Ballmer: Microsoft to go after Linux strongholds (ZDNet) [LWN.net]

Ballmer: Microsoft to go after Linux strongholds (ZDNet)

Posted Oct 20, 2005 22:25 UTC (Thu) by njhurst (guest, #6022)
In reply to: Ballmer: Microsoft to go after Linux strongholds (ZDNet) by jerrysiebe
Parent article: Ballmer: Microsoft to go after Linux strongholds (ZDNet)

If I had mod-points I'd mod this up! :)

You are right, a standard tactic in a losing debate is to change the goalposts. We must remember that freedom is the core reason for free software. I realised this when a large proportion of my department switched from linux to MacOSX - most people used linux because they hated microsoft, not because they loved freedom. Put enough shiny trinkets in front of someone and they'll forget their ideals in a snap!

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Ballmer: Microsoft to go after Linux strongholds (ZDNet)

Posted Oct 21, 2005 0:19 UTC (Fri) by mmarq (guest, #2332) [Link]

" most people used linux because they hated microsoft, not because they loved freedom. Put enough shiny trinkets in front of someone and they'll forget their ideals in a snap! "

True.

But ideals can translate in better paradigmas. *They should translate in better paradigmas, always, or the ideal has no use*

So why cant Linux be better than OSX, or some future OSX, beying the same applied to MS products ? Intuitive Full 3D Desktops ?... i belive Linux/OSS has the necessary parts now (only at early stages) to win here as well.
(though OSX is in part (kernel) OSS and it could be even further with NX integrated.)

When an ideal has translation into measurable items(we live in a very pragmatic world) like better performance, security, usability and features, then and only then has an ideal as a paradigma gained irresistibility, and people will associate both.

M$ will always try to shit on the numbers of the measures, and when not sticking will try to diverte into ambiguity values.

Belive Linux/OSS has too much of potencial, if community and specialy development came togheter with that intention on every aspects of computing, for MS or Apple to stand a chance.

Ballmer: Microsoft to go after Linux strongholds (ZDNet)

Posted Oct 24, 2005 0:18 UTC (Mon) by njhurst (guest, #6022) [Link]

"So why cant Linux be better than OSX, or some future OSX, beying the same applied to MS products ? Intuitive Full 3D Desktops ?... i belive Linux/OSS has the necessary parts now (only at early stages) to win here as well."

Because free software in general is a poor innovator. Innovation requires an idea, people to implement it, and people to use it. Ideas are common enough, implementations are rarer and nobody wants to use experimental software (I say this through experience). So we copy what people have already seen.