Cuba & Venezuela go open source, Microsoft doesn’t care
Ok, I can’t resist posting about this. I mentioned Richard Stallman the other day, so it just seems fitting since this AP story came out “Cuba Embraces Open-Source Software” today. My favorite part:
He also noted that Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates once described copyright reformers – including people who want to do away with proprietary software – as “some new modern-day sort of communists” – which is a badge of honor from the Cuban perspective.
To be clear, I’m not advocating socialism or communism. I like capitalism. But while I’m going on about open source, I found this Nov 2, 2006 article about Microsoft’s new open source initiative which quoted Steve Ballmer:
“It all comes down to recognizing there is a mixed environment out there,†Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer said during a Thursday press conference.
Hmm… doesn’t sound like the Microsoft I thought I knew. Mr. Ballmer, I’m confused. You’ve often spoke of how bad open source is (Oct 22, 2003):
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer effectively closed the door on any Microsoft involvement in open-source initiatives, saying that the commercial approach to software development and sales provides the best security and value to enterprise customers.
In addition, Ballmer branded open source as often a channel of last resort for software products that failed in the commercial marketplace. While distancing Microsoft from the open-source world, he half-jokingly replied “never say never” when asked if the software giant would support Linux if the market were large enough.
Hmmm. “Channel of last resort for software products that failed”? You mean, like Apache, that has a 60% market share (over Microsoft’s 30.78%) and always has been beating Microsoft? Sounds like open source should be the “channel of last resort” for Microsoft’s failing products…