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Microsoft Linux!
Forbes ^ | 11.02.06 | Daniel Lions

Posted on 11/06/2006 8:04:56 AM PST by Halfmanhalfamazing

Microsoft has announced a partnership with Novell and will help promote Linux.

This is stunning. This is like Red Sox fans announcing they're going to root for the Yankees.

Microsoft has spent ten years bashing the free-of-charge open-source Linux operating system and trying to kill it. Now Microsoft is making nice.

(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: bestofgoldeneagle; bestofiggle; gebait; linux; microsoft; novell; suse; threadjester
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To: Golden Eagle

You know......... I have to ask.........

Well, let me ask this first. Can you directly answer this question or will you give some answer deserving of a liberal politican or the NYT?

In your opinion, who is furthest to the left?

A. Linus Torvalds.
B. Bill Gates.
C. Steve Jobs.

There is no answer D, those are the only three choices. Nobody is arguing that Stallman is sane.


21 posted on 11/06/2006 7:12:02 PM PST by Halfmanhalfamazing (Linux, the #2 OS. Mac, the #3 OS. That's why Picasa is on Linux and not Mac.)
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To: Halfmanhalfamazing

$100.00 Linux, oh boy!


22 posted on 11/06/2006 7:12:17 PM PST by bmwcyle (Only stupid people would vote for McCain, Warner, Hagle, Snowe, Graham, or any RINO)
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To: ShadowAce
" These are just musings, though. I'll be watching this with some interest, anyway."

Same here. Thanks for keeping us updated!

23 posted on 11/06/2006 7:14:10 PM PST by KoRn
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To: ShadowAce

if you can't beat em, join em.


24 posted on 11/06/2006 7:48:36 PM PST by stainlessbanner
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To: ShadowAce

I think the smartest thing that MS has done recently is to make free their virtual machine. Let's you enjoy the best of both worlds.


25 posted on 11/06/2006 8:06:46 PM PST by KayEyeDoubleDee (const Tag &referenceToConstTag)
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To: Golden Eagle
Yeah - you're right.

Users of Microsoft software would never be so criminal. But users and developers of open source software are all a bunch of Stallman-esque Communist Criminal Thieves.

Guess I'll be rottin' in 'ell.

And I don't even use any of these Codecs on Linux - just on my Windows systems. And I've freely given of my time and talents in far greater value to Open Source software than I've ever paid legally purchasing the proprietary software that I use. And to the best of my knowledge, I have purchased a legal license to all the proprietary software that I possess.

It's no use. I've fallen in with a bunch of Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves.

Hmmm ... if Microsoft users are so damn honest, how come Microsoft spends so much money trying to minimize theft of their product?

26 posted on 11/06/2006 8:14:07 PM PST by ThePythonicCow (We are but Seekers of Truth, not the Source.)
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To: KoRn
The catch is that Microsoft thinks it can force its corporate users to use Novell SUSE, not some other Linux, in order to avoid the risk of patent lawsuits. This may be inviolation of the GPL v2 clause:
You may not impose any further restrictions on the rights granted by the GPL.
But going up against Microsoft lawyers on this matter would be much harder than going up against SCO lawyers.

It's classic Microsoft (what's the phrase commonly used?) embracing and suffocating of competition.

27 posted on 11/06/2006 8:24:02 PM PST by ThePythonicCow (We are but Seekers of Truth, not the Source.)
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To: ThePythonicCow
" It's classic Microsoft (what's the phrase commonly used?) embracing and suffocating of competition."

I might add: Ripping off someone else's work, selling it as your own, or giving it away to drive them out of business.

28 posted on 11/06/2006 8:30:02 PM PST by KoRn
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To: Golden Eagle
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^I wonder what MS' real aims are...

The same as always, to get paid for their intellectual property^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Uh huh. Anybody who's followed MS' history knows there's more to it than that. SJVN asks the obvious question.

I can't think of a single software company that has ever done well in an alliance with Microsoft. Can you?

Now, I'm sure there's a handful who have. But let's compare the short list vs the long list. SJVN is dead on.

29 posted on 11/06/2006 8:41:55 PM PST by Halfmanhalfamazing (Linux, the #2 OS. Mac, the #3 OS. That's why Picasa is on Linux and not Mac.)
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To: Golden Eagle
Might not work for Novell though, since most existing Linux users have an unending hatred of Microsoft, and would apparently rather just download stuff from DVD Jon in Amsterdam than worry about properly paying for their IP.

Businesses are the target purchasers, not home computer users.

Businesses are driven much more by the bottom line than by pet juvenile prejudices. Businesses have said they want interoperability between linux and Microsoft applications. That's what this partnership is intended to do.

It's part of the necessary maturing of linux as it becomes an established long-term player in the business market. Microsoft tried but couldn't kill linux. Novell has the best and most comprehensive intellectual property portfolio related to linux (and Unix)--something Red Hat lacks. It only makes sense for Microsoft to strike a posture of detente vis a vis linux through Novell.

That said, Microsoft is demonstrably predatory and Novell will have to keep one eye on it all the time.

Final note: yes, Novell is paying royalties to Microsoft. But Microsoft is also paying royalties to Novell. The royalties pretty much offset each other; Novell may be slightly ahead.

30 posted on 11/06/2006 8:53:27 PM PST by JCEccles
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To: Halfmanhalfamazing

It is stuning...

OTOH with the exception of one laptop running SLED, I no longer run Suse...

Still, it's sad to see a good distro die a slow painful death...


