Linux.

by gaston nusimovich

Let me disagree on this issue. I think MS is right on target. The move to .NET is the right thing to do from the strategic stand point. If all other MS products are .NET-based, the OS under the .NET sandbox could be Windows or Linux, so the OS becomes a non-issue. I think MS is buying time with this skirmishes to complete the move to .NET.

by hal 9000

I think that Microsoft would prefer to see the end of Linux and just go with Windows and Unix for the big end of town where Windows isn't usefull.

SCO anounced a fair while ago that Microsoft had bought the rights to use Unix so it seems only apporiate that they would prefer to see thsi product suceeded at the expence of Linux which still has a place that Microsoft just can not fill so with Unix onboard thay should have the whole market covered and Linux would remain a big threat to them if it continued.

Col

by sjpatrick01

Comeon, Microsoft will eventually learn that there is profit in open source. Will it be too late? I think not.

by wgheath

I've always gotten the idea that Microsoft thinks the World owes it everything and that is why they have continually added more and more code keys and other security walls to their software. While other software developers are letting us have software either at bargain basement prices or in some cases for free...Microsoft wants to charge as much as they think they can for their software. True, they develope a lot of great software but I'm sure if you think back, there are quite a few software programs that were appropriated from others. As you know, Windows is not really a start from scratch software program. That was originally conceived by Apple. The MSbackup program for dos was gotten from another source as well. These are just a few examples. So, personally I think that to charge customers 2, 3 or even 400 dollars for software is a little on the steep side. This is one of the reasons they are going after Linux and anyone else that is willing to let us get software for little or nothing...they just can't stand to not make the big bucks from it. I agree, If Linux were not a viable program, why bother.
wgheath

by hal 9000

Zerox not Apple. It was just that Apple got it out first but Zerox developed the Lidia {I think} that was a true Network Setup which could share memory CPU or whatever was required across the LAN/WAN but Zerox being as forward looking as they are scrapped the whole thing but first invited all the oppisitionin to have a look see before they dropped the idea and went back to what they do best making coppiers.

Incidently that GUI ran on Unix so watchout here comes Linux growing up fast.

Col

by dc_guy

"I believe both [Windows and Linux] have their place in the market." Stefan, you forgot OS-X. ^_^ A growing number of us are totally disgusted with the entire universe of PC-architecture IT. We're ready to just start over, as difficult as it will be. As I have said many times, if the world's "plumbing infrastructure" were engineered to the same quality standards as its "information infrastructure," no one would be willing to stay in the room after pushing the flush handle on a toilet.

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