Microsoft copies open-source ideas, and does them badly. Look at Server Core: It's supposed to be a version of Dimdows Server that leaves out the GUI so that it can run "headless". Unfortunately, so many server-side Dimdows features turn out to be UI-dependent that you end up losing them as well.

Ironically, one of the things you lose is PowerShell. Microsoft's fearsome answer to the Linux folks who point out the power and flexibility of the command line over the GUI, is to offer a command line that cannot actually work without help from a GUI.

And if you change your mind afterwards and want to put back the missing services, you can't just add them on like you would a bunch of extra packages in a normal Linux distribution; you have to do a complete reinstall.

So I don't think us "Freetards" have to lose much sleep as yet. We're still free, and guess who the 'tards are?

"Microsoft simply appears to be meeting the challenge of OSS better than OSS appears to be meeting the challenge of displacing Microsoft."

Wow, really? So MSFT has a small group assigned to "figure out how we can take some of the benefits of OSS and use to our advantage" and that means they are meeting the challenge? It's my impression that no matter how visible Ramji's team may seem to us in the OSS world (he's visible to the OSS community for a reason), it represents such a tiny fraction of 1 percent of the amount of technical/marketing/resources/communications etc that MSFT dedicates in total to all things not-OSS. Don't let yourself read so much into this that you think MSFT is "meeting the challenge." It will remain to be seen, but this is a very little commitment at a later stage in the growth of the OSS movement.

Katie Poplin
xaware.org

Are they learning, sure. But is it enough. I don't think so. Remember the USA is not the whole world and your view is pretty isolated to just the USA. Globally more and more projects are adopting Linux.

Honestly its not about Linux VS Microsoft either, at least not to the real people doing the systems building. Its more about Unix vs Windows and Unix is just so much more flexible and powerful than windows will ever be. Its just that Linux is Unix and not only is it Open Source it in many instances is Free.

I can show you Unix boxes that have uptimes measured in years not that its a great measuring stick but to do the same with windows also means never doing security updates since a reboot is required between each set of updates. Another very very nice thing as a Admin is the fact all your updates are done in one pass.

The list of things Unix does better than Windows is very very long and while MS might be trying to whittle that list down they have to match us, not the other way around.

As an IT guy i know i can admin way more Unix boxes than i can windows boxes. This is not to say Unix does everything better or easier than windows its just that as a IT guy the ones it does matter more to me. They are both just tools. Actually your article makes me think you are a bit of one too. No insult intended.

Wow - talk about a "tard!" okay, enough with the stupid disparaging remarks. everyone has an opinion just like there are a lot of a$$holes.

Windows 2008 is not a significant upgrade to 2003 - further it is no surprise that Infoworld scored it an 8.5/10. Windows 2008 won't displace UNIX workloads, in conservative companies it won't displace Windows 2003 anytime real soon, and as far as OSS goes - who cares? Microsoft has been utilizing Open Source in their Closed Source for years. Prove they haven't.

If MS has learned only six areas in these many years, it will take them decades to catch up to Unix (and Linux for that matter). The 'tards at MS have ALWAYS copied almost everything (they haven't copied the stupid things they have done) instead of creating anything from scratch, and in the process they have killed so many competitors. This time is different because everybody owns Linux, so no matter what they do won't be much. The battle front MS has now is way too wide. It's just a matter of time. You and the other 'tards will see it.

Would be interesting to see market share trends, instead of this flame-bait troll-post, Savio. ;-)

To the ignorant, childish and clueless Microsoft haters:

Against industry trends and the constant parroting of naysayers like people on this post, Microsoft continues to grow and grow. Microsoft just recently posted 15% growth in Net revenue up from USD$44b to USD$51b and growth of 12% in Net income up from USD$12.6b to USD$14.1b. Apple dissappointed and so did Google but Microsoft beat all analyst expectations and the ignorant naysayers.

Let's see - Google is a one trick company - they have monetised search, big deal nothing else. What is their innovation? Apple - Mac OS only accounts for 3% of computers desktop operating systems and Linux 1% but you wouldn't think so from all the anti Microsoft comments from people living in fairy land. Guess who propped up Apple when it was on the verge of going down the gurgler? Microsoft with USD$200m. Microsoft is the only constant in the business and they continue to grow! Does this sound like a company which does'nt meet it's customers expectations and business and industry needs and is "going down"?

Microsoft continues to innovate, invest, acquire and deliver wanted products and technologies. If it hasn't how do you explain their continued growth?

Linux was meant to be the death of Microsoft = Global Linux market share has been going backwards. FACTS.

Microsoft has come from nowhere and is now considered one of the top 3 players in Business Intelligence - Gartner report. They are now also considered a leader in Unified Communications as well. Cnet is already saying the 2nd generation of Zune is a legitimate rival if not better than iPod and Xbox already proved you can come from behind in a mature industry just like Microsoft has done in Business Intelligence, Unified Comms and many others areas.

Microsoft will invest USD$6.5b on R&D this year and it continues to innovate and make good and successful acquisitions. Examples - aQuantive, Danger (Mobile) and many many others. Look at innovation such as Surface, PhotoSynth, .NET, Silverlight, Software plus Services for Exchange, Office, Unified Comms and many others and wait to see what's just around the corner.

The latest NPD report of Open Source Office Apps and Google Apps sees only 0.5% of US consumers switching to office apps in the cloud and against this Microsoft has posted record growth in Office sales.

More than 50m mobile phones with Windows Mobile are being shipped per year with growth of more than 300% per annum - how many iPhones have been sold!? No comparison.

As usual the ignorant clueless naysayers simply say "you must work for Microsoft" because I am defending them. I am defending them as I happily invested in them many years ago and my company is very satisfied with their products, technology and servicing. As a consumer I have had no issues whatsoever with Windows Vista on my home PC except for the lack of drivers from Creative for my soundcard - not Microsoft's problem.

Your opinions and personal experiences are NOT representative of the global consumer base or global industries so stop trying to make out that it is. As usual the vocal minority are in fairy land thinking they represent the majority.

So before you continue to make uniformed and ignorant childish comments - get some facts and stop swallowing Google and Apple press releases and the hype around open source.

Savio,

No offense, but your title is so lame that for the first time in 2 years I consider unsubscribing.

To Roy Schestowitz:

The truth hurts doesn't it!

You are happy to put up with generalisations, irrational, childish, hateful and mainly ignorant comments about Microsoft but when someone fires something back at the 'freetards' you protest?

When did you last protest about those ignorant and offensive comments about Microsoft?

Hypocrites....

They have been a headache to Microsoft. The tards at MS have always copied almost everything instead of creating anything from own, and in the process they have killed so many competitors.But what about this time that they are using Linux. The MS has now is way too wide. It's just a matter of time. The tards are going to suffer.
Regards,
Cranium1200