For years Microsoft’s founder Bill Gates has trashed both Linux and the GPL (1), calling them cancer-like, un-american, and warned that the GPL will eliminate your choice to use closed-source software. (2) Microsoft has long tried to sell the idea the open-source software is a plague that will infect your company like a virus, and eat away at the American economy. (3) So why now look to work more closely with the open source community (4), produce a lengthy statement about this collaboration (5), and even go so far as to develop an “Shared-Source Initative“. Maybe after all the FUD, and Microsoft’s inability to help SCO destroy Linux (6), there really is something to be said for the the GPL / Open Source community.

Let’s face it, this isn’t the first time ol’ Bill’s been wrong. Rememeber a little company called Netscape? They led the Internet Browser market until Microsoft, already behind on the game, decided that the Internet wasn’t just a phase and that it was time to get in the browser market. (7) Free copies of Internet Explorer and a big E on every desktop told people that IE WAS the internet. The nice thing about being Bill Gates is that even if you are horribly wrong, you own such a market share you can squeeze out the competition.

So considering Xensource’s recent announcement to partner with Microsoft I’m left asking myself: Is Xensource trying to stay in business by aligning themselves with a company who has proven to kill competition? Or has Xensource been forced to find so many investors that strategic control been taken away form those who hold it most dear?

I also have to wonder what Microsoft is looking to gain from this. VMware is currently lightyears ahead in terms of stability and features with their Virtual Infrastructure 3 product. I’m pretty sure that this partnership just one of many aimed at destroying the “competition”?

If you’re thinking “No way! Microsoft is a kinder corporation these days! Those days are long over.” Then you haven’t been watching what’s happening in Massachusetts. State CIO Peter Quinn tried to move the state from the proprietary Microsoft document formats (.xls, .doc, .ppt, etc..), and move them into the Open Source Document Format (ODF) (8). This new format would allow the various state agencies to have a larger choice of “office” applications. The problem, Microsoft likes having a monopoly. They like knowing that you need to use their software to properly format their documents saved in their file format.

So how is Microsoft handling this? When your Bill Gates, the richest man in the world, you have deep pockets. You hire a lobbist to convince someone of power that they should have “concerns” over this. (9)

In very disappointed in Xensources decision to partner with Microsoft. I like having the freedom to choose whether I want to use VMware, Xen, Virtuozzo, or yes, even Miscrosoft Virtual Server. As a consumer, I like choices. I like the idea of multiple companies working hard to develop better products. Too bad Microsoft doesn’t feel that way.

1. http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html

2. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2001/06/20/gpl_pacman_will_eat_your/

3. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/04/22/gates_gpl_will_eat_your/

4. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/179256_msftopen25.html

5. http://www.microsoft.com/resources/sharedsource/Articles/MicrosoftandOpenSource.mspx

6. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCO-Linux_controversies

7. http://www.searls.com/m+n.html

8. http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1906388,00.asp?kc=EWRSS03129TX1K0000616

9. http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1877793,00.asp