Microsoft to announce Linux Partnership
- Thread starter mzkhadir
- Start date
It's software patent cross licensing.
Novell owns a number of software patents, Microsoft owns a number of software patents.
The thing about software patents is that they are a very very bad peice of legislature. It's virtually impossible to write software of any nature and avoid patent violations. It's just too difficult, even with the size and money that Microsoft has. So when you a big company with lots of software patents you want to cross license with other companies with software patents because invariably your violating their patents and they are violating yours. This is normal thing and larger software companies do this all the time.
What this does is a few things.
For Novell Suse this opens up the ability to more easily to convince OEM computer manufacturers to provide Suse pre-installed. In the past Microsoft has threatened that if OEMs like Dell and HP ship Linux pre-installed on their computers then they will sue them for patent infrignment. This has died down, but Microsoft has stated on more then one occasion that they aren't promising to _not_ sue, that the possibility is still open. With this agreement it probably makes it easier to get Suse on consumer style computers.
For Microsoft I am guessing that this makes it easier for them to work in the enterprise. In a enterprise environment almost nobody exclusively runs one operating system or another, everybody does mixed things. In this sort of thing people use Linux like a glue to hold everything together because it's compatable with everything. For instance we have z/VSE running the main database stuff, Linux running all the email and networking stuff as well as running jobs on behalf of the mainframe on a different box, and Microsoft Windows running SQL server. Linux is the only system that is able to communicate with all the other ones.
Well Microsoft Windows has traditionally been very difficult to work with in this sort of area, it doesn't realy work well with other systems. Novell still has a lot of big government contracts and stuff with larger institutiosn like hospitables and such for their Netware stuff. They are moving everybody over to Linux and if Microsoft want's to entice those customers to use Windows and keep on using Windows and not start replacing desktops and such with Linux then they are going to have to be compatable with a existing Linux infrastructure.
That way they will keep using their marketting skills and package deals to try to woo the larger holdouts of Novell's remaining customer base to switch to Windows.
That's what I think is going on.
Novell owns a number of software patents, Microsoft owns a number of software patents.
The thing about software patents is that they are a very very bad peice of legislature. It's virtually impossible to write software of any nature and avoid patent violations. It's just too difficult, even with the size and money that Microsoft has. So when you a big company with lots of software patents you want to cross license with other companies with software patents because invariably your violating their patents and they are violating yours. This is normal thing and larger software companies do this all the time.
What this does is a few things.
For Novell Suse this opens up the ability to more easily to convince OEM computer manufacturers to provide Suse pre-installed. In the past Microsoft has threatened that if OEMs like Dell and HP ship Linux pre-installed on their computers then they will sue them for patent infrignment. This has died down, but Microsoft has stated on more then one occasion that they aren't promising to _not_ sue, that the possibility is still open. With this agreement it probably makes it easier to get Suse on consumer style computers.
For Microsoft I am guessing that this makes it easier for them to work in the enterprise. In a enterprise environment almost nobody exclusively runs one operating system or another, everybody does mixed things. In this sort of thing people use Linux like a glue to hold everything together because it's compatable with everything. For instance we have z/VSE running the main database stuff, Linux running all the email and networking stuff as well as running jobs on behalf of the mainframe on a different box, and Microsoft Windows running SQL server. Linux is the only system that is able to communicate with all the other ones.
Well Microsoft Windows has traditionally been very difficult to work with in this sort of area, it doesn't realy work well with other systems. Novell still has a lot of big government contracts and stuff with larger institutiosn like hospitables and such for their Netware stuff. They are moving everybody over to Linux and if Microsoft want's to entice those customers to use Windows and keep on using Windows and not start replacing desktops and such with Linux then they are going to have to be compatable with a existing Linux infrastructure.
That way they will keep using their marketting skills and package deals to try to woo the larger holdouts of Novell's remaining customer base to switch to Windows.
That's what I think is going on.
It makes sense. Technology keeps moving along.
Ever since VLC and Open Office became available for Windows and AVG Home and Avast for free happened;
we the consumer have saved a few bucks.
Linux is a excellent O/S that has introduced a lot of good things to the computer world, and now the Microsoft connection.
Well, good things comes to those who labored for improvement on behalf of others. Linux rocks.
Ever since VLC and Open Office became available for Windows and AVG Home and Avast for free happened;
we the consumer have saved a few bucks.
Linux is a excellent O/S that has introduced a lot of good things to the computer world, and now the Microsoft connection.
Well, good things comes to those who labored for improvement on behalf of others. Linux rocks.
Bateluer
Lifer
- Jun 23, 2001
- 27,730
- 8
- 0
Best thing MS could do would be to develop a linux version of DirectX, that would allow many more games to be easily ported over to linux, thus boosting its sales.
Second thing that linux needs to do, and this is going to be like throwing gas a fire with the linux people here, but the command line needs to go. Every common task and most T/S needs to be able to be done from the GUI, or you will score points with Joe Blow.
