Microsoft to reveal source code to Japan, which has eyed Linux

Japan Times .co.jp ^ | Thursday, November 28, 2002

[Aleutian Longliner]

Microsoft to reveal source code to Japan, which has eyed Linux

Microsoft Corp. will disclose the source code of the Windows operating system to the Japanese government in line with the government's e-Japan project, company officials said Wednesday.

The move by the U.S. software giant marks a turnaround in Microsoft's policy on marketing its Windows software, whose closed-source code has so far been kept secret.

Commenting on Microsoft's announcement, an official of the Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications Ministry said Tokyo's plan to conduct a study on open-source operating systems will not be affected.

Open-source programs do not require licensing fees and can be modified, since their code is freely available to anyone who wants to use it.

Problems with open-source software -- the best-known example being Linux -- are thought to be easier to fix than closed-source systems.

While Windows software is used on most of the government's servers and personal computers, the national and local governments have been considering switching to open-source operating systems.

Microsoft said it will push ahead in Japan with its so-called Shared Source Initiative, which is already under way overseas, providing open-source software to governments, universities and companies under individual contracts.

Microsoft said in a statement that it will actively participate in discussions on the e-Japan project, launched by Japan in a bid to become an information technology nation by 2005.

Toranosuke Katayama, minister of public management, home affairs, posts and telecommunications, told a House of Councilors committee last week that studies will be undertaken beginning fiscal 2003 with an eye to using open-source operating systems.

The Japan Times: Nov. 28, 2002
(C) All rights reserved

[Aleutian Longliner]

google "microsoft nokia linux"

Related?

[chilepepper]

A friend of mine in Japan sent me a bootleg copy of the code! here it is...

#include "EULA.h"
#include "NSA_libraries.h"
#include "Version_obsolecence.h"

char make_prog_look_big(2000000000);

main () {

    if (detect_LINUX())
	freeze;
    if (detect_cache())
	disable_cache();
    if (fast_CPU())
	set_wait_states(lots);

    set_mouse(speed, very_slow);
    set_mouse(action, jumpy);
    set_mouse(reaction, sometimes);
    set_icons(ugly);

    display(Windoews_XP_Splash_screen);

    while (1) { 
        sleep(5);
        get_user_input();
        sleep(5);
        act_on_user_input();
        sleep(5);
        switch ( detect_condition() ) {
            case NEW_WINDOEWS_VERSION_AVAILABLE:
                 trash_registry();
                 break;
            case NEW_EULA_AVAILABLE:
                 trash_registry();
                 break;
            case NORMAL:      
                 system_memory = open("a:\swp0001.swp", O_CREATE);
                 break;
            case IMPORTANT_WORD_DOCUMENT: 
	         crash(BLUE_SCREEN_OF_DEATH);
                 break;
            case PLAYING_MP3_FILE: 
	         download("http://riaa.com/hollywood/fatcat/copyprotection.exe");
                 break;
            case RUNNING_BENCHMARK:
                 adjust_time(APPEAR_SHORTER);
                 continue;
            case LOOMING_MICROSHAFT_STOCK_OFFERING:
                 generate_document(ANALYST_RECOMMENDATION);
                 continue;
            case RANDOM:
                 generate_error_number(RANDOM);
                 display_error_box();
                 freeze;
                 continue;
            default:
                 download("http://www.microshaft.com/free/todaysvirus.exe");
        }
    } 
    return(trashed_system);
}

[Aleutian Longliner]

if (detect_LINUX()) freeze;

:-)

[chilepepper]

By the way, "todaysvirus" for all Microsoft fans (XP included of course) is the very nasty

Winevar

[Aleutian Longliner]

Microsoft Unveils Licensing Discounts To Counter Linux

http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/20105.html full

Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) has unveiled a new policy to discourage its business customers from switching to Linux or other open source alternatives. Called Open Value, the new offer is part of the software giant's Licensing 6 volume licensing program. "What's happening is that Microsoft sales reps have been instructed to be on the lookout for any businesses that are migrating some of their machines to the Lindows OS," Yankee Group analyst Laura DiDio told NewsFactor. "If [the sales reps] think there's a real threat of some pretty large numbers of defections to open source, they can request authorization from Microsoft higher-ups to offer steeply discounted pricing." DiDio said that in some cases, the discounts could be as high as 50 percent.....

[chilepepper]

Gosh! I hope Linus Torvalds lowers the price of linux in order to compete, say sell it at a 50% discount...

[boris]

"Microsoft Corp. will disclose the source code of the Windows operating system to the Japanese government"

We used to call this "opening your kimono" in the engineering business, but PC won out and nobody can say that anymore.

--Boris

[demlosers]

That code is Effing riot! ROTFLOL!