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http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com

An Intriguing title, and provocative too! If you want to find out why anyone should be remotely well disposed to Microsoft, you might find this a challenging take on the potentially symbiotic relationship between it and open source free software.

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gaswold's picture
Created by gaswold 14 years 5 weeks ago – Made popular 14 years 5 weeks ago
Category: Philosophy   Tags:
motters's picture

motters

14 years 5 weeks 3 days 17 hours ago

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What might Microsoft do next?

A fair summary of Microsoft's predicament. As a software developer I know that MS have been losing a lot of "mind share" over the last few years, and look set to lose still more in future. With more developers abandoning Windows and the cathedral model it's only a matter of time before users inevitably follow.

In response my guess is that they could release at least one of their traditional "cash cows" as gratis software supported by advertising. Software dumping has worked for them before (Internet Explorer), and would allow them to spread confusion between zero cost and freedom respecting software (something which is already a known problem amongst GNU/Linux users). Simultaneously they could also try to launch patent suits against individual high profile FOSS developers, characterizing them as "intellectual property pirates". It would be legally risky for them, but might succeed in spreading a lot of FUD.

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