Second thing that linux needs to do, and this is going to be like throwing gas a fire with the linux people here, but the command line needs to go. Every common task and most T/S needs to be able to be done from the GUI, or you will score points with Joe Blow.
DasFox
Diamond Member
- Sep 4, 2003
- 4,668
- 46
- 91
It seems pretty clear since Microsoft lost it's bid to Suse in Germany they are trying to get their foot back in the door.
Software Patents is a great point here, BUT let's point out one fact here, Microsoft is loosing credibility around the world, making this merge puts them back into the game.
Now please don't tell me know one can not see this, and the execs sitting in their desks never conceived this idea once in their heads.
Microsoft needed to get back into the market that Linux was taking away.
You all should know the saying ----> If you can't beat'em, then join'em.
Did you guys catch what that article says -----> Microsoft will offer sales support of Suse Linux.
Suse, won one of the biggest bids in Europe backed by IBM, now Microsoft will be a part of Suse.
Now you think about that one, LOL :roll:
ALOHA
Software Patents is a great point here, BUT let's point out one fact here, Microsoft is loosing credibility around the world, making this merge puts them back into the game.
Now please don't tell me know one can not see this, and the execs sitting in their desks never conceived this idea once in their heads.
Microsoft needed to get back into the market that Linux was taking away.
You all should know the saying ----> If you can't beat'em, then join'em.
Did you guys catch what that article says -----> Microsoft will offer sales support of Suse Linux.
Suse, won one of the biggest bids in Europe backed by IBM, now Microsoft will be a part of Suse.
Now you think about that one, LOL :roll:
ALOHA
Take away the command line? Why would I want that? Then I'd be in the same boat that i'm in now... point, click, pray! argh! I hate it.
Take away the command line ?
OMG this guy is crazy, Windows did With Vista the best thing that we already have in years in Linux, its very simple.
Windows ever had the run tool , but it never really function cause not all the software was really backed by a database. Thanks for god today we only and simply click on the bash and digit the name of the software, voi-lá, it runs, avoid thirteen clicks, digiting, GENIAL !!
It can be done in every part of the system !!!
Better than this, we don need it !!!
Mwahaha !!!
OMG this guy is crazy, Windows did With Vista the best thing that we already have in years in Linux, its very simple.
Windows ever had the run tool , but it never really function cause not all the software was really backed by a database. Thanks for god today we only and simply click on the bash and digit the name of the software, voi-lá, it runs, avoid thirteen clicks, digiting, GENIAL !!
It can be done in every part of the system !!!
Better than this, we don need it !!!
Mwahaha !!!
My guess is that Gates is no longer in charge.
DasFox - in the software industries, the phrase is changed.: If you cant beat 'em, AQUIRE 'em.
And... I think I'll stick with the free distros for all my Linux needs.
DasFox - in the software industries, the phrase is changed.: If you cant beat 'em, AQUIRE 'em.
And... I think I'll stick with the free distros for all my Linux needs.
Which growing Linux market? Desktop (hahahaha!!) or server (actual good growth)?
LOTD...aaaaaaany day now
Nothinman
Elite Member
- Sep 14, 2001
- 30,672
- 0
- 0
If game developers cared about portability they'd already be using things like SDL and OpenGL which already run on Windows and Linux. Look at id, they have no problems releasing their software for Linux, Windows and OS X and their games are usually considered the benchmark for each generation.
AFAIK most common task are already doable from the GUI, have you even looked at Linux lately?
Actually I think it's the VM market. In order to compete with VMWare (and eventually Xen) MS has to support more than just Windows on Virtual Server.
It's been on my desktop for years.
Yes, that is definitely part of it. Getting VM additions for *nix hosts is difficult, since it requires source...something that is pretty much impossible for any MS employee (legal reasons).
Who knew that all this time LOTD meant LONothinmansD?
Nothinman
Elite Member
- Sep 14, 2001
- 30,672
- 0
- 0
Not our problem =)
My point, although not very well stated, is where is the line drawn? When do we consider LoTD to be a success? Apple has a miniscule amount of users compared to MS and yet people still consider OS X on the desktop a reality so why should Linux be any different?
I guess whether Apple is a success on the desktop depends on who you ask. I would say that OS X is more successful than Linux is to date. OS X has carved out a market share for itself as the OS of choice for artists, people who like cool, etc. OSX has proven itself to be easy to use, secure, blah blah.
What marketshare does Linux have in the consumer market? It's free, secure and stable, and people still choose Apple or PC over it in large quantities. If "Linux" can figure out why that is, and provide a compelling alternative that appeals to the market, then LOTD will be more successful.
At this point, I think it's when the consumer hardware manufacturers start taking linux seriously. The only fault I can find with Ubuntu is the lack of support for wifi (still), but the linux devs can't do much about that. The usability is there, the rest is just perception and marketing.
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