[oclug] MicroSoft says Linux, OpenSource threaten innovation

[Adrian Chung]

On Thu, Feb 15, 2001 at 04:55:47PM -0600, Mike Warnecke wrote:
> While we might laugh, this line of propaganda is not stupid.  I think
> they aim to make Linux and Open Source look like a foreign enemy against
> the "American Way."  If they convince enough people, and enough
> lawmakers this could turn ugly.

I disagree!  This line of propaganda *is* stupid.  The claims made in
this article, especially the fact that open source "stifles
innovation" is about the most unfounded claim about open source that
I've heard in a long time.

How could this turn ugly?  Is the US government going to pass
legislation stating that Open Source is illegal?  What's next?  No
more free speech?

> I am still looking for something that they have truly "innovated."
> Everything seems to be an incompatible facelift (just because she's
> prettier doesn't mean she's better) of something someone else created.
> I'll probably be waiting a long time.

They've had some good ideas, and I think lots of developers will agree
that they've had some good ideas.  They just can't seem to implement
them in a way that actually works. :)

It's interesting to recall that Miguel de Icaza's keynote speech at
last year's OLS was all about how GNOME is copying Microsoft's ideas,
but doing them better.

--
Adrian Chung - adrian at enfusion dash group dot com