Microsoft's Ballmer hits out at "cloned" open source

Published: 14 July 2004 y., Wednesday
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has criticised the lack of innovation in open source software and accused the community of merely trying to "clone" commercial software. Speaking at Microsoft's Worldwide Partner Conference in Toronto today, Ballmer admitted that open source is "keeping us on our feet" but, describing himself as a caged animal on the topic, he said Windows is the safe technology bet for customers and partners today. "What is winning most of the assignments on the server and virtually all the assignments on the desktop?" Ballmer also hit back at criticism that Microsoft has stifled software innovation. "Where's the technology innovation going to happen? Technology innovation has happened much more from commercial companies than open source. Open source has just been trying to do clones of commercial software. That's all Linux is – a clone of Unix," he said. Ballmer said that with commercial software, businesses are guaranteed a "clear chain of responsibility" with regards to support and intellectual property. "Who's going to stand up and stand behind open source? No such clear line of responsibility exists." Outlining target areas for growth over the next 12 months, Ballmer said the installed Novell and IBM Lotus Notes bases are "ripe for picking". "There are more customers I've met in the last six months interested in Notes to Exchange migration than in the last five years."
Šaltinis: hardware.silicon.com
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.

Facebook Comments

New comment


Captcha

Associated articles

Wincor Nixdorf opens ATM, POS system distribution center in Singapore

Wincor Nixdorf AG has opened a global distribution center in Singapore to support its growing operations in Asia Pacific. more »

Online gambling – MEPs to debate rules to combat fraud, addiction

Over 3 million people in Europe bet online on sports like football, cricket and horse racing. more »

Wincor bankers' symposium: Building customer loyalty in a tough economy

Executives from Wincor Nixdorf Inc. (USA) hosted a bankers' forum last month, highlighting emerging trends in a challenging U.S. economic environment. more »

Push for mandatory reverse ATM PIN adoption rears its head, again

The appeal for a reverse ATM code has again popped up in mainstream press, this time in Illinois, where the (Peoria, Ill.) Journal Star last week reported about a technology that has been discussed in the industry for several years, yet fails to take off. more »

CeBIT previews future tech wonders

At the CeBIT fair grounds in Hanover, Germany, you move into a different realm. One with robots - lots of bots. more »

ATMIA, ATM Marketplace honor ATM companies for outstanding service

During the 10th annual ATM Industry Association conference last month, ATMIA and ATM Marketplace recognized four leading ATM players for their individual or combined contributions to the ATM Industry. more »

Schwarzenegger „pumps up“ CeBIT

The show held annually in the northern German city of Hannover usually invites a foreign nation to become an official partner, but in a historic move that distinction was granted to the State of California this year. more »

ATM Future Trends 2009 provides insight from 20 key industry executives, 1,600 survey respondents

After a six-month research project that involved the surveying of some 1,600 ATM and financial executives from throughout the world, ATM Marketplace and the ATM Industry Association have announced plans to release the findings of their research next month. more »

Tech CU launches GPS-based ATM locator

Technology Credit Union has teamed with LocatorSearch to introduce a global positioning system (GPS) download to help members find surcharge-free ATMs. more »

Video game safety: less legislation, more information

It's easy to demonise violent video games, but a report making its way through parliament says that "video games can have beneficial effects upon young people." more »