5 ms·

It's really easy to bash Microsoft based on their history of interaction with the OSS community - remember Embrace, Extend, Extinguish? However it is no longer

by casca 15y ago

It's really easy to bash Microsoft based on their history of interaction with the OSS community - remember Embrace, Extend, Extinguish? However it is no longer 1999 and the environment has changed. Microsoft is no longer the Great Satan that everyone is scared will dominate everything. They'll act in ways that further their world view and bottom line (primarily Windows and Office) and if that means genuine engagement, they'll do it. There are plenty of people within Microsoft who would love to be in this space. Endorsement (if that's what this is) could unleash a swarm of smart people working on hard problems for the benefit of all. And it could just be another marketing stunt.

ww520 15y ago
I think any involvement of Microsoft with OSS community is a plus. IBM used to be hated for their heavy handed business practices long back, but they changed their way and embraced OSS (Linux in particular) and have been benefited tremendously. I don't see Microsoft can't have a win-win relationship with OSS.
vibrunazo 15y ago
If Microsoft had embraced oss they would've opened their protocols and wouldn't be extorting Android oems. EEE only works when you have dominant share to leverage, which they don't anymore. If we give it back to them, this new love for oss will be just the first step of EEE all over again.
drhowarddrfine 15y ago
It's amazing what reduced market share and influence, and the rise of mobile, Google and Apple does to a company's behavior.
aptwebapps 15y ago
It may not be 1999 but what about the whole OOXML thing? That's the first thing that springs to my mind when Microsoft talks about standards committees. I'm sure there are a lot of nice people working there, but I'm not going to hold my breath.
- Karellen 15y ago
  Yup, I note that that announcement mentions OASIS twice - the company that MS found very helpful to get OOXML rubber-stamped and fast-tracked into ISO. I think we should be vigilant for that tactic being used again...
EdiX 15y ago
It's not 1999 anymore but what about patent lawsuits? What about locked UEFI on ARM?
forgottenpaswrd 15y ago
"It's really easy to bash Microsoft based on their history of interaction with the OSS community - remember Embrace, Extend, Extinguish?" They continue using the same technique today. It is only that enough people have opted out from them and they are doing fine(It was very difficult in the past not depending on MS). I have to use proprietary MS tech like Silverlight to browse their web pages, no thanks, and they don't want to support webGL in IE so they don't empower standards like OpenGL. I prefer they don't mess with open Standards so they don't corrupt them. EEE is still alive today because the culture of a company is so difficult to change at the deep level(you need to change the entire hierarchy, the power chain), and they have not done that. This is just PR. "There are plenty of people within Microsoft who would love to be in this space." Yeah, in every company there is all kind of people. The question is who gets promoted to make decisions. As the company gets older the hierarchy becomes self sustaining like in the catholic church +65 years old bishops choosing a +80 years old Pope. Do you expect the Pope to change the structure that elected him?.

by casca 15y ago

ww520 15y ago

I think any involvement of Microsoft with OSS community is a plus. IBM used to be hated for their heavy handed business practices long back, but they changed their way and embraced OSS (Linux in particular) and have been benefited tremendously. I don't see Microsoft can't have a win-win relationship with OSS.

vibrunazo 15y ago

If Microsoft had embraced oss they would've opened their protocols and wouldn't be extorting Android oems. EEE only works when you have dominant share to leverage, which they don't anymore. If we give it back to them, this new love for oss will be just the first step of EEE all over again.

drhowarddrfine 15y ago

It's amazing what reduced market share and influence, and the rise of mobile, Google and Apple does to a company's behavior.

aptwebapps 15y ago

It may not be 1999 but what about the whole OOXML thing? That's the first thing that springs to my mind when Microsoft talks about standards committees. I'm sure there are a lot of nice people working there, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

Karellen 15y ago
Yup, I note that that announcement mentions OASIS twice - the company that MS found very helpful to get OOXML rubber-stamped and fast-tracked into ISO. I think we should be vigilant for that tactic being used again...

EdiX 15y ago

It's not 1999 anymore but what about patent lawsuits? What about locked UEFI on ARM?

forgottenpaswrd 15y ago

"It's really easy to bash Microsoft based on their history of interaction with the OSS community - remember Embrace, Extend, Extinguish?" They continue using the same technique today. It is only that enough people have opted out from them and they are doing fine(It was very difficult in the past not depending on MS). I have to use proprietary MS tech like Silverlight to browse their web pages, no thanks, and they don't want to support webGL in IE so they don't empower standards like OpenGL. I prefer they don't mess with open Standards so they don't corrupt them. EEE is still alive today because the culture of a company is so difficult to change at the deep level(you need to change the entire hierarchy, the power chain), and they have not done that. This is just PR. "There are plenty of people within Microsoft who would love to be in this space." Yeah, in every company there is all kind of people. The question is who gets promoted to make decisions. As the company gets older the hierarchy becomes self sustaining like in the catholic church +65 years old bishops choosing a +80 years old Pope. Do you expect the Pope to change the structure that elected him?.