Whoa, stop the train. Microsoft porting to Linux?

In an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said that "Linux is a cancer that attaches itself in an intellectual-property sense to everything it touches."

And Microsoft executive Jim Allchin want on the record with this: "I'm an American. I believe in the American Way. I worry if the government encourages open source, and I don't think we've done enough education of policymakers to understand the threat."

These guys are passionate. Open source is a "cancer" and "a threat to the American Way." With feelings like these, I wouldn't be surprised if they have a Mexican pinata of Linus Torvalds in their office that they take turns bashing after lunch. I can hear them now: "Take that, you corrupter of youth! Bad, Linus, bad!"

About Face

The news doesn't mean Microsoft is embracing Linux with open arms. The software giant wants to expand its presence in consumer electronic devices like set-top boxes and personal video recorders. Many of these products use Linux due to the OS's low cost and ease of configuration .

InterVideo is a natural choice to handle porting Windows Media technology to Linux on these devices. The Fremont, California-based company is a leading multimedia software provider and has developed an array of Linux software for electronics gear.

Perhaps InterVideo's biggest qualification is that it's a third-party developer. This isn't the kind of job that Microsoft would want to handle itself. Certainly, Redmond often works with third-party developers, though it handles plenty of development jobs in-house. But can you imagine the job posting the company would have had to place? "Wanted: Linux developers. Please respond to jobs@microsoft.com."

(Very) Quiet

No surprise, there was no Microsoft press release announcing the event, as there often is when the company starts an initiative with a third-party developer. Can you blame the execs at Microsoft? Even pronouncing the word "Linux" must be painful for them.

So InterVideo put out its own release. In it, the company notes that "Linux is quickly becoming the platform of choice for consumer electronics manufacturers...." It also quotes InterVideo's CEO: "We believe most of the major consumer electronics companies are looking at the Linux platform as a stable, low cost solution for multimedia functionality...."

You'll note the disconnect. For the Microsoft execs, Linux is a cancer and a threat to the American Way. For the manufacturers, it's the platform of choice and a low-cost solution. It's a wonder these two parties can work together. (continued...)

1  |  2  |  Next Page >