Posted on 01/21/2005 9:34:02 AM PST by ShadowAce
Linus Torvalds once led a ragtag band of software geeks. Not anymore. Here's an inside look at how the unusual Linux business model increasingly threatens Microsoft
Five years ago, Linus Torvalds faced a mutiny. The reclusive Finn had taken the lead in creating the Linux computer operating system, with help from thousands of volunteer programmers, and the open-source software had become wildly popular for running Web sites during the dot-com boom. But just as Linux was taking off, some programmers rebelled. Torvalds' insistence on manually reviewing everything that went into the software was creating a logjam, they warned. Unless he changed his ways, they might concoct a rival software package -- a threat that could have crippled Linux. "Everybody knew things were falling apart," recalls Larry McVoy, a programmer who played peacemaker. "Something had to be done."
(Excerpt) Read more at businessweek.com ...
No--he's all for PD software. He just wants companies to to be able to use the code without crediting the author. He just hates that authors demand payment for their own work in for the form of recognition.
Sounds like he's the real Communist.
Thanks for the clarification.
Who maintains the Penquin ping list?
I guess that would be me. WOuld you like to be added?
Yes please. I run Slackware at home, Red Hat at work and am a bit of a Linux n00b.
Linux "Has The Potential to Fragment"
Microsoft Group Vice-President Kevin Johnson predicts the upstart operating system will go the way of Unix
Kevin Johnson, Microsoft group vice-president for worldwide sales, marketing, and services, has some interesting challenges. Since Microsoft (MSFT) has monopolies in two of its major markets -- PC operating systems and productivity applications -- Johnson's main job there is to keep people buying upgrades. But with the growing popularity of the Linux open-source operating system on desktops and in servers, Johnson also has to fight a rear-guard action.
He recently spoke about the Linux assault with BusinessWeek Senior Writer Steve Hamm. Edited excerpts of their conversation follow:
Q: How is the competition between Linux and Microsoft shaping up?
A: Our mission statement is now to enable people and businesses around the globe to realize their full potential. That's really about putting customers at the center. We reengineered goals and put in new incentives. We expanded field sales and marketing. It's all about being connected -- listening and responding.
In many ways, customers were looking at how to be more efficient, to drive down the total cost of owning technology. We're helping customers do more with less and at the same time reduce their application backlog. Linux is a competitive alternative. We welcome the competition. By understanding the customer, by having the value proposition that we feel is better, we will win customers. Look at the last year: Windows Server 2003 grew share. Linux also grew. Unix is declining.
Q: A year ago, you started your "Get the Facts" campaign -- comparing Windows' cost of ownership with that of Linux. Why did you take that approach?
A: A few years ago, the perspective was that Linux was free, so it must be lower TCO [total cost of ownership]. Clearly that turns out to not be the case. We have good benchmarks. We can show great examples of how customers can use our technology to run their operations more efficiently.
Q: Microsoft says Windows is more secure than Linux. People laugh when they hear that. How do you account for that reaction?
A: Because of the evolution of the Internet and connectivity, the whole area of security is bigger than any one vendor. We have a responsibility to champion and lead, and this is what we've done. There's still a lot of work to do, but we've made progress.
Look at the facts based on some of the studies we didn't pay for. They show that we respond to problems more quickly than the Linux suppliers and that we corrected 100% of our vulnerabilities.
Q: In Linux and Microsoft, two very different business ecosystems are stacked up against one another. Why do you think Microsoft's ecosystem will be stronger over the long haul?
A: Our business approach is built on partners. We have more than 160,000 partners worldwide. Our approach is to deliver value through integrated innovation. That's not just what we do in Microsoft, but what our partners build on top of and extend. The partners are just core to our strategy of delivering value to the marketplace.
Q: What do you expect to happen to the Linux ecosystem?
A: More and more companies will get into the business with a commercial view. They'll have to compete with one another. They'll want to have a unique value proposition, and that will create fragmentation of the different Linux solutions. At the end of the day, it has the potential to fragment like Unix did.
Q: How will the competition between Windows and Linux play out over the next few years?
A: Windows server software gained share last year, even with Linux gaining share too. Unix has lost share. Customers are going to Windows or Linux. Once all of Unix' share is wiped out, we'll continue to gain share. We'll do it by focusing on customers, listening, and responding well.
As far as it applies to this discussion, Apple's Darwin license is effectively the same as the GPL. China can, without payment to Apple, download Darwin, modify it, and redistribute it. There you go, a fully functional BSD variant every bit as good as Linux.
Learn you licenses before you start talking about them.
The current wild-ass guess for Linux is 18 million -- could be far more, could be far less. Apple is at approximately 14 million. So you're right unless the Linux numbers are way off, and I think they're probably low.
However, Apple definitely has the highest number of UNIX desktop installations.
That's why you should start using Firefox with the BugMeNot extension. You'll get right in to see the article. But I know you don't like free code, so you'll hinder yourself on principle.
Add Xandros V3 to your list of distros....
Very little Unix knowledge needed...runs great with Firefox...has a Firewall...not Free though...
There are two in this issue, one is IBM. The other is Red Hat, which sued SCO for false advertising, deceptive trade practices, tortious interference and other things because of SCO stating publicly that Linux is tainted without showing any evidence to prove that assertion. This is the trial that would free Linux, but SCO got it stayed until IBM is decided.
Daimler Chrysler was about DC not responding to SCO's request for status of licensing, including a demand to know in which ways DC is using Linux. That one was dying, then SCO tried to get it stayed, then it died, SCO lost, and just lost their appeal. It'll cost them if they want to bring that bit of an action still allowed again.
Autozone is about SCO alleging that Autozone used SCO libraries during its transition from SCO's UNIX to Linux. The man in charge of the migration says no, and I think SCO's just pissed about losing a major customer. Autozone got this one stayed until IBM is decided. Interestingly, SCO is lying either to the judge in Red Hat or the one in Autozone, because they contradicted their Red Hat and DC opinions trying to avoid a stay.
Novell is about SCO alleging that Novell committed slander of title when Novell contested SCO's statement of ownership of the UNIX copyrights. So far, Novell board minutes seem to show that Novell sincerely believed it didn't transfer ownership, therefore I expect SCO to lose this one.
I just stick in a USB key with my home directory on it.
That is exquisitly useful...this after playing with the Knoppix a few days.
But your USB media is writable, look its a lightning strike risk but is is still there...
It is if I slide the little switch.
It is a free subscription, but you do have to register. Just give a user id and password and you are in.
Or just right-click in the username field, select BugMeNot from the context menu, and you're in.
Yeah, well, when the bloody reds name a pirated version of OSX the official operating system of the PRC, give me a ping.
Is that how you spell it where you're from? You may think I'm joking, but one day I was having a similar discusion on here, and asked a guy point blank if he was from the US. His answer? "Yes, I am Amerecan." Draw your own conclusions, I definitely have mine.
Do IT booth bimbos come up with these new words?
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