Ballmer: We are winning on server and desktop

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Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has criticised the lack of innovation in open-source software and accused the community of merely trying to "clone" commercial software.

Speaking at Microsoft's Worldwide Partner Conference in Toronto today, Ballmer admitted that open source is "keeping us on our feet" but, describing himself as a caged animal on the topic, he said Windows is the safe technology bet for customers and partners today.

"What is winning most of the assignments on the server and virtually all the assignments on the desktop?"

Ballmer also hit back at criticism that Microsoft has stifled software innovation.

"Where's the technology innovation going to happen? Technology innovation has happened much more from commercial companies than open source. Open source has just been trying to do clones of commercial software. That's all Linux is -- a clone of Unix," he said.

Ballmer said that with commercial software, businesses are guaranteed a "clear chain of responsibility" with regards to support and intellectual property. "Who's going to stand up and stand behind open source? No such clear line of responsibility exists."

Outlining target areas for growth over the next 12 months, Ballmer said the installed Novell and IBM Lotus Notes bases are "ripe for picking".

"There are more customers I've met in the last six months interested in Notes to Exchange migration than in the last five years."

Talkback

Oh please!
"Technology innovation has happened much more from commercial companies than open source. Open source has just been trying to do clones of commercial software."
Yeah but hold on. It does the same job and it's FREE! Geddit!
Does Ballmer have a clue how much open source software there actually is out there ?
Has he been to Sourceforge ?
I sincerly doubt it!
I don't see Microsoft render farms yet. Is that what StFU aims to do ? a slow render farm.
FUD FUD FUD
Just as well ZDNet's a Microsoft shop otherwise we'd have to put up with objective reporting, perish the thought.

via Facebook 13 July, 2004 20:37
Reply

He just doesn't get it does he. OPEN SOURCE IS NOT LINUX. Linux is an operating system.
Open source is a software movement.
Guess what Steve, there's Open Source software for Windows, and millions of people around the world use it every day and it doesn't cost money. Hey you know what the clincher is - a lot of this Open Source software has no commercial version because the Open Source version is unrivalled.
Enough FUD please!

via Facebook 13 July, 2004 20:45
Reply

"Microsoft needs to do a better job of convincing customers that the latest versions of its products are worth having"

Really ? are people so stupid that they can't make their own minds up ?

" Technology innovation has happened much more from commercial companies than open source. Open source has just been trying to do clones of commercial software"

Yeah well money must be more important that allowing people who can't afford software to use it I guess.

Ever heard of Blender ? It used to be closed source. Cheap, but closed source. People payed to open source it. You now have a choice of either paying megabucks for a 3D renderer, becoming a *bad* pirate and copying an expensive 3D renderer, or using the free open source one. Which one would you choose if you couldn't afford it ;-)

via Facebook 13 July, 2004 20:54
Reply

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