Linux violates 235 Microsoft patents
By Jonathan Schlaffer
I would be almost foolish to say that Linux isn’t popular at all; it’s just not popular around here. I’ve had a very bad experience with it and I’m not going to repeat it any time soon. Some say Linux is gaining popularity, when it has 10% of the worldwide desktop operating system market, I will concede that point. Until then, it is an “enthusiast” operating system relegated to those who like configuring hardware manually and using command lines.
Until recently Microsoft did not use patent infringements to destroy or hold over other companies heads. Still, patents can be overturned in courts or worked around. Basically, Microsoft wants its royalties but it won’t get them without a dirty and gritty court fight. CNN Money/Fortune Magazine has written a very lengthy article about the coming storm.
Part of the problem is there is almost a never ending string of patents, laws regarding said patents, laws in the industry and so on. For the next few years if Microsoft decides to take action we may not see any new developments as everything is tied up in legal red tape. I don’t want that any more than you do.
As for the 235 violations, it breaks down like this with the Linux kernel violating 42 patents, the Linux interface violates 65, OpenOffice violates 45, email clients in Linux breach 15 and other assorted programs total out to another 68 violations.
Microsoft will have to prove that in court and at this point I can’t say which way it will go but if Microsoft gets its way, open source software will no longer be free as everyone will be paying royalties to Microsoft. Is this like stealing from the poor and giving to the rich, how many more billions does Microsoft need anyway?
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Read more entries by Jonathan Schlaffer.
May 14th, 2007
“Until then, it is an “enthusiast” operating system relegated to those who like configuring hardware manually and using command lines.”
Sorry, but the statement above is wrong.
I have been using Linux for almost two years now for everything but games. I have no training in IT at all. I have never used the command line, and I wouldn’t know how to start either. In these two years I never had my computer crash, freeze, lose information or get infected with viruses or spyware. Never. Linux is more than ready for the regular desktop user like me.
May 14th, 2007
Well, that is a matter of opinion, after Linux nuked by existing Vista install and corrupted the boot loader… I am a little leery to trust it again. The distro in question… Ubuntu.
May 14th, 2007
Well, as you can see it’s miSCOsoft all over again…!
May 14th, 2007
I’ve had microsoft remove or corrupt linux boot loaders maybe a dozen times, and have not yet had a linux boot loader fail to boot microsoft stuff reliably. I don’t know how ubuntu messed up yours, but I can assure you that the other way around is far more likely/frequent.
May 14th, 2007
Yes, Linux is only for hobbyists - Google, the Life Insurance Company of India (70,000 desktops), Citroen (20,000 desktops), the City of Munich, the Government of Japan. It’s not for serious organizations.
May 14th, 2007
I said desktop in the context of home users… if you are Google, a government agency or a corporation then you can afford to hire people to deal with installing Linux or deal with installation problems.
Linux is a server OS, no argument from me on that point but again, I said desktop OS not server.
May 14th, 2007
I have had the experience of using both Microsoft’s XP/2k and Linux (personally prefer openSuSE) - Jonathan, I think what you are trying to convey is that unlike MS-XP,2K,Vista - Linux may not be ready for most people (usually the term used -”an OS my grandma is comfortable with”). I agree with you about most aspects of what you say - but then this is a constantly evolving OS - Compare Linux today to Linux say about 4-5 years ago - it has evolved much more quickly, with a greater degree of stability than MS-XP has. I personally was most comfortable with Win-2K - It was the flavour used in my office till we all got IBM machines preloaded with WinXP.
I use SuSE at home - and I find my usage almost as comfortable and satisfying as WindowsXP. If I have to buy a machine with an OS preloaded, frankly I would prefer SuSE to Microsoft - the things I have heard about Vista (especially relating to DRM protection … ) make me hesitant in investing in the same. I will be picking up a laptop shortly - I would actually rather have spend the extra dollars on better hardware than Vista ;).
Of course, there is a good chance that i might just have Vista preloaded - but even so, I would probably switch to SuSE - getting a tad too comfortable with it.
May 15th, 2007
Jonathan,
That was lucid, thoughtful and even considerate blog entry,
Thanks for that, even if you are still confused about how easy Linux is.
;)
May 15th, 2007
Jonathan,
Have you ever read the “Halloween Documents”, leaked Microsoft documents relating to their thoughts and strategies on Open Source?
There are 11 in total spanning 1998 to 2004, and these are Microsofts *real* thoughts on Linux, Apache, the GPL, rather than the drivel they issue in press releases and statements to the press and industry.
If not, you might find them interesting.
regards
May 15th, 2007
Halloween Documents
May 15th, 2007
These are highlight excerpts from “Halloween II” the second leaked Microsoft internal document.
This was authored in *1998*, when Linux really *was* hard to use.
*Linux represents a best-of-breed UNIX, that is trusted in mission critical applications, and - due to it’s open source code - has a long term credibility which exceeds many other competitive OS’s.
* Most of the primary apps that people require when they move to Linux are already available for free. This includes web servers, POP clients, mail servers, text editors, etc
* An advanced Win32 GUI user would have a short learning cycle to become productive [under Linux].
* I previously had IE4/NT4 on the same box and by comparison the combination of Linux / Navigator ran at least 30-40% faster when rendering simple HTML + graphics.
* Long term, my simple experiments do indicate that Linux has a chance at the desktop market …
* Consumers Love It.
* Linux’s (real and perceived) virtues over Windows NT include: Customization … Availability/Reliability … Scaleability/Performance … Interoperability …
* Linux is emerging as a key operating system in the nascent thin server market
* Using today’s server requirements, Linux is a credible alternative to commercial developed servers in many, high volume applications.
* The effect of patents and copyright in combatting Linux remains to be investigated.
* Note, however, that Compaq and Dell merely have to credibly threaten Linux adoption in order to push for lower OEM OS pricing.
May 15th, 2007
“Linux patent violations/risk of being sued” struck a chord with US and Swedish respondents. Seventy-four percent (74%) of Americans and 82% of Swedes stated that the risk of being sued over Linux patent violations made them feel less favorable towards Linux. This was the only message that had a strong impact with any audience.
…
The discussion of IP rights needs to be tied to concrete actions.”
Sep. 02 - Excerpt from “Halloween VII”
Mar. 03 - SCO files lawsuit against IBM alleging IP violations in Linux
Oct. 03 - Microsoft is implicated in funding SCO “Halloween X”
May 15th, 2007
Wow man… If you’re going to blog about “PC and lifestyle technology” the least you can do is actually give it a college try. Clearly you didn’t follow any instructions either in the installer or online….because there are lots. Do a search on Google for “linux vista dual boot” for crying out loud..
I have to wonder what would have happened the other way around if you had Linux installed and tried to install Vista. Oh yeah, actually I do know what would happen. It would nuke the Linux boot loader without nary a word of warning!
Sheesh…
June 28th, 2007
>> Until then, it is an “enthusiast” operating system relegated to those who like configuring hardware manually and using command lines. > Linux nuked [m]y existing Vista install and corrupted the boot loader