Pay attention, world. Microsoft thinks Linux is unsafe. Because as Nick McGrath, head of platform strategy at Microsoft, told us on Friday, Linux will fragment as people jockey for competitive advantage. Look what happened to Unix.
This is a sea change in Microsoft policy. Until now Linux has been bad because it's non-commercial, almost un-American in its cooperative nature. Now we see that competition is bad, because it encourages people to differentiate products. No cooperation, no competition? It's almost as if the company is saying that the only safe software is that imposed by dictat. Surely not.
There is no doubt that Unix's history of splitting into mutually antagonistic fiefdoms helped the Microsoft empire grow. It would be very good news for Microsoft if Linux were to do the same. Unfortunately, the world seems ill-disposed to organise itself on that basis these days.
The degree of interoperability within Linux and with non-Linux products is formidable. Not only is it much easier to create and maintain this in open source software than in closed systems, it is in everyone's interests. The business model has moved on from selling expensive operating systems: it's what you do with them that matters. Flexibility, openness, interconnectivity are essential -- and mandated, by the nature of open source licensing. Breaking away would be suicidal, were it possible. Compatibility is a law of nature here.
At some point, Microsoft will have to come to terms with reality. People are prepared to co-operate with their rivals – at least, those people who look like rivals in the old mindset -- because to do so creates a better environment in which to build complex systems and sell services. Not only is this sound commercial and practical sense, but it's intellectually satisfying to make such things happen -- a motivational factor that once drove Microsoft but which now is as alien to the company as the surface of Titan. As long as the company keeps demonstrating that it is living in the past, there is no danger of that changing any time soon.
Talkback
Good article, I enjoyed reading it. I thought it was kind of insightful, looking at the Linux VS. MS story from another angle.
like unix did or like windows95 to windowsNT?
Microsoft seems to have forgotten that the GPL precludes the sort of fragmentation that destroyed the proprietary Unix variants. Since most GNU/Linux software is realeased under the GPL, any valuable contribution made by anybodyis available to all. This allows GNU/Linux to evolve in Darwinian fashion; bad forks will die, good ones will prosper. Since the ability to run the same applications is a major selection criteria for operating systems, variants of Linux that can not run all of the popular application software will not survive. it is the application software that users care about, not the operating system.
Nice article!. Isn't it amazing the depths that Microsoft is prepared to go in order to pursuade people not to use linux. First we had the OEM's being prevented selling anything but microsoft on their PC's. Then we had the FUD about costs (Hey Windows on a desktop PC is a lot cheaper than Linux on a mainframe.. doh..) they even have all the poster child companies on their website all with a phrase along the lines of "we saved x% using microsoft compared to if we had used Linux" (in fact looking at this page where I am entering this message we have both Toyota & Motorola which no doubt will have the above phrase in their write ups), We've had noises about patent problems (Along with their donations to SCO). And now the "linux will fragment" comments.. Fact is Microsoft is scared ! Look at the open standards that goverments are wanting and how microsoft are all of a sudden wanting to "appear" open exept they specificly limit their use in GPL applications (well make it 100% incompatible with the GPL). Look at the EU court case where they want to be open but not with GPL applications. Linux has Microsoft scared. No longer can they compete by removing the competition. Microsoft need to change their ways or they won't be around for much longer (Good thing or Bad thing.. You Decide!)
"It boils down to two things: Microsoft has infinite money, and the rest of the world, combined around Linux, has infinite money." - From this link:
http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT2631955248.html
The difference is that MS wants all the money but fewer and fewer companies, goverments and individuals accept that and the lock-in, that MS is trying to force upon them as their only "easy" way to expand.
And MS ability to compete in innovation is very limited.
The OSS world will surpase MS in every respect.
Still Goverments as the EU have an responsibility to resist
abuse by any momopoly.
Let's see.. Just about any 2.4.xx kernel dist of Linux, with or without LSB can, if I track down the libraries, run just about any Linux program written.. I have the sources, right?
On the other hand.. We have MS Win 95, 98, 2000, ME, Server 2003, NT 3.x, NT 4x, XP & soon to be XP-64.. and I am supposed to believe that across that field, Microsoft has greater interoperability?? I don't think so! And neither does Microsoft.. look at their 'warnings' about 'upgrading'.
MS/Sun busy pointing out advantges of XP/Solaris over Linux shows one thing.. Linux has them Both scared.. sweet irony.
It said Win 95 or better so I used Linux!