MS Would Like You to Consider an Alternative to Linux for Your Server Needs

GROKLAW ^ | 12 January 2004 | Pamela Jones

[ShadowAce]

Remember when Microsoft bought a license from SCO back in May and you asked why they would bother? While the question is probably still valid, here is one likely answer. Yahoo News says Microsoft is preparing to launch its Windows Services For Unix 3.5:

"As LinuxWorld Expo approaches, Microsoft will try to upstage gains made by its open source nemeses next week by launching Windows Services For Unix 3.5. Windows Services for Unix 3.5, which is currently in beta testing and will be officially launched next week, is updated for the latest round of Windows offerings, Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP. . . . SFU is viewed as a key tool in Microsoft's arsenal for gaining Unix converts and preventing more Linux server wins."

Did we have to go through the SCO soap opera just for this? Is the strategy to make both Unix and Linux unpalatable, so everyone flocks to Microsoft? I can't help but note the timing, right after SCO sends Unix licensees a threatening letter. Up pops a Microsoft solution. Notice what the new product is for:

"The upgrade also significantly improves the ability to recompile Unix and Linux applications to run on Windows, said one key Microsoft executive in charge of battling the Linux threat.

"'It goes up into the 90 percent range,' said Martin Taylor, general manager for Platform Strategies at Microsoft, about the recompiling improvements.

"Taylor also noted the 3.5 edition adds a number of libraries and ASP.NET and CE.NET improvements that will enable easier corporation migrations from Unix to Windows, as well as interoperability of Windows in mixed environments."

Microsoft will have a booth at LinuxWorld to recruit you Linux crunchies to go work for them, which I know you are simply wild to do, especially if Microsoft ends up proving to be behind this sad fiaSCO. If you are interested in reading about Microsoft's chief of beating Linux back, Martin Taylor, here is an interview with him. It's puff piece from last August, but he does indicate what their strategy is.

[ShadowAce]

More SCO news. A product like Windows Services for Unix would take more than a year to create, I would think.

So here's the way I see it--MS is developing this tool, when some suit asks "Who will our target market be?" And no one can figure it out, because Unix geeks don't do Windows.

So they come up with this plan to discredit/outlaw Unix. Once SCO buys into the plan, then MS buys a Unix license. I see SCO being bought by MS if this all goes well for SCO.

[ShadowAce]

Tech Ping

[auboy]

BTTT

[Only1choice____Freedom]

MS is funding SCO's suit to buy time for it's work-around.

It will cost them more in the end as better versions of Linux are developed and when SCO loses, it will push a rush to Linux bigger than the rush from Novell to Windows was in the '90's.

[Defiant]

I saw yesterday that MS is going to support Patty Murray for Senate in Washington. I'm therefore going to support Linux for OS in America.

[Only1choice____Freedom]

I saw yesterday that MS is going to support Patty Murray for Senate in Washington

Talk about a fiaSCO!

[observer5]

Yeahh!!! Why not let Microsmack ruin Unix as well!!!

[AppyPappy]

Brilliant idea. Corporate suits will gladly wait for this vaporware because it has MS's name on it.

[Petronski]

Brilliant idea. Corporate suits will gladly wait for this vaporware because it has MS's name on it.

Like Windows 94 and Windows 97?

[AppyPappy]

Yup. I remember waiting for 12 months to get IBM PS/2 desktops because the suits only trusted IBM.

[Michael Barnes]

A product like Windows Services for Unix would take more than a year to create, I would think

I'm already using version 3.x of SFU. It works great so far...

[general_re]

Does it only have services included, or are there also tools that come with it? I am, of course, envisioning the acronym possibilities inherent in Microsoft Services and Tools For Unix ;)

[Havoc]

LOL. MS is loosing it's butt slowly to Linux. I keep imagining Opus when his butt falls off on the floor; but, in this case, it's the back of the marquee.

[adam_az]

This is an old, old product.

Cygwin will still kick it's butt.

http://www.cygwin.com/

[AuthenticLiberal]

I saw yesterday that MS is going to support Patty Murray for Senate in Washington. I'm therefore going to support Linux for OS in America.

Agreed. That was part of the reason that I dumped Windows XP in favor of Fedora Core last night. BTW for those using Fedora Core, there are new packages for kernel 2.6.1 in the FTP archives in the "development" branch.

Since I'm a long time reader who just got an account, I'm a (classical) liberal not a socialist.

[Golden Eagle]

This is a chess-like "check" move by M$ to add *nix to their O/S portfolio in a big way, further making M$ a one stop solution for your computing needs. They could eventually even completely incorporate Linux and not have to pay a dime for it so long as they didn't modify it in the process. But all the licensed 'interoperability' could belong to M$, since they will always have access to *nix but *nix will never have access to them. Sorry M$ haters, but they're still easily in the dominant position. And some proprietary company always will be. Let's hope not IBM. Been there, done that.