Linked by timl on Sun 5th Jun 2011 16:25 UTC
"Microsoft and Nvidia have an agreement in place that spells out terms relating to a possible acquisition of the graphics and mobile processor manufacturer, regulatory documents indicate. The deal gives Microsoft the exclusive right to match any offer for 30% or more of Nvidia's outstanding shares by a third-party." The agreement appears to be over 10 years old, dating back to the time of the contract for the GPU of the original X-Box. It has likely gained relevance again now that Microsoft allegedly wants to more closely control hardware of tablets running its upcoming Windows 8 OS.
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RE[2]: Only one real concern
by pantheraleo on Mon 6th Jun 2011 12:31
in reply to "RE: Only one real concern"
Member since:2007-03-07
Of course they won't! They want to control hardware and to beat the competition. Linux is a threat for M$.
On the desktop? No, it's not. On the server, obviously it is. But servers don't usually have need of accelerated video anyway.
On one hand, I can see Microsoft continuing to produce Nvidia drivers for Linux so they can sell more video chipsets. Like I said, Linux simply isn't a threat to Microsoft on the desktop. On the other hand though, given that Linux has around 1% of the desktop market share, I can also see Microsoft arguing that it's not profitable to produce Linux drivers, and use that as a reason to stop making them.
RE[3]: Only one real concern
by ricegf on Mon 6th Jun 2011 14:59
in reply to "RE[2]: Only one real concern"
Member since:2007-04-25
Microsoft claimed Linux holds 5% of the desktop market share in 2008, which may have been the result of their research or may have been an anti-DOJ smokescreen (among other possibilities).
If the former, that's enough market share to justify continuing the driver development.
If the latter, then driver development would be a nice continuation of the smoke screen.
Either way, if Microsoft were to invoke the agreement, it may well be the Obama administration's stance toward their monopoly that would drive the decision.
RE[3]: Only one real concern
by 0brad0 on Tue 7th Jun 2011 00:34
in reply to "RE[2]: Only one real concern"
Member since:2007-05-05
"Of course they won't! They want to control hardware and to beat the competition. Linux is a threat for M$.
On the desktop? No, it's not. On the server, obviously it is. But servers don't usually have need of accelerated video anyway.
"
M$ isn't a threat to M$ on this mythical desktop.
RE[3]: Only one real concern
by lemur2 on Wed 8th Jun 2011 04:45
in reply to "RE[2]: Only one real concern"
Member since:2007-02-17
On the desktop? No, it's not. On the server, obviously it is. But servers don't usually have need of accelerated video anyway. On one hand, I can see Microsoft continuing to produce Nvidia drivers for Linux so they can sell more video chipsets. Like I said, Linux simply isn't a threat to Microsoft on the desktop. On the other hand though, given that Linux has around 1% of the desktop market share, I can also see Microsoft arguing that it's not profitable to produce Linux drivers, and use that as a reason to stop making them.
Microsoft themselves estimate the percentage of desktops running Linux (aka the 'installed base') to be about 5%.
http://broadcast.oreilly.com/2010/09/debunking-the-1-myth.html
"Additional confirmation of the growth in Linux desktop market share last year came from an unlikely source: Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. Using a slide to visualize OS market share Ballmer had Linux desktop market share as a slightly larger slice of the pie than MacOS."
Microsoft do indeed consider desktop Linux to be a threat.
Ballmer: "I think depending on how you look at it, Apple has probably increased its market share over the last year or so by a point or more. And a point of market share on a number that's about 300 million is interesting. It's an interesting amount of market share, while not necessarily being as dramatic as people would think, but we're very focused in on both Apple as a competitor, and Linux as a competitor."
Some people estimate the installed base of Linux on the desktop could be as high as 12%.
That is pretty remarkable for a desktop OS that ordinary consumers cannot buy in mass-market stores.
Edited 2011-06-08 04:58 UTC
Member since:
2007-03-04
Of course they won't! They want to control hardware and to beat the competition. Linux is a threat for M$.