Linked by Thom Holwerda on Fri 11th Apr 2008 14:38 UTC, submitted by Puskas
"Linux, long the laggard to the Windows desktop, is pushing into emerging markets, onto mobile devices and other client form factors, and is poised to give Microsoft something to really compete against, according to attendees at the annual Linux Foundation Summit. While the Linux desktop has yet to hit its stride, the operating system is showing up and lowering prices in everything from mobile phones, tablets, global positioning systems and even gas pumps."
Thread beginning with comment 309201
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
Member since:2006-01-06
Balmer is not going to retire for 9 more years, so there's no way Microsoft is going to reinvent itself as an OSS company in 10.
There's currently no reason for MS to "reinvent itself as an OSS company". Certainly, there are some things that lend themselves more than others to being OSS (ie. tools), but MS is already moving in that direction (ie. .NET, etc). My bet is that Microsoft will move toward a more collaborative development model with its customers on certain projects -- but not across the board.
There's also no way that Linux is going to be any more competitive in the mobile market than it is on the desktop. There are too many attempts at a Linux phone, and no business model, other than possibly Google's for Android, that makes any sense.
Well, let's put it this way: Linux can certainly be a catalyst in getting Microsoft and other vendors to get off their asses and move forward. Linux can make them more competitive which, in the end, is probably more important in the long run than having Linux take over an entire market segment. I'd rather have multiple choices than just one.
Microsoft is "reinventing" itself. That's what XBox, Zune, and the recent purchase of Danger is all about. But just as IBM has never left the hardware business, Microsoft is never going to leave the desktop OS business or the enterprise application business.
Agreed. And why should they? The desktop and enterprise app business is still their bread and butter. Years of StarOffice and Linux have done little to change that equation; although, they certainly have encouraged MS to evolve and compete.
Edited 2008-04-11 18:59 UTC
Member since:
2006-02-15
Balmer is not going to retire for 9 more years, so there's no way Microsoft is going to reinvent itself as an OSS company in 10.
There's also no way that Linux is going to be any more competitive in the mobile market than it is on the desktop. There are too many attempts at a Linux phone, and no business model, other than possibly Google's for Android, that makes any sense.
Microsoft is "reinventing" itself. That's what XBox, Zune, and the recent purchase of Danger is all about.
But just as IBM has never left the hardware business, Microsoft is never going to leave the desktop OS business or the enterprise application business.