Maybe Microsoft will set the Win9x source free once Win9x is officially declared dead, or whatever.
Actually, I thought this is what would happen. Yet, there is no discussion at all in the press about that.
Instead, they are talking about releasing the crown jewel, the flagship. If they are serious, and that's a BIG "if", I think this could be huge -- for them, a bold experiment.
Microsoft being Microsoft, if they really do open up Windows, look for Office to become the new font of all things proprietary.
Brian Valentine, Microsoft's vice president for Windows 2000, also told the Los Angeles conference that Microsoft was considering making its computer source code more freely available.
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Like antitrust remedies, it's all way too hypothetical for me until something concrete happens.
The lawyer in me tells me new definitions will emerge for each of the words "computer," "code," "more," "freely," and "available," not to mention the words "open and "source." ;) But we shall see.
As for the trial balloonage, it's worth noting that the balloon went up, and the stock didn't crash today. |
