Microsoft to Open Source: You guys are hypocrites!, Feb 13, 2003

Instead of trying to throw Microsoft out, we should be asking that they do more and present their very best. And then have our best, say Eben Moglen or Bruce Perens, debate whomever they put forward as their champion. And then trust that reasonable minds can decide for themselves which side has the better arguments.

Webmaster's note: Are we seeing Ghandi's quote coming true? "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.

But Linux is an "unusual kind of competition because in a way it's out there and very pervasive. In a way, there's more incompatible versions of Linux than there are of all other operating systems put together. That is, as people do innovations on top of Linux, they don't all get tested together and they're not all consistent with each other," Gates told the MVPs.

IBM today announced that it will work with the Linux community to enter the Common Criteria certification process for the Linux operating system early this year and proceed with a progressive plan for certifying Linux at increasing security levels through 2003 and 2004.

Still, there is much ground to cover before Linux takes over corporate computing. Among Fortune 500 companies, Linux owns a scant 10 per cent of the market, well behind Microsoft's Windows (50 per cent) and Sun's Solaris (30 per cent), and so has many hearts to conquer. And a recent report from the META Group, a high-tech consultancy, warned that much of the push for Linux is motivated by an emotional reaction to Microsoft.

Oracle Corp. and IBM are jostling for a federal stamp of approval on Linux, with both companies announcing that they will submit their respective software to certification processes.

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