M$ calling our bluff?

I'm trying to decide what to make of this


christo

It is just another attempt to smother the open source market. They are doing this because we are making a difference.

I doubt they will be able to really change the source and compile thier own versions though.

Basically, it reads in "RealWorldSpeak" -

Microsoft's software (particularly Windows) is a bug and hole-riddled nightmare. Microsoft frequently ignores these bugs and holes, or moves like frozen molassas to fix them. Governments know this, are irrtated that they spent a lot of money on Windoze, and are beginning to rip it out at the roots in favor of software that doesn't totally suck. Microsoft sees this, realizes that they have ignored the problems so long that there are so many they can't fix them on their own, and are making a desperate bid to stop the gushing arteries by picking up the Open Source credo on a very limited basis to try and get a little bit of respect (and business) back.

It's nothing new. They still suck. They're software still (mostly) sucks. They're still a giant, evil, blood-sucking corporation with no interest in providing quality products at reasonable prices. They'll come up with something else in a few months when this doesn't work It's like watching a fish out of water at this point....

I think it's more about new market penetration. Highly sensitive security applications won't use Windows, simply because no right-minded network admin would trust the security of their operation to a third-party if they have no idea about what the code that underlies the software is. They'll either use open-source have an internal team to write their own software: either way, they will be aware of the limitations (ideally), and be responsible for any failures.

Even if Microsoft lets these agencies compile custom builds, I doubt they'll see much more use simply because learning 'all of windows' would be a near-insurmountable task. Way too much 'fluff' in their OSs for serious applications (the same fluff that makes their OSs the best for the non-technical users).

Sorry to chime in again so soon, I'll shut up and let others have their say after this before I come back

That's just the problem though (for Microsoft). There's no NEW penetration here. Governments largely use Windows, sensitive or not. The US government's systems are absolutely saturated with them (and, frighteningly enough, many of them are "off the shelf" installs rather than secure, well-run systems). However, governments are starting to see the light and that means Microsoft is falling off the wagon that much faster. I don't think they're looking for new penetration as much as trying to keep officials who are just starting to warm to the idea of OSS from becoming any friendlier to it than they already are.

BTW.. if you can't get to the eWeek site (I couldn't), here's the Google cache:

http://216.239.53.100/search?q=cach...&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

Good god. I've never set foot in a sensitive government office of the US, probably never will since I'm not a Citizen (which sucks, since alot of the ideal jobs for me are DOD funded). Don't know anyone who works in them either. But fankly I'm shocked that they use Microsoft so extensively.

It wouldn't surprise me if destops use them. But if their sensitive networks are backed by Microsoft products...that is surprising to me.

You seem to have a point, Ctb. It seems more like a desperate move to keep their current share of those markets.

THIS is scary:

"With most military and government systems powered by Microsoft software and more generally reliant on [commercial, off-the-shelf systems], this recent development can pose grave national-security-related concerns" --Cyber Threats and Information Security: Meeting the 21st Century Challenge

The "recent development" it refers to is the Microsoft network break-in back in October 2000.

Just thought I would update this, since there was a posting on Slashdot earlier this evening about it:

http://news.com.com/2100-1001-981298.html

Seems that the Russkies are the first to sign on to Microsoft's friendly gesture.

Interestingly enough, it's FAPSI, a left-over relic of the KGB era, that approved the deal.... anyone else get an eery feeling?

One other point of interest: it seems that they'll be making the code available via the net... how long do you think it will take someone to snag at least a part of it en route?

Probably the first or second transfere.

I still don't understand why Moscow would do this.. I mean who is going to sift through millions of lines of code looking for unpublished, unforseen instabilities, when the thousands of man hours required could be used to install LAMP systems a few dozen times over.

What the hell are they gonna do with it? Are they going to fix the cruft and give it back to M$? Wouldn't that be nice for Redmond!

It's all too silly

christo

*le sigh* No one ever said businesses and governments ran on logic, or were run by intelligent, capable people.

Would it be easier and cheaper to install *nix systems throughout the entire government? Yes.

Would it be easier and cheaper to install them AND re-train all the users? Probably.

Are there going to be any serious benefits to having access to the sprawling, incomprehensible source code that is the Windows Non-Operating System? Probably Not.

Does this logic penetrate the thick skull of your average PHB? No.