I saw this article which was quoting Bill Hilf, general manager of competitive strategy at Microsoft, about how Linux is no threat to Windows on the desktop. The fact that he’s saying he’s not worried means he’s worried! It’s like a child who is scared of the dark and when lying in their bed in the dark they say, ‘I’m not scared’ over and over again to themselves when really they’re terrified of the shadows. Otherwise why would Microsoft have put together their ‘Get the Facts’ campaign.

He’s right in many things he says and the key quote is,

pundits have predicted for years that Linux will gain momentum on the desktop, but that won’t happen because of the complexity involved in delivering a tightly integrated and tested desktop product

And there is the crux of it, because the Open Source model is distributed, getting various projects to cooperate for a common purpose is pretty difficult. Vendors like Novell and IBM are doing it in parts. IBM is basing its Lotus Notes client on the Eclipse framework and integrated components of OpenOffice in to its Workplace Services Express product.

However, one thing I disagree with Bill Hilf is where he says

Most open-source code is terribly inferior to commercial software code

What? How does he know that? Has he been pouring over Windows Source code and the Linux Kernel code? If so, he’s got far too much time on his hands. Why when Microsoft Execs start to say something sensible over Windows vs Linux that they end up spurting such rubbish! If he really believes that, then open up the Windows/Vista source code right now and let everyone be a judge of that! Microsoft representatives like Dave Overton, Microsoft’s Head of Small Business Technology in the UK have a healthy respect for other technologies and spend their time trying to highlight the real benefits of Windows/Office technology.Microsoft, let Dave make the statements…!!!