Great article/editorial about MS and Bill Hilf | The Coffeehouse

ddewbofh
And so the world ends. Not with a bang, but with a whimper.

Yes, I know it's a risky subject but I found the article to good to pass up. It explores MS way to compete as well as co-exist in an open source enviroment. Talks a little about the various deals MS has made with open source companies and how other companies, like Oracle, are starting to embrace OSS.

It's a pretty level-headed read and there's no "bashing" going on as far as I can tell. I quite enjoyed reading it since the other stuff you read about open source deals on the net are usually very heavily skewed in both directions.

Check it out and let me know how you think, I'm curious over how the "real" linux people here interpret it.

http://redmondmag.com/features/article.asp?editorialsid=688

Edit: It sure looks like we're seeing the start of a new era in Microsoft, less "me, me, me" and more "us, us, us" Smiley

corona_coder
Only Proprietary software vendors deal in absolutes.

There is a huge difference between a business deal and being part of a community. Microsoft is incapable of being part of a community. If they were serious they would adopt ODF. they would issue a patent promise and they would issue any changes they make to Linux back to the community. They dont. This shows they dont to be part of the community, so I happily refuse to pay them for anything.

ddewbofh
And so the world ends. Not with a bang, but with a whimper.

Maybe they're too used to being the whole community (with small exceptions) and now that others are popping up they'll need to adapt? Is the best way to just blast FUD at them instead of some constructive criticism, like how they could improve on their relations. All the time you, and others like you, whine about how MS is evil, should be terminated but I never hear anything constructive.

Rotem Kirshenbaum
The Master Of Cherries

corona_coder wrote:

Microsoft is incapable of being part of a community.

Huh ?

Channel 9 / 10, Port 25, MSDN blogs, Gotdotnet - Aren't those communities ?

corona_coder wrote:

If they were serious they would adopt ODF

And this is relevant because ?

corona_coder wrote:

they would issue a patent promise and they would issue any changes they make to Linux back to the community. They dont

You should really check Port 25 before you make such silly accusations about ms & their relationship with the OSS community.

corona_coder
Only Proprietary software vendors deal in absolutes.

Rotem Kirshenbaum wrote:

corona_coder wrote:
Microsoft is incapable of being part of a community.

Huh ?

Channel 9 / 10, Port 25, MSDN blogs, Gotdotnet - Aren't those communities ?

corona_coder wrote:
If they were serious they would adopt ODF

And this is relevant because ?

corona_coder wrote:
they would issue a patent promise and they would issue any changes they make to Linux back to the community. They dont

You should really check Port 25 before you make such silly accusations about ms & their relationship with the OSS community.

I do read Port 25 and they have virtually no street cred with true open source communities.

Jack Poison
At what price, Freedom?

Corona,

Are you the one who defines "true" open source communities?

Also, what is your opinion on Sun and their Open Source Community in regards to Java?

Bas
It finds lightbulbs.

corona_coder wrote:
I do read Port 25 and they have virtually no street cred with true open source communities.

Whoa, true communities! So what does it take to be part of the 'real' communities? Do you have to wear the right brand clothes, or listen to the right music? 'cause I'm getting a very high schoolish feeling here.