lxer.com — In the wake of Microsoft launching their Port 25 blog in an effort to open the lines of communication with the Free and Open Source Software Community, a long line of FOSS proponents have voiced loud and clear their fears, doubts, and outright opposition. Indeed, one poster suggested that "there is nothing to discuss". And he has a point.
Apr 12, 2006 View in Crawl 4
fernando494Apr 13, 2006
I don't know what this article has to do with Linux/UNIX. It seems as if the author is writing just to fish for traffic.What's the US not negotiating with terrorists got to do with Microsoft?No digg.
ethergnatApr 13, 2006
"its pretty much like the 'she's a witch scenario'"Me: Microsoft turned me into a newt. Bedemir: A newt? Me: I got better.
mfrattApr 13, 2006
I disagree. Competition would make Microsoft adapt. If they felt enough heat, they would no doubt adapt and put out a decent-to-good product. They have enough money to hire the best minds on the planet. The whole point of Capitalism is innovation through competition. Don't take me for any Microsoft lover though. I have nothing but respect for Gates, but utterly despise Microsoft, which is why I am all Mac + Linux.
geekygirlApr 14, 2006
The site asks people to "Send us your feedback and ideas. We want to hear from you." (Port 25). In the case of public forums, especially at a company as visible as Microsoft, people may just take you up on the offer.As GM found with their 'Write Your Own Ad' campaign, you will get some feedback that you want and some that you do not want. In Microsoft's case, "There have been hundreds of blog posts and hundreds of emails sent – both through the feedback aliases and many that you have sent directly to me. There have been rants, demands, questions, encouragement, suspicion, affirmation, ideas, pontifications and guidance." (Bill Hilf, Microsoft)
dasil003Apr 14, 2006
@mfratt "They have enough money to hire the best minds on the planet."See, that's where you're wrong. The best minds on the planet don't have any problem getting a job, they work where they want to. I'm sure a handful of them are at Microsoft because they get to work on interesting problems, but it's nowhere near what Apple and Google have per-capita.
xsecretsApr 14, 2006
well I didn't know what the port 25 blog was so I hopped on google and found it. The home page is nice and all hey we love everyone come on in FOSS people. Then a quick click on in the lab and hey what do you know all of a sudden the real purpose becomes apparent."Fifty Linux distributions, Check. Fifteen versions of UNIX, Check. Now, how do we manage all of this? Learn how we leverage Systems Management Server and Vintela to manage the lab."The are just conceding just enough to say hey we realize you use other stuff let us manage it then in a couple of years when you are completely entrenched in our management software we'll pull support for everything but Microsoft products. This is not really a new tactic for Microsoft thus the skepticism.
starbaneApr 14, 2006
I don't know why anyone would trust Microsoft with anything...But I DO know that throwing out (and throwing up) phrases like "economic terrorist" is probably why windows nerds call us communists. It's a stupid phrase, much like "Viral license"; meaningless and meant to do nothing but sow FUD.
burmaskApr 14, 2006
Therefore keep writing good code without getting paid. Great idea.
pantherxApr 14, 2006
So I don't get it... MS is blogging about sending email? I hate it when writers just assume you know what they are talking about.