> > ''We can build a better product than Linux,'' he said (Jim Allchin)
Freudian slip or wishful thinking?
He obviously didn't do his public relations work out before the press
conference. Had he done so he would have said "We build a better product
than Linux"
;-)
Joseph
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mary Kratz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, February 19, 2001 9:03 AM
Subject: Fwd: Re: Fwd: Bizarre quotes from MS regarding open source
>
> >Thought ya'll might enjoy this one...
> >
> > >X-Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > >X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Version 5.0
> > >Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2001 12:34:27 -0500
> > >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > >From: Ted Hanss <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > >Subject: Bizarre quotes from MS regarding open source
> > >Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > >
> > >Redmond, Washington, Feb. 14 (Bloomberg) -- Microsoft Corp.'s Windows
> > >operating-system chief, Jim Allchin, says that freely distributed
software
> > >code such as rival Linux could stifle innovation and that legislators
need
> > >to understand the threat.
> > >
> > >Story Link:
> >
>http://investor.cnet.com/investor/news/newsitem/0-9900-1028-4825719-0.html
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > 2/14/01 4:57 PM
> > > Source:Bloomberg News
> > >
> > > Redmond, Washington, Feb. 14 (Bloomberg) -- Microsoft Corp.'s
Windows
> > > operating-system chief, Jim Allchin, says that freely distributed
software
> > > code such as rival Linux could stifle innovation and that
legislators
> > > need to understand the threat.
> > >
> > > The result will be the demise of both intellectual property rights
and
> > > the incentive to spend on research and development, he said yesterday,
> > > after the
> > > company previewed its latest version of Windows. Microsoft has told
> > > U.S. lawmakers of its concern while discussing protection of
intellectual
> > > property
> > > rights.
> > >
> > >
> > > Linux is developed in a so-called open-source
> > > environment in which the software code generally isn't owned by any
one
> > > company. That, as well as programs such as
> > > music-sharing software from Napster Inc., means the world's largest
> > > software maker has to do a better job of
talking
> > > to policymakers, he said.
> > >
> > > ''Open source is an intellectual-property
> > > destroyer,'' Allchin said. ''I can't imagine something that could be
> > > worse than this
> > > for the software business and the
> > > intellectual-property business.''
> > >
> > > Microsoft distributes some of its programs
> > > without charge to customers, although it generally doesn't release its
> > > programming code, and it retains the ownership
> > > rights to that code. Linux is the most widely known open-source
> > > product, though other programs including the
> > > popular Apache system for Web server computers also are developed the
> > > same way.
> > >
> > > Corel Inquiry
> > >
> > > Allchin made his comments several hours before
> > > Microsoft confirmed that its $135 million investment in software maker
> > > Corel Corp. last October is being reviewed by
the
> > > U.S. Justice Department. Corel said last month it willl drop efforts
to
> > > develop the Linux operating system, though it
> > > will continue to make Linux applications. Corel said it hadn't
consulted
> > > with Microsoft before making that decision.
> > >
> > > Brian Behlendorf, founder of open-source
company
> > > CollabNet Inc., said most companies that use the open-source
> > > development model do retain the rights to some
of
> > > their intellectual property.
> > >
> > > ''I think Microsoft is trying to paint the
> > > open-source community as being fascist; that all software have has to
be
> > > free, or
> > > none of it can be,'' said Behlendorf, whose
> > > company helps businesses run their own open-source projects.
> > >
> > > Allchin said he's concerned that the open-source business model
could
> > > stifle initiative in the computer industry.
> > >
> > > ''I'm an American, I believe in the American Way,'' he said. ''I
worry
> > > if the government encourages open source, and I don't think we've done
> > enough
> > > education of policy makers to understand the threat.''
> > >
> > > Linux Adoption
> > >
> > > Some leading computer companies including International Business
> > > Machines Corp. and Hewlett-Packard Co. are selling Linux- based
> > products and
> > > working on open-source projects, noted Jeremy Allison, a VA Linux
> > > Systems Inc. software developer. He's also a leader in a project
develop an
> > > open-source file and printer server program.
> > >
> > > Microsoft only began significant lobbying efforts in the last few
> > > years. The Redmond, Washington-based company also talks to lawmakers
> > > about issues
> > > including the need for more visas for people with computer skills
and
> > > computer privacy and security.
> > >
> > > Linux is the fastest-growing operating system program for running
> > > server computers, according to research firm IDC. It accounted for 27
> > > percent of unit
> > > shipments of server operating systems in 2000. Microsoft's Windows
was
> > > the most popular on that basis, with 41 percent.
> > >
> > > Despite Linux's success in some markets, Allchin says he isn't
> > > concerned about sales competition from the product. Microsoft provides
> > > support to
> > > change and develop products based on its operating system software
that
> > > Linux companies don't, he said. Companies that use Linux in their
products
> > > then must pay someone else for support, he said.
> > >
> > > ''We can build a better product than Linux,'' he said. ''There is
> > > always something enamoring about thinking you can get something for
free.''
> > >
>
>
