[Eug-lug] OSCON & OSCamp pre-report
David Mandel
dmandel at pdxLinux.org
Fri Jul 28 16:55:55 PDT 2006
Yes, six Microsoft people came to OSCamp and had an open discussion.
The discussion was very lively - bordered on being too lively; but
overall it was excellent. From it I concluded that:
- Microsoft (at least some elements of Microsoft) have concluded
that Open Source can't be destroyed, so they want to work with
the open community - and don't have any idea how to do it
at this point.
- Microsoft has hired many true Open Source people and is doing
significant Open Source work - altho they haven't and may never
release much Open Source code. On the other hand, they may well
start playing fair with the Open Source Community by using
standards and actually trying to make things work with Open Source
Software or at least by not trying to screw things up.
- Microsoft is concerned about it's well described BAD reputation
with IT people and with the Open Source Community and they want
to repair it - if that is even possible.
- What I heard from Microsoft was basically positive; BUT:
Microsoft must have many elements within the company who
have no use for Open Source; and Microsoft has a long history
of making partners when it needed them and stabbing them in
back later on.
- Companies change. IBM certainly has changed for the better.
Maybe Microsoft will change for the better as well. We
should welcome their attempts to become more open or at least
more tolerant of the Open Source Community; but we will also
need to watch them closely for a long time. I'm far from
convinced that these changes will be completed and will be
lasting. Still, I'm willing to give them a chance. That
is only fair.
P.S. Microsoft invited a lot of us out to dinner Thursday night.
The food, drink, and conversation was very good and pay for by
people who bought Windows licenses.
Sincerely,
David Mandel
Chief Activist
Portland Linux/Unix Group
560 SE Alexander
Corvallis, Oregon 97333
(541) 737-9153 at work (OSU)
(541) 730-5285 cell
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David Mandel http://www.DavidMandel.com
Portland Linux/Unix Group http://pdxLinux.org
LinuxFund http://LinuxFund.org
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