Weekly Edition
Return to the Press pageSponsored link
Vyatta –
Linux & Open Source
Alternative to Cisco –
Advanced Routing,
Firewall, VPN, QoS..
Free Download ->
| |||||||||||
Prelude to MS-Linux (CBS)
CBS MarketWatch is carrying a
Dvorak column on Microsoft's investment in Vintela. "When these
two purchases are analyzed along with other recent Microsoft actions, you
have to conclude that it is about to bring out a version of Linux under its
own brand name. I suspect it will simply be termed Microsoft Linux or
MS-Linux."
(Log in to post comments)
Prelude to MS-Linux (CBS) Posted Nov 17, 2004 21:24 UTC (Wed) by horen (subscriber, #2514) [Link] HAH! Been there, done that.
Prelude to MS-Linux (CBS) Posted Nov 17, 2004 21:59 UTC (Wed) by TwoTimeGrime (guest, #11688) [Link] That'd be rich in light of all the Linux bashing that they've been doing.
Prelude to MS-Linux (CBS) Posted Nov 17, 2004 22:06 UTC (Wed) by TwoTimeGrime (guest, #11688) [Link] From the article:
> Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has said that security, which is at the
Wow. They really don't get it. You aren't supposed to take security off the list. Writing secure code and checking for security vulnerabilities is an ongoing process, not a single thing you do and remove from your to-do list.
Oh, he gets it all right Posted Nov 17, 2004 22:20 UTC (Wed) by lakeland (subscriber, #1157) [Link] But everything he says is said for marketing reasons. So, he believesPHBs will like to hear him say that security is coming off the list. Obviously this tells us that (he thinks) PHBs really don't get it, but we knew that already. More interestingly, it tells us that PHBs believe that security is a feature you get and can tick off (perhaps along with ease-of-use?). Assuming he's right, that means we're going to have some trouble in a couple years time trying to convince people: "No, just because a base install of windows is as secure as a base install of linux does not mean they will both be as secure in six months time".
Oh, he gets it all right Posted Nov 18, 2004 11:28 UTC (Thu) by petegn (guest, #847) [Link] yes but by the time a base install of M$ Corp rubbish is as secure as a base install of Linux is today , Linux will once again be Light years ahead of the M$ Corp game and as for M$ Linux i really hope not never in a millino years in fact it should be leagaly prevented .
Pete
Oh, he gets it all right Posted Nov 18, 2004 22:51 UTC (Thu) by arafel (subscriber, #18557) [Link] Why? That defeats the whole purpose - code freely available for anyone to use, so long as they abide by the licensing restrictions.
A Charitable interpretation: Posted Nov 18, 2004 2:25 UTC (Thu) by AnswerGuy (subscriber, #1256) [Link] It would be charitable to interpret this in the context of a "major problems" list. If they can implement a secure infrastructure with sound engineering practices, and a base of libraries and development tools that facilitate better security than than can take this off the "major problems" list.
That would not imply that the infrastruce, practices, tools and libraries would be abandonned --- merely that they would become part of the operational landscape throughout the company.
Not that I'm a fan of Microsoft, but I think this is a case of reading too much into what was said. Biased reading doesn't further any communication.
JimD
A Charitable interpretation: Posted Nov 18, 2004 4:50 UTC (Thu) by TwoTimeGrime (guest, #11688) [Link] > Not that I'm a fan of Microsoft, but I think this is a case of reading too> much into what was said. Biased reading doesn't further any communication.
I'm not reading too much into it. I interpret comments from Microsoft employees based on Microsoft's past actions and comments while also taking into account the quality of their products. Like an undependable person who has let you down time and time again, it becomes difficult to trust them to follow through on the things they agree to do. You learn from experience that they will say one thing but do another, if they do anything at all.
Likewise, when I read comments such as Ballmer's I can't help but look at it in the way that I do. Microsoft hasn't given me any reason to interpret it any other way. I'd like for them to prove me wrong. Their software is so widespread that a true commitment to creating secure products would benefit a lot of people.
Prelude to MS-Linux (CBS) Posted Nov 17, 2004 22:07 UTC (Wed) by minichaz (subscriber, #630) [Link] Both the Connectix and Vintela activities can be explained by looking at the server configuration tools and active directory tools that Microsoft is working on. They want Unix/Linux/MacOSX and everything else to be able to authenticate against active directory and for their server configuration tools and update infrastructure to interoperate with these OSs.
I think this Dvorak guy's been at the crack pipe.
Prelude to MS-Linux (CBS) Posted Nov 18, 2004 0:57 UTC (Thu) by clugstj (subscriber, #4020) [Link] He's "been at the crack pipe" for years not.
Prelude to MS-Linux (CBS) Posted Nov 18, 2004 0:58 UTC (Thu) by clugstj (subscriber, #4020) [Link] years now.
Prelude to MS-Linux (CBS) Posted Nov 17, 2004 22:32 UTC (Wed) by kleptog (subscriber, #1183) [Link] Well, I don't think there is a hidden agenda in progress to convert windows to run on Linux, it would kill off most of their own market. I think it's more of a defensive move. That basically if the tables really start turning on them that they have a way out.
They still have some useful products other than windows and they're just securing the technology they may need (as well as conveniently denying to others) so that if it becomes necessary they can change direction quickly ie. the feasability studies already been done.
They're a company, their primary purpose is to make money and make sure they can still make money into the future.
Prelude to MS-Linux (CBS) Posted Nov 18, 2004 1:16 UTC (Thu) by mikelambrellis (guest, #1422) [Link] MS-Linux ;-)I don't think so! There is a much simpler explanation for the Vintela investment. Vintela is a SCO "spin-off" company which is privately held (hence can't tell where the $10 million goes). Check out: http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=2004111607243022 Cheers, Mike.
Prelude to MS-Linux (CBS) Posted Nov 18, 2004 10:11 UTC (Thu) by alonso (subscriber, #2828) [Link] If this will happen, I think Lindows would be the chosen name :)
Seems nonsense... Posted Nov 18, 2004 12:26 UTC (Thu) by massimiliano (subscriber, #3048) [Link] ...if they just need a sort of firewall (or "enclosure"), why mess withthe GPL that they hate so much and not use (Free|Open|Net)BSD instead?
MS Solaris? Posted Nov 18, 2004 17:05 UTC (Thu) by AJWM (subscriber, #15888) [Link] I think we're just as likely to see an MS Solaris, with both Linux and Windows compatibility modes. That would give MSFT the option of tying stuff into the kernel (like DirectX and any other crap that Windows compatibility really needs) without releasing source. Yeah they could do that on a BSD base, too, but Solaris has the brand recognition and commercial support, and Microsoft and Sun both see Linux as a threat, so they're allies in at least that regard.
Not that I expect to see Microsoft Solaris (or "Microsoft C-Sharp Desktop", or whatever they might call it) any time soon, I don't expect to see a Microsoft Linux any time soon either.
Prelude to MS-Linux (CBS) Posted Nov 18, 2004 18:29 UTC (Thu) by mrsad (guest, #26102) [Link] Even if MicroSoft was ever to release its own distribution, they would never use the word 'linux' in the name. Just like SUN did, they'd rather drop dead then to put linux in the name. They would call it something silly like 'MS .Net Desktop'.
Prelude to MS-Linux (CBS) Posted Nov 19, 2004 16:17 UTC (Fri) by AJWM (subscriber, #15888) [Link] Sun's Java Desktop was only based on Linux for the initial release. Expect them to swap out the Linux kernel for a Solaris kernel soon, if they haven't already.
|
|||||||||||