31 posted on 11/07/2006 2:31:05 AM PST by rzeznikj at stout (Boldly Going Nowhere...)
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To: Halfmanhalfamazing
Like Stallman, Torvalds isn't being fully compensated for all the existing copies of his work either, there's no royalties given to him, and his copyrights are practically useless in ensuring his long term wealth since he gives them away with Stallman's "copyleft" license. His obvious lack of concern for protecting his work has resulted in the big companies playing him for a token fool, he had to admit he didn't know anything about the deal the night it was announced, while his current employer OSDL was on stage celebrating with Microsoft and Novell. He's even been played worse than the lady at Jokelaw, although I think she's starting to catch on.
32 posted on 11/07/2006 5:33:17 AM PST by Golden Eagle (Buy American. While you still can.)
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To: ThePythonicCow
It's classic Microsoft (what's the phrase commonly used?) embracing and suffocating of competition.

Embrace, Extend, and Extinguish™.

33 posted on 11/07/2006 5:34:52 AM PST by kevkrom (John F'n Kerry's 'apology': "I'm sorry you were too stupid to realize I wasn't calling you stupid.")
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To: ThePythonicCow
Yeah - you're right. Users of Microsoft software would never be so criminal. But users and developers of open source software are all a bunch of Stallman-esque Communist Criminal Thieves.

I didn't say "all", I said twice that "most" Linux users don't pay for their use of well-known patented technology, such as DVD and MP3 players. If you're one of the few that respects property of that sort, and either don't use it or pay for using it, then that is commendable and speaks highly of your character. I wish there were more out there like you, but unfortunately most just download some free hack from Amsterdam instead. What ARE the options for loading legal DVD/MP3 players on Linux, and how much do they cost? Thanks.

34 posted on 11/07/2006 5:45:24 AM PST by Golden Eagle (Buy American. While you still can.)
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To: Halfmanhalfamazing
I can't think of a single software company that has ever done well in an alliance with Microsoft. Can you? Now, I'm sure there's a handful who have. But let's compare the short list vs the long list.

Enlarging your fonts isn't necessary. Obviously Novell wouldn't have done this unless they thought it was necessary. But, unfortunately for them, Linux hasn't helped their bottom line really at all despite their hope to somehow make big money off "free" software. This is their admission that business plan doesn't really work, except perhaps for one dominant company, like Red Hat, which may not make it now either since Oracle is making free copies of their work and cutting in on their already puny support dollars.

Novell is going to try to "Appleize" Linux, and include lots of proprietary code in there to distinguish themselves from all the cloners and hopefully earn a license fee for each copy. Will it work? Who knows, but it's the smartest thing anyone has tried yet. Unless you think the leftist utopian dream of all software being free is somehow smart.

35 posted on 11/07/2006 5:58:19 AM PST by Golden Eagle (Buy American. While you still can.)
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To: JCEccles
Businesses are the target purchasers, not home computer users.

Agreed, but they are likely going to lose a lot of their anti-Microsoft users who liked Novell simply because they saw it as an antithesis to SCO, but now see Novell as acting like SCO. the lady at Jokelaw said this deal made her want to "throw up", and her site is loaded with others who feel the same.

It's part of the necessary maturing of linux as it becomes an established long-term player in the business market.

Yes, one version of Linux may finally be earning some respectability, by recognizing the existing laws of business, instead of constantly trying to break them like has always been the goal of the free software radicals like Stallman.

Novell is paying royalties to Microsoft. But Microsoft is also paying royalties to Novell. The royalties pretty much offset each other; Novell may be slightly ahead.

That's not my understanding of the deal. Novell is paying royalties to Microsoft for each copy of Linux sold, while Microsoft is only agreeing to buy ~75K copies per year, of which they may even get their royalty. Microsoft may have even paid that full amount for those licenses up front, which is probably why cash-strapped Novell did the deal in the first place, we'll see when the details are released to the SEC later this week. It will take more time to tell if it was a smart move for either, but I don't think it will be unless they figure out a way to get Stallman's loons kicked out of Linux completely, which won't be easy, but this is a step in that direction.

36 posted on 11/07/2006 6:11:21 AM PST by Golden Eagle (Buy American. While you still can.)
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To: Halfmanhalfamazing

Watch for 'extensions' that make it proprietary.

And in the bigger picture, watch for standardization of a new hybrid that will work for globalists.


37 posted on 11/07/2006 6:13:23 AM PST by The Spirit Of Allegiance (Public Employees: Honor Your Oaths! Defend the Constitution from Enemies--Foreign and Domestic!)
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To: Golden Eagle
Novell has agreed to pay them patent royalties for Linux, while MS tries to sell Novell Linux to their customers.

Don't forget, Microsoft agreed to pay royalties to Novell. IOW, Microsoft's products are likely as infringing.

Might not work for Novell though, since most existing Linux users have an unending hatred of Microsoft,

This is mainly about business users, not fringe open source people who are as philosophical about their software as you are.

and would apparently rather just download stuff from DVD Jon in Amsterdam

You have your usual level of knowledge of the subject, but three strikes in one sentence is a first. First, Amsterdam is not in Norway, which is where DVD Jon is from. Second, DVD Jon lives in America now. Third, DVD Jon is now working on proprietary iTunes/iPod interoperability software.

38 posted on 11/07/2006 6:15:55 AM PST by antiRepublicrat
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To: antiRepublicrat
Microsoft agreed to pay royalties to Novell.

Source?

39 posted on 11/07/2006 6:19:12 AM PST by Golden Eagle (Buy American. While you still can.)
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To: Golden Eagle
Torvalds isn't being fully compensated for all the existing copies of his work

He has been fully paid millions of dollars in value.

40 posted on 11/07/2006 6:20:12 AM PST by antiRepublicrat
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