"the Free Software Movement Is Dead. Linux Doesn't Exist In 2007"

[JayBKK]

"The Free Software movement is dead. Linux doesn't exist in 2007. Even Linus has got a job today." Controversial statements from the head of Microsoft's Linux Labs, Bill Hilf.

Speaking on the last leg of a tour of Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, Bill Hilf, more formally known as Microsoft's platform strategy director, was in the region to "be descriptive and intelligent in giving people an understanding of open source and debunk a lot of the mythology around open source."

Bangkok Post Database

[Gumballl]

That's funny. I use Linux everyday, both at home and at the office. The MS guy must be on crack. I could almost say the same about you since you were the one that posted the nonsense.

What is really troubling is that many people give MS the right to tell them when, where, and how they will use the MS OS. To me that is BS. If I purchase an OS, I should be able to use it on any system I wish. Imagine if you were to buy a CD and Virgin Records only allowed you to play it in your car. To listen to it at home you would have to buy another CD.

Seems to me that if people were to wake up (or merely just stop taking it in the a*se), that it would be MS that will fall on hard times.

[farangsay]

That's funny. I use Linux everyday, both at home and at the office. The MS guy must be on crack. I could almost say the same about you since you were the one that posted the nonsense.

The MS guy is just doing his job. It is their corporate strategy to ruthlessly attack anybody who

threatens their hegemony on their core market , indeed anybody who is in a market where they

are considering establishing dominance can also become a target. Why you feel the need to

attack the OP for citing something which appeared in the Bangkok Post suggests intoxication on

your part not his.

What is really troubling is that many people give MS the right to tell them when, where, and how they will use the MS OS. To me that is BS. If I purchase an OS, I should be able to use it on any system I wish. Imagine if you were to buy a CD and Virgin Records only allowed you to play it in your car. To listen to it at home you would have to buy another CD.

Interesting that you should cite Virgin , as the beginnings of Bransen's fortune are even shadier than

the infamous Gates. He parlayed his profits as booking agent for rock'n'roll bands who often never

got paid for their gigs into retail outlets specialising in bootleg albums.

Seems to me that if people were to wake up (or merely just stop taking it in the a*se), that it would be MS that will fall on hard times.

What a bizarre analogy. Did you holiday in Pattaya and fall for the charms of one of the androgenous

lovelies on Beach Road , or did this happen in Seattle ? Or are you suggesting that Gates is moving

into the sex trade ? The mind positively boggles !

[sbk]

"The Free Software movement is dead. Linux doesn't exist in 2007. Even Linus has got a job today." Controversial statements from the head of Microsoft's Linux Labs, Bill Hilf.

Speaking on the last leg of a tour of Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, Bill Hilf, more formally known as Microsoft's platform strategy director, was in the region to "be descriptive and intelligent in giving people an understanding of open source and debunk a lot of the mythology around open source."

<a href="http://www.bangkokpost.com/090507_Database/09May2007_data05.php" target="_blank">

Bangkok Post Database

</a>

Linux is dead, long live Linux is probably the more appropriate response as I sit here downloading OpenSuse 10.1. Visiting my family and they have an excellent connection so I am downloading both OpenSuse and Kubuntu to test out on my desktop when I get back to Thailand.

[cdnvic]

Linux accounts for 29% of corporate servers sold in 2006 and is gaining market share fast. Another 34% were a mix of other UNIX variants (Solaris, freeBSD, etc), leaving 37% to Windows. (IDG News Service)

This isn't taking routers, firewalls, and other infrastructure. Can't recall a lot of ISPs running on Windows.

Then you take into account how many operations run on freeBSD and other OS software that aren't "sold" so won't be included in the figures.

[autonomous_unit]

I think what is going on here is that the horse is out of the barn, and MS and other old fashioned software vendors are trying to convince themselves and the public that there is nothing beyond the barn doors.

