Microsoft Admits Fear of Linux

PCWorld ^ | August 05, 2009 | Preston Gralla

[Willie Green]

Microsoft has long pooh-poohed Linux as a desktop competitor. But a recent filing with the Security and Exchange Commission has the company admitting for the first time that Linux represents a significant threat to Windows.

TechFlash reports that in Microsoft's recent annual filing with the SEC, it listed for the first time Ubuntu's maker Canonical, and Linux distributor Red Hat as competitors to its Client division, which makes Windows. Previously, TechFlash says, Red Hat was listed but only as a competitor to its Business and Server & Tools divisions.

In its annual filing, Microsoft warns that Linux is a threat to Windows, particularly in emerging markets and for netbooks. It also warns that Apple is a threat, but it's said that before. The big news is the addition of Linux. Here's what the filing says:

[ShadowAce]

[ShadowAce]

I also noticed (from a very quick skim) that they do not mention the abject failure of Vista as a reason for lost revenue.

[antiRepublicrat]

I wouldn’t call it fear, just due diligence in filing. They are now reasonable competitors, if minor, so Microsoft should include them.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

Yeah, they’re bound to say this as it makes their case stronger - doesn’t mean they really believe it to be true (although they may).

IOW - lawyerspeak.

[taxcontrol]

My company has switched me from a windows laptop to a Linux laptop with OpenOffice / Symphony instead of MS Office. With the exception of one minor technical glitch with regards to a specific Java application, all went well and continues to run smoothly.

[AFPhys]

Now that hardware manufacturers are starting to cooperate with Linux developers, the end of the dominance of MS is in sight. Some day, they will be seen the same way that ATT was once seen.

[zeugma]

I wouldn’t call it fear, just due diligence in filing. They are now reasonable competitors, if minor, so Microsoft should include them.

Agree. Lame story.