Comments on: Week in review: Microsoft the magnanimous?

Microsoft says it wants to be more open with other software makers, while Toshiba closes down HD DVD. Also: Gates wants Yahoo for the people.

[JCPayne]

It sounds to me like Microsoft is in it's Final Throes.....

Concerning open source software and Microsoft's historical policy towards it.....

If I can borrow a quote from Mahatma Gandhi...

-----

First they ignore you,
then they laugh at you,
then they fight you,
then you win.


(Describing the stages of a winning strategy of nonviolent activism.)

Microsoft has undergone all of these stages. They had tons of FUD getting cranked out every week aimed at IBM about how Windows would be cheaper. How they find Linux to be more "expensive" and so on....

The laughing part.... There def. was some laughing at FireFox ( http://www.getfirefox.com/ ) for example. Since FireFox is a mostly open project. Microsoft said Firefox would barely get market share.

Then Microsoft started saying how a whole slue of people are using their ("I wont tell you which ones") patents as M$ claimed......

And once SCO's case against Novell didn't work and it slammed M$, and their efforts--- towards thwarting the tide of change now they want to partner with everybody.....

So HAHA we win... I'm still not going to use it though the momentum on the third party stuff is just what we need..... VIVA LA DESKTOP!!!!

[JCPayne]

Desktop Libera!!!

e o m.

[edgedesign]

MS laughing

I recall Balmer laughing off the iPhone too. Who's laughing now?!

[Commander_Spock]

"Almost There...."; so sang "Elvis" the "King"!

Re: "If I can borrow a quote from Mahatma Gandhi..."

-----

"First they ignore you,
then they laugh at you,
then they fight you,
then you win.


(Describing the stages of a winning strategy of nonviolent activism.)

Microsoft has undergone all of these stages. They had tons of FUD getting cranked out every week aimed at IBM about how Windows would be cheaper. How they find Linux to be more "expensive" and so on...."

OS/2 Lives, OS/2 Is Dead - Again; So, now that the world will be able to access the "30,000 pages documenting all the APIs and communications protocols that Microsoft products use to connect to Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista (including the .Net Framework)..."

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/022108-microsoft-open-source.html

all will be known just how Code-Based OS/2 Windows is really is. The funny this is according to IBM the OS/2 Codes cannot (yet) be Open-Sourced. So, until that time comes - read the subject line. ;-) !

[Fil0403]

It sounds to me like Microsoft haters dream to much...

Concerning Microsoft's decision and Microsoft haters' comments towards it... If I can borrow a quote from myself:

First they "guess" your end,
then they "guess" your end,
then they "guess" your end,
then you win. (Describing the stages of an idiotic theory of fantasy bankrupcy.)

Microsoft haters have undergone all of these stages (several times). They have tons of FUD getting cranked out every second aimed at Microsoft about how Windows supposedly sucks (yet it (still) dominates the market with over 90% market share). How they claim Linux to be "better" and "cheaper" and so on despite the clear market share and the studies that prove the exact opposite... Always the "end guessing" part (year over year)... There definitely was some "end guessing" at Internet Explorer (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/ie/default.mspx) for example. Since Internet Explorer also (still) dominates the market with over 75% market share. Microsoft haters said Firefox would overcome Internet Explorer. Then Microsoft haters started saying no one is using their patents as Microsoft proved they were (with the usual "I-won't-tell-you-how-I-came-to-this-scientific-conclusion" argument)... And once the pact with Novell was done and they started being friendlier with open-source as Microsoft haters always said they should but wouldn't now they say it's a sign of weakness and "it sounds like Microsoft is in it's (they are probably American and write English worse than me, who don't have English has native language) Final Throes"... So HAHA you wish... I'm still not going to comentate on Vista's, though its sales is just what makes them angry... VIVA MICROSOFT!!!!

[edgedesign]

Web Standards!

It's about time MS supports web standards fully. Web developers
have lost and continue to lose countless hours due to MS charting
their own course because of market share. They're losing some of
that market share as a result, but developers continue in
frustration.

[edgedesign]

P.S.

