quote:
Could this be the end of Linux
In a word:
NO.
To be sure, His Gatesness would never pass up an attempt to stick it to Linux. To this end, MS is licensing SCO UNIX in order to toss a few $$$ their way so that they can continue their suit against IBM. It has the added benefit of making SCO's case look stronger. What they're saying is that MS, itself, is "afraid" that they might be next on the lawsuit hit list. After all, it is already known that MS does include UNIX code, especially the TCP/IP stack from the BSDs.
Also, this is really
good news. After all, SCO is trying an exit strategy wherein they're hoping for a buy-out. If MS really thought SCO had a case, then why don't
they buy out SCO? If they did that, MS could directly sue IBM, and, perhaps, by extension, sue Linux out of existance. They haven't done this, just bought a license. It's obvious that MS's own legal dept. doesn't believe in the viability of this suit. They'd
never take a pass on this if they believed otherwise.
Also, it is highly doubtful that MS wants that UNIX license in an attempt to migrate Winderz to a *NIX core. If they were to do that, then they'd break every MS app out there. The piss-off factor would be too much for even them to withstand. Nor would they want to compete with themselves by offering a *NIX based OS and an inferior NT-based product. Lastly, a *NIX-based MS version of Winderz could run all that Open Source soft without too much difficulty. They'd cut the market for their own vastly over-priced soft, such as Office, etc. right out from under themselves. Indeed, such a move would probably benefit the Linux/Open Source communities. After all, why pay $200 or more for a *NIX-based Winderz when you can get a *NIX-based Linux for free. Especially if Linux could just as easily run the very MS apps that they'd have to port to *NIX?
Ain't gonna happen.
_______________________________________
Live Free or Die: Linux
"There: now you'll never have to look at those dirty Windows anymore"
--Daffy Duck
