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November 18, 2004
Microsoft to World: Screw You
Yet another reason to move away from Microsoft products...
They're threatening foreign governments who have moved their systems to Linux or other open-source software, saying that Linux violates intellectual property.
I don't know too much about the various lawsuits that claim that Linux violates patents, but I do know that I trust the worldwide developers of Linux to be on my side a hell of a lot more than I trust Microsoft.
CEO Steve Ballmer also offered this little bit of absurdity..
"We think our software is far more secure than open-source software. It is more secure because we stand behind it, we fixed it, because we built it. Nobody ever knows who built open-source software," he added.
Reuters
This from the company that just released XP Service Pack 2, an update intended to address hundreds of security holes in Windows, and which has already been found to have serious security flaws of its own.
Posted by ahecht at November 18, 2004 3:38 PM
Previous Comments
And there aren't any developers world wide that use MS software/technology are sucessfull? The fact is that MS soft is easier to use than Linux still. I use .NET to develop enterprise level applications and I find it a ton more easier/powerfull to use than J2EE, Java, PHP to name a few. Remember, the software is as only as powerfull/secure as the user lets it be. MS has been getting better at securing their apps. Did you really expect SP2 to be bulletproof? They have to worry about WAY more testing for application incompatibilites. Give them a break.
Posted by:
Cam at November 18, 2004 11:27 PM
> Yet another reason to move away from Microsoft products
What are those 'other' reasons that you have failed to mention?
Posted by: John at November 19, 2004 3:32 PM
Okedokee, Microsofties..
First, Cam, I can't resist pointing out that when I clicked the link to visit your site, I was greeted by a big old .NET error. Kind of ironic, dontchathink?
Naturally plenty of good software has been made using and for Microsoft's platform and products. And no, I don't expect anything to be "bulletproof" but are you suggesting that it's too much to ask that a massive update intended to address security concerns not have a major exploit discovered in the first month? In any other context or with any other company, this would be considered a massive failure, but Microsoft gets a pass.
Your assertion that software is only as secure as the user lets it be is just wrong. Sure, the user can leave their computer open and vulnerable, but the software makers have some responsibility at the outset to build secure and stable software.
Anyway, I don't really care. I use Microsoft products, as does nearly every computer user on earth. It's not because I like them, though. Very few of their products are anywhere near best of breed, they're simply entrenched. I consider many of their business practices to be unfair, deceptive and, in the case of their upgrade contracts where companies pay for upgrades whether they happen or not, just plain ridiculous.
In short, I do not dislike Microsoft simply because they're big and powerful, or because they're successful, or because they're a popular target. I have similar complaints about many software and hardware companies. I dislike them because I am a computer user and a computer professional, and I find their work to be sub par.
I also find their attitude toward open-source software completely insulting.
Posted by:
Anthony at November 19, 2004 7:27 PM
