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Story: Microsoft keeps its open source enemies close

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Microsoft is stupid. The only true signal of cooperation (and it has been asked for plenty of times by many) is to open up protocols and formats with no strings attached whatsoever. Rather then taking existing, established, formats and protocols and polluting them (or make their own version) with Microsoft copyrights and patents. Kerberos, Microsoft IPX, WMA, HTML, etc, etc. The list is long and plenty.

Open up the protocols and formats. It's what the Open Source community is after. But also Microsoft's own customers including governments. Heck, even some of their own partners have been asking for it.

Afterall, Microsoft claims to be the best innovator of the world and they claim that they are better (cheaper) in almost every aspect that counts.
And let us not forget Microsoft's enormous R&D and PR budget, contributing partner network and its devoted developer communities.

They talk the talk but they don't walk the walk.

Instead they do exactly what their opponents have pointed out all along and is starting to become clear to more people now. If Microsoft is indeed that good then why do they need to strong arm their opponents and their own customers into the corner all of the time? Shouldn't Microsoft be jumping at the chance to proof once and for all who can beat who hands down? Heck, do we here Microsoft's opponents crying about what an unfair match it would be if aspects like R&D budget and number of devoted partners and developers weren't in balance as well. No, as far as Microsoft's opponents are concerned Microsoft can start with all of those huge advantages well in place. But what does Microsoft do? Big mouthing and still strong arming. So who's really the best? Who really can give you better value for money, more bang for the buck, time and time again by offering you choice because they simply know that no matter how many oppurtunities they give you to leave you would have to be completely ignorant to actually do so.

Microsoft should put up or shut up.

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