Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] Re: [MLUG] Sun, Microsoft Pact Viewed As'Unholy Alliance' Against Linux, IBM

[Michael <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

>Does MS make much money in the server market?  Maybe they should give up
>on that and try to make their desktop really rock.  If they can improve it
>sufficiently and make it play well with Linux, it might continue to be
>worthwhile for a long time.  I can't get at all excited about what they
>might do with Solaris and I've been using Solaris everyday for a decade.
>In fact, I'm really wanting to break away from Solaris and move everything
>to a Linux system.
>  
>
I think their main fear is that if they let Linux conquer the server 
market it'll prove the validness of opensource. Linux is already making 
major improvements towards the desktop so if Linux gains a strong enough 
support on the server then it'll be more likely to be accepted for 
corporate desktops. If people need Linux desktop knowledge for work 
they'll start using it at home more. If Linux gains even 25% of the 
desktop market then apps, drivers, and most importantly games will be 
written with Linux versions. If that happens Microsoft has lost it's 
desktop monopoly. A nasty domino effect. So it's important to them to 
keep Linux off the server.

I wish I could help move you from Solaris to Linux. That sounds like a 
fun project.

>Does MS's monopoly in the US have anything to do with what's happening in
>China?  Not so sure.  The Chinese also happen to be big piraters of
>Windows and other software products (not to mention all manner of books
>and digital media).
>  
>
I don't think China is effecting the monopoly much now.. but if they 
begin using Linux in mass they'll effect what other software and 
hardware works with Linux. That would effect the Microsoft monopoly 
everywhere. The Chinese are also trying to move from being big piraters 
to being opensource users as they seem to think it'll be more profitable 
to them. I dunno if that is so but it sounds good in theory. It 
especially sounds good for opensource as it could mean millions of 
people being trained in opensource and software development. That's a 
huge influx of more eyes and hands to fix bugs and develop new software. 
Even if opensource could take just a fraction of that market it'd be an 
amazing amount of fuel tossed on our fire. Opensource works better the 
more people you have participating (the old comparison to the phone 
network) so any swelling of the community has exponential effect.
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