Browse Happy and support non-MS browsers:

http://www.apple.com/safari/
http://www.firefox.com
http://www.opera.com

[bwvla]

Ah the Microsoft Trojan horse maneuver.

When Microsoft is playing nice that means they are trying to woo someone so they can have their wicked way.

Who knows what they are after this time. Maybe to "inter-operate" themselves into another companies software secrets so they can copy them. Or maybe just to look innocent to anti-trust officials, or congress officials investigating Microsoft. Perhaps this is to look less evil to Yahoo's major stock holders to woo them into approving the merger.

Whatever it is we can be sure of one thing, its not to help the world, or consumers, but to help their bottom line.

[Commander_Spock]

Hey "bwvla"!

"Who knows what they are after this time. Maybe to "inter-operate" themselves into another companies software secrets so they can copy them. Or maybe just to look innocent to anti-trust officials, or congress officials investigating Microsoft..." Are you not forgetting that there is an institution by the name of The International Organization for Standardization (ISO); and, the next review of the proposed Microsoft's OOXML Standards (ODF has already made the tape) according to reports is due for sometime next week. Hope you get the point.

[penguinhfx]

trojan horse

Since Microsoft has mentioned that the disclosed standards apply only for non-commercial open source products and this is a verbal agreement, i doubt major projects like samba would jump in without thinking about the consequences. For example, a commercial firm that runs samba for file and print server that interoperates with a microsoft operating system that would use the disclosed standards become good targets for patent lawsuits at an opportunate time. The key word still is "non commercial". Not disclosing enough information about the protocols so that
competitors could create products that would
inter operate with your products could attract
anti trust lawsuits and this looks like a good
way to dodge it. But it also gives several future
options for Microsoft to sue linux software
like samba in future if these open standards
are implemented and a non commercial entity
starts using the software. So the disclosure
seems like a win-win for Microsoft.

[analyst40]

Microsoft

WinterGreen Research agrees with the European commission statement that Microsoft has issued statements on this in the past, but has been slow to make the changes necessary to provide developers access to the APIs that support open systems.

[krosavcheg]

what patents?

First of all, open source licenses generally forbid the distribution of software that anybody has patent claims on. So, this is not particularly generous.

On the other hand, what kinds of patents is Microsoft supposed to have on, say, the office format or the Exchange protocol anyway? There is unlikely to be anything essential in there that's patentable, and Microsoft can't have any patents on those protocols or formats anyway because if they did, they would be public alreayd.

[tfosorcim]

Say what?!!!

"Microsoft the Magnanimous"?
How about "Atilla the Hun, the soft-hearted".
Or, "Vlad the Impaler, the Misunderstood"?

Microsoft does NOTHING which does not profit Microsoft.

Ever seen video of a snake-charmer with his cobra? The cobra NEVER takes its eyes off the snake charmer, and vice-versa. This is a good metaphor for anyone or any authority dealing with Microsoft. Never, ever let your attention be diverted by what they say or do, or you're dead.
Keep switching to Linux, FireFox, and Thunderbird.
That's the only real protection against Microsoft's duplicity, and the only way Microsoft will be really kept honest (don't laugh: you started this off with the ultimate oxymoron, in the title).

[Fil0403]

Say what?!!!

"Microsoft does NOTHING which does not profit Microsoft"? Can you name a non-charitable company that does something with the intent of NOT profiting them? You are SUPPOSED to make profit in a non-charitable company. This is a good rule if you want to be successful. Never, ever give money away just to look nice. Keep begging people to switch to Linux, Firefox, Thunderbird, Mac, Google, iTunes, Venus. That's the only real laugh we unbiased people have when we check the market shares (laugh at your own pleasure: you are the ones who make yourselves sound so idiot with your arguments and anti-Microsoft opinions).

[Fil0403]

Microsoft the magnanimous? Unfortunately to many, yes, definitely.

Now that Microsoft has done what Microsoft haters asked for for many years, it's time for them to come and comment on how this is really just a plan to enslave the world and eat little kids and on how this is the 347th step taking them to banrupcy.