With Microsoft in Chaos, Our Moment Has Arrived

Michael J. Jordan, Linux Online Staff

March 27, 2006

Apparently, Microsoft's next release of its flagship operating system, called 'Vista', has been delayed yet again. This really isn't surprising news, due to the fact that it's been delayed quite a number of times already.

What is surprising, however, is that according to reports, some Microsoft developers are now in open rebellion.

Yes, these same developers who normally thrive on their daily diet of Kool-Aid and dog-food have called for the resignation of not only operating system head honchos Brian Valentine and Jim Allchin but (gasp!) CEO and gold medalist in the chair throw, Steve Ballmer.

Will Bill Gates be next? I doubt it. A few disgruntled employees does not a revolution make.

In fact, there are those who defend the umpteenth Vista delay. Microsoftie Robert Scoble was reported as saying: "Yes, it's painful. Yes, it's embarrassing. But we've been through product slips before and I'd rather have a slipped date than a cruddy product."

Yes, I agree. God forbid that Microsoft ship a cruddy product.

So, is this the beginning of the end for Microsoft? This past week we've seen a lot of people use the word 'failure' in the same sentence with 'Microsoft'. Is this a harbinger of the end of Window's desktop dominance? We can hope, can't we?

In one report, someone identified as a Microsoft "insider" expressed concern that by the time key Microsoft products ship, they will have become irrelevant.

Forbes columnist Daniel Lyons writing last week in a highly critical piece about Microsoft's smoke and mirrors routine, said: "Microsoft can't afford to screw up like this. There are free alternatives to everything Microsoft sells, like the Linux operating system and the Open Office application suite."

But perhaps more importantly, Lyons points out in the same piece: "Given Microsoft's delays I can't believe open-source stuff still hasn't caught on for desktop computers." Well, Dan, that's two of us. But what should we in the Linux community do about this? First, is to realize that we have a classic 'strike while the iron's hot' moment and not be slow to exploit it. To their credit, Novell seems to be doing their darnedest to fill the emerging Microsoft void. Company exec Nat Friedman recently showed off a Linux desktop that does 100% of what you want. And lately, Dell seems to be warming up to desktop Linux as well.

Microsoft's just dropped the ball. It's up to us to pick it up.

Michael J. Jordan is Webmaster of Linux Online. He can be reached at Michael.Jordan**AT**Linux.org