Print - Microsoft Executive Out to Debunk Linux Myths

While on tour in Southeast Asia recently, Microsoft Platform Strategy Director Bill Hilf sought to debunk some of the myths around Linux and the open-source movement. Hilf said that the goal of his tour was to provide "descriptive and intelligent" arguments that refute conventional wisdom about Linux and the-open source movement. Although Hilf clearly knows what he's talking about, his controversial choice of words is sure to get him in hot water with open-source fanatics.

"The Free Software movement is dead," said Hilf in the "Bangkok Post." "Linux doesn't exist in 2007. Even [Linux creator] Linus [Torvalds] has a job today."

According to Hilf, the Linux phenomenon is really about Apache and related Web technologies, such as Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) and MySQL, and not about Linux itself. Developers who target those technologies are increasingly interested in Windows, which accounts for about 67 percent of the server market. "That's the dirty little secret," Hilf said. "When I talk to open source developers, at least half are talking about Windows, from SugarCRM, MySQL, PHP. Every single one."

And as for the notion that open-source solutions such as Linux are supported by a hidden army of programmers thanks to the availability of source code, Hilf said that, in reality, most active Linux development is coming from paid employees at companies that release Linux distributions. "They are full-time employees, with 401K stock options," Hilf said. "Some work for IBM or Oracle. There is no free software movement. If someone says Linux is about love, peace, and harmony, I would tell them to do their research. There is no free software movement any more. There are big commercial companies like IBM and there are small commercial companies like Ubuntu."

Hilf is no stranger to controversy, having attended Linux-friendly events, such as LinuxWorld, despite working for Microsoft. Hilf's background lets him speak with authority about Linux and open source because prior to joining Microsoft, he led IBM's Linux strategy.

Must be Linux is picking up steam if Microsoft is turning up the heat. If it were as irrelevant as they say, there'd be no reason to pay any attention whatsoever. Typical.

Come on, lotsa...you should understand this stuff...its all marketing...its like when Apple pokes fun at the Zune or MS pokes fun at AppleTV. In fact, that is Apples main marketing strategy...Instead of talking about what makes their products better...they just talk about why the competition sucks... As for the article...this line is right on the mark: "There are big commercial companies like IBM and there are small commercial companies like Ubuntu." --tayme

Bill Hilf has been in this schizophrenic dual role as Open Source Evangelist within MS and Public Open Source Basher for a number of years now. His message seems to morph every time the OSS communitiy counters his arguments. (Open source can't innovate, open source isn't secure, open source can't pay for itself, yadda-yadda, ...) The first time I heard him speak, he was introduced as someone very knowledgeable about open source. Not recognizing him, I researched him on the web and found two key items. Firstly, up until about four months prior to the presentation I attended, he was a frequent and welcome speaker at open source events and then he was hired by Microsoft. Secondly, his personal web page also had all the hallmarks of someone with both a family and a small independent consulting gig that just wasn't paying the rent. (Small, limited content, rarely updated, his professional site shared a URL with his family pages, etc.) My speculation is that MS prowled through the OSS community for just this kind of guy - somebody with knowledge and a clear need for cash - to be the credible 'voice of reason'. I don't fault Bill for needing to care for his family but in my eyes his message is tainted beyond credibility.

"he was introduced as someone very knowledgeable about open source" "his personal web page also had all the hallmarks of someone with....a small independent consulting gig that just wasn't paying the rent" "I don't fault Bill for needing to care for his family but in my eyes his message is tainted" welcome to the real world. meet the "voice of reason" - a real world example of why free, open-source software doesn't work. XP