This is the second wave of open source software FUD, triggered by the shocking (to them) situation where real commercial success is being had by purveyors of open source software, as well as companies which are mere users of open source. Companies like Red Hat have been around long enough to prove they are no flash in the pan now. With MS's latest comments about patent violations and needing to go after users of the infringing software, I hope to see a big mess when they decide to go after their new nemisis Google for its rampant use of Linux, or maybe some of the major financial firms who run big Linux clusters for their automated trading. Hopefully it will unfold more rapidly than the silly IBM/SCO Linux trials, as that was too slow for spectator sport!

The third wave might start soon, when MS really starts to panic as Linux-based mobile phones further threaten the spread of their software in that market as well.

As someone who has been paid to produce open source for about a decade now, I am happy to see that more mainstream corporate types, venture capitalists, and lawyers are getting their heads around the open source position and seeing how to manage it like any other enterprise. The risks can be mitigated and the costs and benefits quanitifed such that real business, with all its plodding inefficiencies, can exploit it too. It doesn't require a big leap of faith like it once did.

[Richard-BKK]

Guess that the Microsoft guy mistake Linux for SCO Unix, as it not takes to long before Novell says enough is enough I want to see money. Which SCO not have and Novel takes over SCO to integrate the source into Linux. What was exactly what Microsoft and SCO try to avoid.

Without joking Linux has never had so much support as that it has today, never before where there so much people considering alternatives for MS Windows. Never before where there so much governments that looked at open source solutions.....

[Badbanker]

Sadly the Microsoft guys are living in world of their own. Take way tooooo much Coke. Many of them that have done well financially from the job are unrepentant evangelists for Microsoft. I would to if I was driving Porsche paid for by Bill!

3 or 4 years ago I spoke to a very high up person in Microsoft as a member of Foreign Chamber of Commerce about their one price policy for windows and how this was encouraging piracy in Asia.

He said that Microsoft would never change its pricing policy and make a lite version of any Windows. Isn't it funny that since Linux has taken off they are now offering a US$3 version.

The FAA and The US Justice Department are in the process of transfering over to Linux, as it is so much less vulnerable to hacking and viruses. In fact the FAA has banned anyone in its control from buying VISTA. They cited the fact it is expensive, dangerious and needs a more powerful computer and is still too scarily new. They stated that Linux could save them millions of dollars and do a better job using existing hardware.

Microsoft are VERY VERY scared as they can see the Linux writing on the wall so now they say it is dying out. What do they smoke in Redmond anyway?

I just got to get my new p2 450 Linux mail server don't have time to waste with all ......

Badbanker

[Crushdepth]

I think its fairly clear that M$ are starting to feel the heat from open source. Otherwise we wouldn't have seen the recent $3 deal, or the partnership with Novell/SuSe Linux (which presumably still exists, otherwise their shareholders are going to be pissed). I also just got hold of a legal copy of Office 2007 Ultimate for AUD$ 75 through a special deal they have with my uni. I think full retail is about $900?

Rhetoric aside, I think M$ are lowering their prices to recruit the next generation of users, because if they don't the future will be Linux for many of them, particularly in developing countries.

[setting up a dual boot of Ubuntu 7 on my new Vista laptop as I type ]

[cdnvic]

Notice as well that they didn't put up a stink about the upgrade version workaround.

[RKASA]

I know this is an old post, but Linux is dead ? your killing me here!

[jackk]

Linux is dead? wow... I must think about switching to another OS.

Does anyone know where I could get myself a copy of "DOS 3.2 for dummies"?

[RKASA]

bit-tech.netLinux Boom Ahead?

Forbes - 11 hours ago

The SCO Group frightened potential business users away from Linux with lawsuits demanding billions in royalties. But the litigious company's claims were shot down in a ruling that will likely boost uptake of the operating system.

Investors bailing on SCO stock, SCOX plummets Ars Technica

Legal Ruling Removes Open-Source Cloud CNNMoney.com

Computerworld - TG Daily - NetworkWorld.com - Register

all 134 news articles »