On Thu, 30 Apr 1998, Shawn McMahon wrote:
> Well, true, but without the emulators, Linux isn't a threat on the desktop.
> At least, not yet.
I disagree. Most of the current installations of Linux are either home
installations for "coolness," programming, learning or simply because the
user is tired of MS; or large Linux installations for servers, firewalls,
and the like. Very few people currently install Linux in order to run
Windows apps on it. Although a good emulator would make Linux even
better, it's doing well so far even without one.
> If Microsoft could squash them, it'd pretty much restrict Linux's growth
> enough to do the damage.
Fortunately, they really can't. WABI is a fully licensed product. And
emulators which emulate the Intel architecture (such as DOSemu) rather
than Windows per se, are even more immune. (not that MS has any legal
cause against any of the emulator authors).
> >theory is that MS is attempting to cost Netscape as much money as possible
> >in frivolous lawsuits. :)
>
> Don't underestimate the power of that. Microsoft is *THE* biggest
> software company in the world. IBM is a close second, but doesn't make
I'm not. But every frivolous lawsuit is one more point against them in
the antitrust battle. MS can use Wang to do this because it isn't,
technically, MS, and if their lawyers are good enough they can probably
get away with it.
> Everybody else is vulnerable, if Microsoft were to think Linux enough of a
> threat. Which they probably don't.
Linux is at this point the only threat they have. (Apple, where the
Macintosh is starting to seem more and more Amigaish, is also starting to
seem more and more like Commodore).
> Indelible Blue, Inc. They also pre-load OS/2. www.indelible-blue.com
Okay, that's one. But no major resellers, such as Dell, Compaq, or what
have you, preload Linux. The vast majority of computer buyers who get
Linux do not get it preinstalled, which is my point, that reseller
pressure would not be effective.
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