[LinuxUsers] Microsoft-buntu

[John R. Hogerhuis]

On Thu, Nov 5, 2009 at 2:19 AM, Chris Penn <cantormath at gmail.com> wrote:
> For those that did see this on digg
> http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/46840
>
>  A former Microsoft Research employee says that Windows 7 won't stop
> Linux from market domination. But he goes further. He thinks Microsoft
> and its customers would be better off if the company ditched Windows
> and instead built its own version of the Linux operating system.
>
> Chris...
>

Assume Microsoft is a rational, free market actor. Microsoft will
continue to develop NT Kernel, Win32 userspace and .NET as long as
there is a strategic competitive advantage to doing so.

There is an undeniable benefit to using free software... costs are
spread between many different corporations and individuals who may be
closer to a given business problem and more able to effectively and
efficiently solve it. Microsoft could reduce cost in this way. But of
course it comes with a cost.

It's hard for me to see why they wouldn't gradually shift over to a
Linux or BSD kernel. There is no competitive advantage for them just
as there is no competitive advantage for them to make their own
peripherals or computer chips. There are exceptions of course
(Microsoft makes mice, and Xbox consoles), but by and large I don't
see how they are able to stick it to their competitors or extract
money from customers due to having full control over the kernel. So if
they were smart I think they would give that up. It is a waste of
their resources.

So move onto userspace... I think in userspace and applications is
where they build and protect their brand. There's a lot invested
there. Everything you connect in your mind to Microsoft products is
userspace. So I can see them rationally wanting to hold onto that.

Now one asks if it is a Microsoft strength to play nice with others
that the relationship would work effectively. Microsoft has been
engaged with standards bodies/working groups and processes for
decades. Institutionally, they do know how to navigate inter-corporate
relationships and politics. They have a partner system where they
interact regularly with outside consultants, so I am sure they could
adapt to interfacing with external free software developers.

So as today we understand the meaning of "GNU/Linux" operating system
(Linux kernel with GNU userland), maybe you end up with
Microsoft/Linux at some point.

And I think Linux is a better kernel for MS... they are used to the
"wild west" of the PC architecture and market. I think it would fit
their style more than a stodgy BSD kernel as Apple chose.

-- John.