Microsoft and Linux: the latest

[billdotson]

http://www.techflash.com/Microsoft_sues_TomTom_over_patents_in_case_with_Li nux_subplot_40305732.html

http://www.linux-mag.com/id/7325 What are they talking about with the short and long filename stuff and the patch for it? Does that mean my file names can't be longer than 8 characters in the newest Linux kernel?

http://www.linux-mag.com/cache/7439/1.html "Microsoft Patches Linux"

http://www.infoworld.com/d/windows/linux-slips-microsofts-warm-deadly-embrace-969

http://www.infoworld.com/d/open-source/desktop-linux-why-it-may-have-lost-its-chance-820?page=0,0&source=fssr

http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1029329/microsoft-owns-linux-ballmer-claims

What do you think of all of this? What is this about something with Novell and OpenSUSE and Microsoft saying they own it? Does Microsoft have anything going against TomTom (or linux in general) or do they just need to put out or shut up?

What do you think about Microsoft releasing driver code into the Linux kernel. Is there any way for Microsoft to pull a quick one and screw the Linux kernel over?

I kind of agree with Linus about people just hating Microsoft to hate Microsoft, but really, any company/group, Microsoft, Apple, Sony, HP, Dell, the RIAA, the MPAA (and many more) that care so much about their patent rights that their customers (or unwilling users, just think about HAVING to have special software to play DVD movies as if buying them wasn't enough) suffer deserve to be hated. I don't know a whole lot about Google but I seem to hear a lot of talk about Google trying to push open source, so maybe they are OSS's savior. Who knows.

[quazi]

The date on the last article is 2006 and you're citing the Inquirer. Maybe you're not from the US, but using it as a reputable source is a joke.

[sydbat]

Whatever.

[billdotson]

There are different enquirer/inquirers aren't there?

Regardless there was something about Novell, OpenSUSE and Microsoft a few years ago unless I heard wrong.

[JohnnySage50307]

The Inquirer is a tabloid. It's as comparable as The Onion or Weekly World News. It is as close to a reputable source as the Lord of the Rings is to an essay about mideval life.

I agree with Linus very much about people who hate Microsoft for the sake of hating it. Furthermore, I highly doubt that Microsoft would intentionally send buggy drivers to Linux for two reasons: Those programs are revieweded extensively before being allowed into the collective, and people who write drivers do so because they want users to buy their hardware--Like it or not, but Microsoft does actually design some hardware every now and again.

I tend to get lost in the socio-politico-economical arguements that arise concerning Microsoft, Linux, Open Source, and similar things. I stand by several principles: I don't believe in everything being for free, but I do believe that some people artificially inflate demand and gouge the prices because of this. Open source is great because people who *want* to learn about the workings of some programs benefit, the software itself is capable of expanding and growing, and it is held to a higher standard because of how much it allows itself to be reviewed. Proprietary software is also great because everyone needs a bite to eat every now and again.

Google has a murky history with me...In recent days, they rewrote Section 11 of their EULA, agreeing that intelectual property transmitted or stored by their services will not be used by Google for profit but merely for advertising of their services. In the past, the University of Pittsburgh and other schools were forced to boycott Google because their previous EULA permitted them to profit from transmitted intelectual property. With the change of Section 11, I feel that they "saw the light" and are now friendly for all to use.

[billdotson]

Yeah, I don't think that everything should be free and open source but the thing I really hate to see is Microsoft suing TomTom and ranting about Linux being a cancer just because it is a business competitor that can't be attributed to a single entity or handful of entities. There are so many open source developers you couldn't hope to track all of them down and try to sue them, especially if they don't live in the US (Microsoft's stomping grounds). It is kind of like the US government trying to fight terrorism (even though the analogy of Linux being a terrorist is NOT what I am intending). There are some terrorist organizations but there is no central "terrorist country" to attack and make them stop attacking others.

I understand that closed source is good for people to make money but let's have a look at how much it costs to get some software (some of these places aren't going to be the absolute cheapest places to buy from, they are just examples):

Bestbuy: Windows Vista Ultimate: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8759293&st=windows+vista&lp=2&type=product&cp=1&id=1202650464466 $319.99

Windows Vista Home Premium: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8758542&st=vista+home&lp=2&type=product&cp=1&id=1202650191949 $239.99

Now, Adobe CS4:

CS4 Master Collection: http://www.adobe.com/products/creativesuite/mastercollection/ $2,499

Photoshop CS4 Extended: http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/photoshopextended/ $999

Photoshop CS4: http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/photoshop/ $699


AutoCAD:

AutoCAD 2010: http://store.autodesk.com/servlet/ControllerServlet?Action=DisplayHomePage&SiteID=adsk&Locale=en_US&Env=BASE&resid=EOXfQQoBAiMAAB5Eq3UAAAA4&rests=1250742004477 $3,995.00


Obviously AutoCAD and CS4 are for professional applications but regardless, look at that price tag. I am fairly sure that a good bit of code that is in CS4 was in CS3. Same with CS3 and CS2. Sure, they did a lot of work to update it (I hope), but really, $1000 for only ONE license?

Vista is even worse. It isn't like they are losing money buy selling i cheaper. Code is different from material goods. Aside from printing install DVDs and paying the people that wrote the code there isn't much production cost at all. Yeah, they have to update it to make sure stuff works Microsoft doesn't write drivers for all the peripherals, most of the companies that produce them do. Yeah, a lot of people get Windows OEM but think about it, how many people really do much more than listen to music, check their email and watch the occasional video online? Answer: not a significant amount.

Open source, apart from being free and helping the general cheapskates and people who don't make over 70000 a year is also a huge plus for a company that has very specific needs. Say you have application "X" at your company. Instead of waiting for Microsoft to provide you a solution that may not completely fit you can have guys there to work on it for you. Or you could even pay some open source developers to help you out. Or, if they were really nice and wanted to help you out you wouldn' have to pay them anything at all.

I don't have problems with people making money, I have problems with extreme greed, especially when that greed tries to choke out innovation and healthy competition. Microsoft isn't going to be hurting financially any time soon, so Steve Ballmer shouldn't be ranting about how "we just need to show people what intellectual property means and how to properly pay for it." I don't care Steve. Look at your bank account and shut [insert expletive and accompanying definitive article] up.


Anyway, about my question about file name length...

[Chame_Wizard]

Steve Ballmie is a moron :lolflag:

[Tibuda]

What do you think about Microsoft releasing driver code into the Linux kernel. Is there any way for Microsoft to pull a quick one and screw the Linux kernel over?
No. They can't send a patch without being noticed. If they try to screw the kernel, the kernel developers will see it and reject the patch.

[billdotson]

What are they talking about VFAT and filenames? VFAT is just FAT partitions right? Why don't they just use ext2 or something else for their GPS devices?

What does that thing about filenames mean?

Maybe so, but I don't see naming conventions as a big enough thing to sue anyone over...