[CVALE] The Evil Empire and Xandros...Who is next?

[Dennis Baker]

Landon,

I don't think it's as clear as you do.  In the first place no one in the
Linux community seems overly concerned with Microsofts patents.  There is in
fact a site out there of people who have volunteered to get sued first...

My take on this deal and the other similar ones is this.  First Microsoft
solidifies the public opinion that there is stolen intellectual property in
Linux.  Second, Microsoft establishes that Linux is NOT free.  Both
Microsoft and the vendors who enter the agreement benefit from these
perceptions.  Microsoft because it's much easier to compete when you can
compare products and pricing.  The vendors who participate in these
agreements benefit because the more people believe that there are teeth to
Microsoft's claims the more people will be willing to spend money on their
brand of "protected" Linux.

The only 'losers' in these deals are the consumers who believe the spin MS
puts on these deals.

-- Dennis

On 6/5/07, Landon Blake <lblake at ksninc.com> wrote:
>
>  Dennis,
>
>
>
> I'm no expert at this sort of business arrangement. I think the article
> did mention that Microsoft agreed not to sue Xandros customers over patent
> infringement, which I think is similar to the deal that Novel made.
>
>
>
> I wonder why Microsoft is making such deals. They've now basically got
> arrangements with the biggest "commercial" vendors of both RPM and Debian
> bases distributions. How does this fit into Microsoft's overall strategy?
> Should the average Linux user care? Does this mean the Microsoft has finally
> realized Linux is here to stay? Will this "interoperability" lead to any
> improvement in the situation for Linux hardware drivers?
>
>
>
> Landon
>
>
>  ------------------------------
>
> *From:* cvale-bounces at lists.fire2wire.com [mailto:
> cvale-bounces at lists.fire2wire.com] *On Behalf Of *Dennis Baker
> *Sent:* Tuesday, June 05, 2007 10:12 AM
> *To:* cvale at cvale.org
> *Subject:* Re: [CVALE] The Evil Empire and Xandros...Who is next?
>
>
>
> Read article,  null content typical of this sort of agreement.  What is so
> sinister about this deal?  Is Xandros paying MS big bucks for this
> privilege?
>
> There is really nothing revealed in this article beyond the fact Xandros
> made some sort of agreement with Microsoft which is supposed to help
> MS-Xandros interoperability.  What form that help is to take and whether it
> will affect any other Linux users is unclear.
>
> -- Dennis
>
>  On 6/4/07, *Landon Blake* <lblake at ksninc.com> wrote:
>
> Do you guys have any comments on the latest deal between Microsoft and
> Xandros?
>
>
>
>
> http://news.com.com/Microsoft+teams+with+Linux+distributor+Xandros/2100-7344_3-6188254.html
>
>
>
> I bet the Debian folks are loving this. :]
>
>
>
> Landon
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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> --
> Dennis Da-Ogre http://ogrehut.com
>
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-- 
Dennis Da-Ogre http://ogrehut.com
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