While I know many .Net developers that share your opinion, I respectfully disagree. Linux may not be much of a threat on the desktop (or may ever be), but that really doesn't matter that much any more. On the tablet, phone, and server market Linux is very much of a threat. Microsoft sees Linux as a powerhouse in server and mobile devices, and is very aware of their presence. They would be fools not to see that people outside of hardcard gamers, writers, and programmers are moving in droves away from the desktop and to these other devices. In fact, Linux has a much greater market share in servers, tablets, and phones. While PC sales are slowing, tablet and phone sales continue to rise. It is obvious that Linux is aware of this with the changes to Unity and Gnome3, and now it is obvious Microsoft is aware of this with the look of the metro interface.
Microsoft has much to worry about from Linux, and if they can lock hardware manufacturers into locking out other Operating systems from new tablet devices, and assume manufacturers will be to lazy to code in opt out options, then Linux has much to worry about also. Every geek who builds his own PC will have the codes to his/her hardware, and I doubt many of us will have much to worry about. People who buy pre-built PC's may have the worry if their hardware manufacturers do not put opt outs in there or give them the codes. W8 is not just for the desktop, it will be a cross-device OS and will have implications on many devices. I will be very concerned if one can not put a Linux distro on their tablet device without a serious amount of hacking. ________________________________ From: Bob Hodges <[email protected]> To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, September 26, 2011 10:04 PM Subject: RE: [LINUX_Newbies] Re: W8 & Linux The rant you guys are on is very entertaining and all, but there are other facts to consider. As a former Microsoft employee (left the company in 2009), I can offer you the opinion of Linux from inside Microsoft's walls: Fact is, Microsoft doesn't hate Linux. And Linux is most definitely not seen as a threat. Linux, after 20 years of hype, superiority complex, ever-increasing bloat, systematic and chronic desktop layout plagiarism (both KDE and GNOME are guilty as hell, which is just laughable), and oh yeah - being given away for free - Linux is still soundly rejected by the mainstream computing world to the tune of a paltry 12% server and 1% desktop market share. After 20 years, especially given the vitriol and venomous preaching, that is nothing short of an epic failure. Microsoft is most certainly not worried about its place in the world, and continues to feel quite comfortable charging $200 for an OS that competes against a free OS. The part that should really tick of the Microsoft haters is how good this looks in a courtroom - there is no stiffer competition than "FREE". Microsoft vindicated. Any knife that Microsoft twists in Linux's side is simply just for fun, trust me. Linux, as seen by Microsoft, is the OS of the bitterly socially-impaired. Because the anti-Microsoft zealotry in the Linux world is so venomous and predictable, it can literally be played like a harp for sheer amusement. Jump into a Linux forum and post anything resembling a pro-Microsoft post and watch the blood and fur fly - you can't buy that kind of entertainment, but you sure can set your watch by it. So now you know. As for me personally, flame or bash if you must, but I love Linux, OpenSUSE in particular, and have been using SUSE faithfully since version 7.3, when it came with stellar and untouchable printed manuals, etc (what I have always found to be the Cadillac of all Linux distros). Unlike the insufferable zealots on both sides of the Windows and Linux war, I do not suffer from the intolerable syndrome of "single-systemitis". As such, I can state things like "Linux kicks Windows' ass here, here and here. Windows kicks Linux's ass here, here and here." So pick the good and bad out of both sides and you'll be able to praise and slam both with fairness and credibility. And being less bitter, you'll probably live longer. PS: Apple doesn't have a leg to stand on in this area, because if it weren't for portable devices, Apple would have totally tanked. AGAIN. From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Paul Sent: Monday, September 26, 2011 6:37 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [LINUX_Newbies] Re: W8 & Linux --- In [email protected], Roy <linuxcanuck@...> wrote: > > MS are convicted felons in both the US and EU but they dragged out and were > able to avoid much in the way of penalties. Now it is old history and most > people have forgotten and forgiven. > They have not changed their behavior unfortunately. > They are becoming increasingly irrelevant and desperately need a winner > despite their wealth. They used to be the most respected brand and now are > barely in the top ten. Apple has eclipsed them in so many ways. As desktop > PCs fade and their server market declines they will be in trouble. > They have had few successes and are slow to respond to change. > It is usually too little and too late. > People buy their OS because they don't know any better or have no choice and > not because they want to. Compare that to Apple where out has a cult like > following. > > Roy > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > You may think so, the guy on the street might think so, even Microsoft's legal department may think so, but the law never forgets! That case will be on the books until there is no country left for there to be books in. By then it won't really matter will it? Oh and people don't "buy" their OSes they come "free" with a new PC don't they? You and I may know this isn't true but most do not. Apple fans had parallels in history: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luddite Another zealous group that had odd fashion sense and wasn't comfortable with technology. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ To unsubscribe from this list, please email [email protected] & you will be removed.Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LINUX_Newbies/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LINUX_Newbies/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
