Comments on: IBM, open source, and the 'Microsoft-free' desktop

Big Blue is deepening its open-source story with moves across an array of hardware, from supercomputers to the desktop.

[john55440]

The last time that IBM tried to capture the desktop was with OS/2, and that didn't work out so well. (grin)

[gimbraspt]

Yes is true, but least 10 year ago!!!

[jinx101a]

After having dealt with IBM sales representatives and used expensive hardware of theirs (an I-Series... e.g. AS400) I have to say that I'm weary of anything IBM. Dealing with anything IBM in the medium size business world is one headache after another as they squeeze you for everything you've got. I'd rather deal with Microsoft which isn't saying much (plus, Linux is a support nightmare at this point).

[GlennAllen]

I'm all for Vista-free, but Microsoft-free? ...meh. However, I'll gladly accept an IBM "mainframe" any day o' the week--ain't no better editor than the one in ISPF.

[lmasanti]

quote:
"and our IT department (that is, "Jim") found it cumbersome, causing us to dump it for Exchange)."

Was this the same "Jim" that said "anything I do not know/like is clumsy"?
In other words, did he a "serious analysis" of he only knew how to run Exchange?

[gggg sssss]

SEU on AS/400 just rocks. Can't you just feel teh rush to create a Flash AIR app with it?

IBM lovers are as bad as Apple fans. Remember SAA? What a joke

Matt Asay if you want want to have a large impact on developing Open Source desktop Apps. you should try to convince IBM, via your blog, to Open Source their AIX Cobol compiler, which is now "out of support by IBM", that would enable tens of thousands of Cobol developers to start contributing to Open Source Projects.

[gggg sssss]

Cobol? Surley you jest. lets open source RPG in that case. Why oh why would anyone do that?

I just told you why, tens of thousands of developers already know Cobol and they can contribute to Open Sourec development.

>Cobol? Surley you jest. lets open source RPG in that case. Why oh why would anyone do that?

I just told you why, tens of thousands of developers already know Cobol and they can contribute to Open Sourec development.

[Burnsie001]

I'd prefer they open source thier PL/I compiler or better yet create an OO version.

[gggg sssss]

and then a 3270 emulator for the iPhone. NO NO NO

[Kwasiowusu]

Poor IBM.
They are still fighting the war they lost over OS2 over 2 decades ago. It's like if the Japanese decided to fight WW II all over again.
Microsot just keeps clobbering IBM.
IMB tried the OS2, and got clobbered by Windows.
IBM then went and bought Lotus, only for Microsoft Office to destroy Lotus Smartsuite, and Microsoft Exchange to take out Lotus notes.
About 5 years agoi, IBm announced wth great fanfare, that they were gonna remove all Windows software from their deskops. A couple of years after that, they were forced to admit that most of their desktops wete still running Windows software. Their own office workers had rebelled aginst being forced to use crappy "open source " software on their desktops. LOL!
Today, Linux continues to account for less than 2% of the world's desktops(compared to over 90% share of Windows), and has been a masive failure on the desktop, despite billions of dollars spent by outfits like IBM to prop Linux destops up.

[benjaminstraight]

A world without Microsoft? Like a world without WalMart

[enderandrew]

I don't understand how this blog is supposed to focus on OSS when Matt keeps bragging up Apple for their closed products, and IBM for theirs as well. The article mentions selling Lotus products to replace Microsoft ones.

What does that have to do with OSS?

Nothing.