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Simon Phipps comments on Microsoft's latest antics in regards to open source. Specifically, while the public is distracted by show, Microsoft is shaking down the Android/Linux and GNU/Linux communities for patent licenses.
Phipps asserts that it's time for them to put up or shut up by either joining the OIN or admitting that they can't be trusted in the open source community they now claim to love.
Roy Schestowitz has some harsher words on the same topic, noting that the media is ignoring malicious actions in favor of paying attention to the public relations campaign.
While the OIN cannot protect against NPE's aka patent trolls, it is created for just this kind of situation and choosing to join -- or not -- sends a very clear message about their intentions towards the community.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 12 2016, @05:17AM
When they have MS Office running on Linux, offered at the same price as the Windows products.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by fishybell on Saturday March 12 2016, @05:29AM
I pray that day never comes. I would rather them be either forced to give it away to compete with LibreOffice or just fold and LibreOffice win by default.
I can dream, can't I?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 12 2016, @02:17PM
Free in two senses of the word are huge advantages, plus there is home field advantage (most of MS' employees need to keep up with developments in the Windows/.NET stack and toolchain, leaving less time for Linux).
OTOH UX has historically been a weakness for open source communities, particularly moving across generations as requirements change.
(Score: 2) by jasassin on Saturday March 12 2016, @06:19AM
I would guess MS released SQL on Linux as an attempt to bring Oracle down, since Oracle runs on Linux. I'm not sure why they released Office on Mac and not also Linux. I could understand Windows only Office, but why Mac Office and no Linux version? Perceived market share? Software patents are bullshit. How far back does this software patent bullshit go? Who applied for the first software patent? Did anyone question it or try to fight it? Patent trolls really suck.
jasassin@gmail.com GPG Key ID: 0xE6462C68A9A3DB5A
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 12 2016, @07:05AM
MS Office has been on Mac for a very long time, since 1985. In the past some even said the Mac version was better than the Windows version (better UI etc). But apparently this has changed in recent years.
See also: http://www.wired.com/2009/08/dayintech_0806/ [wired.com]
In a remarkable feat of negotiating legerdemain, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs got needed cash — in return for non-voting shares — and an assurance that Microsoft would support Office for the Mac for five years. Apple agreed to drop a long-running lawsuit in which they alleged Microsoft copied the look and feel of the Mac OS for Windows and to make Internet Explorer the default browser on its computers — but not the only choice.
And not so long after that the "new" OS X gained significant marketshare thus making Office on the Mac actually worthwhile from a business perspective - for customers and Microsoft.
In contrast the Desktop Linux's share has stayed low. To me it's because the Desktop Linux developers have kept making bad moves that have ensured they have a tiny marketshare that's irrelevant to most businesses. The fanboys will say that's untrue and false, but if things were so "insanely great" why those major forks every now and then- e.g. Mint, MATE etc? They keep going in bad directions and often at bad times (e.g. when they had a good opportunity to gain share vs Vista, Metro, Microsoft Office's Ribbon etc). Microsoft regularly goes in bad directions too but with their market share and pile of cash they can afford to.
If you want to gain share you have to execute more like Apple. Not make so many bad or pointless decisions like what Team Ubuntu or Team Firefox did.
(Score: 1) by Demose on Saturday March 12 2016, @03:08PM
Microsoft has ported Office to other platforms before, so wake me up when they port Direct X.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday March 12 2016, @05:23PM
Yeah, wake me up when that happens too. I'll clap once then go back to ignoring it in favor of open source software.