"According to Hilf, the Linux phenomenon is really about Apache and related Web technologies" Really? Gee... wait... who does Windows CE compete against in the embedded market? Ahh.... And I seriously doubt Linus thinks it is dead. The OS is grantedly the most unpolished OS, but it's came a long way. If MS wants to fight linux, fight them on the feature points. Windows has the fastest GUI, Windows is the defacto standard for driver support, etc. Kicking dirt and lawsuits may work on Novell and Sun, but MS has to remember that Linux is the guerrila OS, it doesn't play by normal corporate rules, and Novell isn't the 'proprietor'. If MS can't keep Windows a more attractive choice than Linux, no amount of lawers will stop the transistion. Vista is still my OS of choice, and I don't see that changing, but this silly attack is just silly.

i think the point is completely lost on Linux apologists though. the point to be made is that people think they can switch corporations over to Linux for "free" which is a larf. corporations can't run business-critical operations on freeware - it just doesn't work. you have to factor in stable distributions of Linux (which cost money) plus support costs (big bucks), not to mention other issues such as workflow, integration, TCO, ROI, etc (not to mention compatibility). any good IT company will tell you that. thinking that Linux is automatically going to save you 100% on your business software is just wishful thinking. thinking that it's also not nearly as expensive as Microsoft's solutions is likewise so. Microsoft is also trying to point out that last one, and it's a good one too. XP

...and if you can't win with "facts", sue them into submission! http://techreport.com/onearticle.x/12462

Ha ha classic stuff! At the end-of-the-day, everyone has to pay the rent...even the Zealots...

@lotsa: "and if you can't win with "facts", sue them into submission!" Microsoft has not yet filed one suit regarding their alleged 235 violated software patents. ------------ Hilf is correct when he says all the buzz is around PHP and web applications. There are few migrations from Windows to pure Open Source. There's a lot of talk about it, but limited (if any, in some cases) action. However, I don't know that I would call Open Source "dead", nor would I make the corelation that Linus is abandoning Linux because he's grown up and has a job (man's gotta pay the bills somehow).

@reflections: "www.showusthecode.com" Are they stupid to show them the code and allow them to modify it? They'll show it to them if and when they file a lawsuit (and I don't think they will).

"any good IT company will tell you that. thinking that Linux is automatically going to save you 100% on your business software is just wishful thinking. thinking that it's also not nearly as expensive as Microsoft's solutions is likewise so. Microsoft is also trying to point out that last one, and it's a good one too." At my last job the switch to Linux for our servers cut costs down for IT by 35%. Different customers have different needs. Not always saying that Linux is going to be the best answer for companies but in some cases, it can be. ----- As for the article: http://tinyurl.com/33xfx7

"The conflict pits Microsoft and its dogged CEO, Steve Ballmer, against the "free world" - people who believe software is pure knowledge. The leader of that faction is Richard Matthew Stallman, a computer visionary with the look and the intransigence of an Old Testament prophet." By the same token, authors shouldn't be paid royalty for books*. That's knowledge too. Maybe the OS community should start working on an open-sourcy version of the Harry Potter series. *that's probably the reason people love Google. Google doesn't really believe in copyrights. Those damn copyright laws are stopping Google from putting digital versions of all books online.

"...and if you can't win with "facts", sue them into submission!" riddle me this batman: how can you not "win" with 65% of the server market and 96% of the desktop market? XP

Yep, Hilf lead IBM strategy alright, and they are glad he is gone. This guy hasn't got a clue... More misguided Microsoft marketing... The argument about no cost in switching over to Linux is getting old too, and yes it would be expensive in many cases. But the idea here is open source vs proprietary. Personally, I want to be able to own my software and fiddle with it. I'd be willing to pay for it if required. I am not willing to pay for a license that lets me use lousy software.

"tainted beyond credibility". Thank you Skeptic...yours is the perfect description of this schmuck...

how can you not "win" with 65% of the server market and 96% of the desktop market? This is the Penguin speaking......."answer: hey that is easy! Just hire lawyers as idiotic as the rest of your personnel and you can become the first monopoly to lose what should be a knockout" You bet Waethorn, it (any illogical suit against patent open source infringements) will never get to the courtroom because Microsoft knows it hasn't got a window to stand on....

