The Empire Strikes Back

[Redman]

It is truly amazing how most people assume the only computer operating system available is Microsoft.

This is the core of my worries: because nobody knows! The major stores aren't interested in giving alternatives for Windows simply because they don't have the time and their boss says so.

Only friends of enthousiasts like heard of Linux.

And even then people only think about Linux after you give them facts (uptime, 0 crashed, etc.) or show them...

[zba78]

IMHO I think it's a question of focus. As long as the Linux community has a goal to do what ever it can to make Linux better then I think we'll all be OK. The moment that goal shifts to "let's destroy windows and have the biggest market share" I think we're all in trouble.

People are then free to choose whichever OS suits them best Linux/OSX/Windows, it's up to them.

[daacosta]

After reading the article from the first post of this thread I can only ask how is Microsoft going to sue me for infringing patents by using GNU/Linux? Even if they make agreements with manufacturers and other firms that distribute Linux I don't see how will MS be able to hurt GNU/Linux... I personally don't really believe MS claim that Linux violates more than 200 patents... Good article but quite frankly it sounds like FUD from Microsoft (I'd like to see specifically which patents is GNU/Linux violating and if those patents can be defended in court...)

[techieMoe]

After reading the article from the first post of this thread I can only ask how is Microsoft going to sue me for infringing patents by using GNU/Linux? Even if they make agreements with manufacturers and other firms that distribute Linux I don't see how will MS be able to hurt GNU/Linux... I personally don't really believe MS claim that Linux violates more than 200 patents... Good article but quite frankly it sounds like FUD from Microsoft (I'd like to see specifically which patents is GNU/Linux violating and if those patents can be defended in court...)

I'm sure we all would like to see specifics, but I doubt very seriously that Microsoft will ever take these patents to court. Not only would it unleash the wrath of other large tech companies who hold patents (IBM, Sony, etc), it would also force Microsoft to specifically show what lines of code infringe.

By the nature of open source, this would allow Linus Torvalds and the other maintainers of the affected software to change those lines of code and Microsoft would no longer have any basis for a lawsuit (if they did to begin with).

Microsoft's only options at this point are: tell us the details in court and risk losing any and all leverage when the code inevitably gets changed, or simply parade around Steve Ballmer and a few other Microsofties and keep spreading the FUD. My guess is the latter.

[Redman]

... and keep spreading the FUD. My guess is the latter.

Simply because many a) have no idea what it is all about and b) since Microsoft says so, many believe it must be true.