NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: DAVE KEARNS ON WINDOWS NETWORKING TIPS 09/15/04 Today's focus: Ballmer gets fired up over the 'Microsoft Monoculture'
Dear [EMAIL PROTECTED], In this issue: * Ballmer scoffs at computing monoculture claims * Links related to Windows Networking Tips * Featured reader resource _______________________________________________________________ This newsletter is sponsored by Cisco IP Communications represents a major opportunity for businesses large and small. By eliminating the need to maintain separate telephone and data infrastructures, extraordinary benefits are often achieved. For information on the union of telephony and data on a single physical network and the security issues involved see the Special Report IP Telephony Security: http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=81113 _______________________________________________________________ CHECK OUT NW FUSION'S NEW WHITE PAPER LIBRARY NW Fusion's White Paper Library was recently re-launched with new features and improved capabilities! Sort NW Fusion's library of white papers by Date and Vendor, view white papers by TECHNCIAL CATEGORY, mouse over white paper descriptions and take advantage of our IMPROVED white paper search engine. CLICK HERE: http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=81155 _______________________________________________________________ Today's focus: Ballmer gets fired up over the 'Microsoft Monoculture' By Dave Kearns Before leaving our recent talk about whether the Internet deserves a capital "I" or not, reader Luis Fernandez offers a reason why we (as users of Microsoft technology) shouldn't even consider changing to a small "i." As he says, "If for no other reason, the majority of the world will probably continue capitalizing Internet because anyone who writes with Microsoft's Word will have it auto-corrected for them if they type it as 'internet'. Try it, Word will either change it, or, depending on your settings, at least underline in it green, meaning it's a grammatical error!" I do turn off grammar checking in Word, but when I turned it back on, it did indeed flag "internet" as needing capitalization! Ah well, "Wired" magazine ( <http://www.nwfusion.com/newsletters/nt/2004/0906nt2.html> ) would just see this as one more reason not to capitalize the word. It doesn't believe Microsoft can do anything right. Since becoming Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer has generally toned down his public performances. There was the infamous "monkey boy dance" ( <http://www.zolknetwork.com/downloads/files/monkeydance.mpeg> ) at the Windows XP introduction, but generally he's become a suit-and-tie-wearing, statistics-quoting, TCVO-and-ROI-spouting CEO. But wave the word Linux in front of him (like waving a "Red Hat" in front of a bull) and his demeanor can change as he takes leave of his senses - especially his common sense. In speaking to members of the Massachusetts Software Council a few weeks ago, (as reported in Network World, "'Fired-up' Ballmer zings Linux" <http://www.nwfusion.com/news/2004/090604ballmer.html> ) he attempted to combat the argument favored by Linux advocates that there's a danger in creating a Microsoft "monoculture." The Microsoft monoculture is defined as buying more Microsoft products because you already use Microsoft software and thus increasing your vulnerability to Microsoft security lapses. But when Ballmer gets fired up, he does say and do things that - upon reasoned reflection - make you say "huh?" As reported in the news story, Ballmer stood before the Bay State's leading technology trade association and scoffed at arguments that his company's operating system creates a computing "monoculture." Microsoft's platforms offer better interoperability with the company's other technology, such as .Net, reducing the total cost of ownership of Windows compared with Linux, he said. So, in other words, you should choose Microsoft technologies because they interoperate better with other Microsoft technologies. But isn't that the whole point of the "monoculture" argument? Take a look at my Wired Windows column ( <http://www.nwfusion.com/columnists/2003/1006kearns.html> ) on this topic if you want a more balanced view of the "monoculture" phenomenon. And Steve? We really liked you better as a cheerleader on stage, and a taskmaster behind the scene. Go, monkey boy! _______________________________________________________________ To contact: Dave Kearns Dave Kearns is a writer and consultant in Silicon Valley. He's written a number of books including the (sadly) now out of print "Peter Norton's Complete Guide to Networks." His musings can be found at Virtual Quill <http://www.vquill.com/>. Kearns is the author of three Network World Newsletters: Windows Networking Tips, Novell NetWare Tips, and Identity Management. Comments about these newsletters should be sent to him at these respective addresses: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. Kearns provides content services to network vendors: books, manuals, white papers, lectures and seminars, marketing, technical marketing and support documents. Virtual Quill provides "words to sell by..." Find out more by e-mail at <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> _______________________________________________________________ This newsletter is sponsored by Cisco IP Communications represents a major opportunity for businesses large and small. By eliminating the need to maintain separate telephone and data infrastructures, extraordinary benefits are often achieved. For information on the union of telephony and data on a single physical network and the security issues involved see the Special Report IP Telephony Security: http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=81113 _______________________________________________________________ ARCHIVE LINKS Breaking Windows networking news from Network World, updated daily: http://www.nwfusion.com/topics/win2000.html Archive of the Windows Networking Tips newsletter: http://www.nwfusion.com/newsletters/nt/index.html _______________________________________________________________ FEATURED READER RESOURCE NETWORK WORLD SPECIAL REPORTS NOW AVAILABLE Focused reports on compelling industry topics, Network World Special Reports are available online at Network World Fusion. Network World Special Reports on IP Telephony Security, the State of Wireless LANs, trends in the networked world and more are currently available. 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