To understand the internal processes of Linux "Ltd.", the business weekly trip in this rapid evolutionary ecosystem. This unusual trip includes: discussing with developers, interview with multiple technical person in charge (from Germany to China) ... one of them is Torvalds home, in Portland, Oore southern. The 34-year-old Torvalds moved from Silicon Valley last summer, partly because he was employed in the LINUX organization of Beaverton (OR) Laboratory (OSDL). He will spend a few hours a day to talk about Linux with his men. He is still the rock star in the technology circle, now he is ready to fly to Los Angeles, the premiere of "Shark Story" (this film is also made by computer running Linux), and there is also his seven years old Daughter patricia.
From these interviews, we are more clearly recognized: more and more companies that support Linux, this seems to be expected by industry. Torvalds is still centrally located, but he gave up some power and accepted many suggestions. Thanks to the criticism from MCVOY, I also thank those technical companies, but these companies' assets inevitable are associated with Linux. Linux development is a very important step is an OSDL set up by IBM, Intel and other companies, which is committed to accelerating Linux applications.
More surprising, it is a legal attack on Linux in the past few years to make this community more united. Of course, there are also some tensions between the community, for example, Linux supporters believe that different versions of software will cause incompatibility between each other. In addition, the SCO Group Inc Software claims that IBM handed the code of the SCO's property rights to Linux so that the prorating cooperation between Linux developers. Technical companies have begun to pay salary for managers, including employment legal personnel to check code to ensure that they are not affected by patents. Even those complaints that have companies involved for the community are temporarily recovering, and jointly protect their "children". SCO's allegations of IBM will be tried in this year's later time.
Comprehensively, Linux has become the most powerful opponent in Microsoft. In the server field, IDC researchers predict that the share of Linux in the market (number in sales) will rise from now on 24% to 33% in 2007, while Microsoft's number is 59%, Microsoft is three years later. It may maintain the current amount, but the benefits will be reduced. This is because Linux is in the market of WINDOWS, and not only other operating systems, so that Microsoft is forcing the price. In a business survey questionnaire in Forrester Research Inc, 52% of respondents intend to replace the current Windows server to Linux. In the desktop field, IDC predicts that Linux is doubled, from now 3% to 6% in 2007, while Windows will have a little reduction. IDC predicts that Linux equipment and software market, will be increased from $ 11 billion to $ 35.7 billion in 2008.
In this regard, Microsoft launched a counterattack called "No. 1 Threat". The public movement of this software giant "understands the truth" claims that using Windows is more secure than Linux. Microsoft has some gains: The Paris government announced in October to cancel the decision to use Linux, they will quote this report. The Linux distributor is now charged more expenses for subscribers. Microsoft believes they can use the same "spending - revenue" to deal with competitors (such as Netscape Communication Company). "For us, this seems to go back, we know how to fight with this phenomenon." Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer said. But for Ballmer, let users believe that Windows is cheaper than Linux. For Windows's end users, PC users need to pay hundreds of dollars, and server users need to pay thousands of dollars, Linux users do not need to pay. For small servers for 30 people for three years, the total amount of license, support and updates is approximately $ 3,500 under Windows, while Redhat users only need $ 2,400. If the company uses the Windows server, Microsoft has a certain advantage, and only pays a small amount of costs to upgrade to the new version of the software, without replacing Linux, and does not need to re-training. GARTNER Inc. George Weiss believes that in this case, Microsoft will win, but "Usually, there is no research shows that Windows has less expensive costs."
Microsoft even in this war even if the strategy of "referring to a copper ring)" is also cherished again. There is news that Microsoft Warnings the company's manager, if the company uses Linux, there will be legal risks. A spokesperson of a company CEO asked in Ballmer said that if the company uses these software, Microsoft will accuse these companies to infringe in Microsoft's patents. Although legal experts believe that Microsoft can't accuse themselves, Linux's supporters believe that Microsoft is disseminating and doubts. "CEO Jack Messman, Linux Publisher Novell" said that "We have started to dance in redmond, they are intimidate not from Windows to Linux." Microsoft acknowledges that he has discussed legal issues with our customers, but denied any intimidation behavior, and did not comment on whether Linux violated his patent.
