[ale] Date: Thu, 17 Aug 2000 15:24:00 -0500

[Brian J. Dowd]

Why, if they just distributed the binary code dynamically linked to the
GPL'd libs, would that cause their code to become GPL'd? I think they
could do this. I also think they will put out a MSLinux. The kernel
would be GPL'd but their binary object code could check to make sure
that it was an 'MS Linux' installation. 

It might even have to be re-licensed periodically over the internet on a
random basis. They would make the case that their brand of Linux comes
with MS support. They could easily follow the RedHat model. Do you think
the vast majority of computer users out there care about GNU or GPL
issues? 

Why did GM make smaller cars in the 70's? Competition from overseas. MS
could easily make the case that you now have 'options'; MSWin or
MSLinux. Their apps would be closed, of course. I don't believe that MS
plans, for a minute, to ignore an evergrowing piece of the pie and let
Redhat, SuSe, Debian, etc. have a feast at their expense.

Just my ruminations....
> 
> Well, at least if they embarked on an "embrace and extend" campaign
> with Linux, they would have to make the source available. Unless
> a court challenge against the GPL held up; scary thought, that.
> 
> I'm not sure how I feel about running massive bloatware like
> MS Word on my Linux box... I think I'd rather run massive
> bloatware like Emacs...
> 
> -- Joe
> 
> P.S. Emacs is to the "Tower of Hanoi" as MS Excel is to
> "Flight Simulator".
> 
> Luis Luna wrote:
> >
> > You don't think this is a bad idea? Did you read about the trouble they were
> > having? Would they just use wine like IBM used in Web-builder or what used
> > to be toppage?
> > Or really just take and distribute a "Microsoft" version of linux with their
> > typical embrace and extend modus operandi.
> >  It would solve a lot of their problems, they keep their hold on the
> > desktop, they keep their hold on the office suites, and they can dictate on
> > their own terms how and where Microsoft brand Linux goes.
> > Think the Sun Staroffice decision to go open source had anything to do with
> > this FUD announcement?
> > > To: mike.phillips at ieionline.com
> > > Subject: [ale] Microsoft porting MS Office to Linux
> > >
> > >
> > > hehehehe...the Penguin is growing :-). Thought this would be of
> > > interest to
> > > everyone.
> >
> > --
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> 
> --
> *** Joseph Knapka ***
> In any formula, constants (especially those obtained from handbooks)
> are to be treated as variables.
> --
> To unsubscribe: mail majordomo at ale.org with "unsubscribe ale" in message body.

-- 
Brian J. Dowd
73, W1DOC
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