"This is the Penguin speaking" as is evident here, penguins have a brain the size of a walnut. XP

"as is evident here, penguins have a brain the size of a walnut " Wow. Another personal insult. What a shock. But let's take a look at reality, shall we? From the Salk Institute: "It has been assumed that if a cortical area is larger, it would be more effective in processing information," says the senior author, Dennis O'Leary, Ph.D., professor in the Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory at the Salk Institute. "However", adds Axel Leingartner, Ph.D., co-first author together with Sandrine Thuret, Ph.D., "our findings suggest that the area size that gives optimal performance is the one that is best tuned to the context of the neural system within which that area functions." Translation (for Resellers in Canada): It's not the size that matters. If size were the only determinant, Alaska would be the most influential state in America, and Canada would actually have a voice on the world stage.

@lotsa - you sure make a huge effort to refute everything that Waethorn says...must be a lot of spare time at you marketing firm, huh??? --tayme

The day Microsoft successfully sues Linux users and companies for patent infringement is the day every Iraqi would kiss G.W. on the cheek and do a line of cocaine with him. Maybe they should focus on "innovation" instead of trying to bully a product that is taking Asia by storm. Linux is far from polished as OS X/Windows IMO, but it's more of an evolution than drastic change. Without the free software movement, I feel Windows Server wouldn't have evolved as greatly as it has to compete with services that have frankly beating them in stability and features until more recently.

"It's not the size that matters." coming from losta, that means a lot (sic!). "Canada would actually have a voice on the world stage" http://www.ihwc.net/english/article/news/index.ihwc?artId=2689 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_Hockey_World_Championships that makes 24 Gold medals (four of which are in the last 10 years), 11 Silver, and 9 Bronze for Canada ....and 2 Gold, 9 Silver, and 5 Bronze for the US (only 1 medal of which is in the last 10 years and it was a Bronze). eat it pal! XP

"must be a lot of spare time at you marketing firm" he must be broke by now because Apple already recorded him playing on his Fisher Price xylophone long ago for their theme song. XP

as is evident here, penguins have a brain the size of a walnut. lol.......you really are ata loss for words eh Waethorn? Come on...you can think of something better than that......???? go ahead...fire away, I'm a big boy...I can take it......even if I had previously assumed we all had more productive ways of discussion......what's scary is that you are starting to sound like all the other blowhards at Redmond.....oh well, at least you are "pure entertainment".

Wow...white Canadian males can play hockey. How impressive. What's next...are you going to "wow" us with your country's remarkable number of International Curling Titles?

""Canada would actually have a voice on the world stage" http://www.ihwc.net/english/article/news/index.ihwc?artId=2689 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_Hockey_World_Championships" You know, falling in line with the stereotype that Canadians look at the world in terms of hockey really doesn't help you. Anywho, back on topic, Microsoft should file suit. Otherwise it's obvious they are simply bullying. You stole our stuff, but we arn't going to tell you what you stole and just call you a stealer instead. Sorry, that stuff might fly in kindergarden, but not here. Personally I think this is the worst thing MS could have did. If they don't file, they look like a jackarse, if they do file, linux will either (A) modify to remove the problems or, morelikely (B) show prior art and make MS lose the patent. Linus brought up a good point that the most likely infringements are only owned by MS due to the fact that there has been no scrutiny placed on them by original authors/academics. Linux has been the anthill in MS's backyard for a while now, and now they seem to think a sledgehammer is an effective tool for extermination. Linux will move and rebuild like it always does (keep in mind there have been over 10,000 kernel revisions, these chaps do it for fun) and MS will be tired and frustrated in the end. It's better for everyone if MS just drops this and goes back to business as usual. And fire the guy who thought this was a good idea (that arse from IBM).

"are you going to "wow" us with your country's remarkable number of International Curling Titles?" similarly, are you going to "wow" me with your country's leadership skills? XP