What if Microsoft gets it right?

[ The opinions expressed by authors on Linux Today are their
own. They speak only for themselves and not for Linux Today. ] -lt
ed

Contributed by Linux Today reader Tristan Greaves.

Windows 2000 is coming. Still. But what if Microsoft get it
right this time? A large proportion of the Linux and Open Source
community is fueled by an almost venomous hatred of the ‘Evil
Empire’, so what will change if the latest incarnation of the
Microsoft Operating System is, in fact, rather good?

The Linux and Open Source community is a wide and varied one.
Those involved aren’t in it for the money. Quite literally: Many of
the “hackers” who work on Linus Torvalds’ home-made Operating
System are doing it to chase the dream, not to build up their bank
balances.

As a result, there are sharp contrasts between Microsoft (dubbed
the “Evil Empire” by many of the self-proclaimed “geeks”) and the
Open Source community. In fact, many in the community will almost
foam at the mouth if you point out that you use Windows on your
PC.

This Microsoft-bashing geek stereotype is just that… a
stereotype. However, it is very visible within the bastion of the
community: The Internet. And, like all stereotypes, it permeates
beyond the inner-circle of developers to reach the outside world.
Understandably, the outside world is somewhat bemused by such
attitudes: After all, Microsoft is working perfectly for them,
right?

The battle-lines

So where does this conflict come from?

Linux, following the Open Source model, is effectively “free”.
There is no charge for its distribution. Once you have it, you can
change it as much as you like, as you have the source code. The
only constraining factor is that you must make your changes freely
available to the world. However, there is nothing to stop you
charging for any solutions that you develop with such software.

Microsoft software, rather obviously, does not follow this
model. Users pay for it. You do not get the source.

Most corporate users find the Open Source model a bit scary
(“Where’s the support? You get what you pay for!”), but not as much
as the Open Source users find the Microsoft model evil.

Windows NT 4 is currently Microsoft’s premier Operating System.
It is used widely in the corporate world, but comes under rabid
criticism from the geek contingent. It is described as slow,
bloated, unreliable, ugly and inefficient. Those that work in
administrating and supporting the system are probably nodding with
a degree of recognition as they read this.

Linux, with its roots in the Unix world, is considered faster,
more efficient, more pure and just generally “better”. Benchmark
wars are trading between the two now. In general, Linux is coming
out on top, mainly in a server role. At present, Linux is not ready
for the desktop: Neither the desktop interfaces (of which there are
several) nor the quality of applications matches the power of those
available under Windows. However, it is only a matter of time.

So it looks as if the Linux advocates are chasing the dream. To
build the best Operating System possible, and to make it available
freely to the world. The sun will shine, and rabbits will frolic
freely in the meadows.

Or are they doing it to get back at Microsoft? To fight back
against the Corporate entity? To sneer at the “fools” trapped in
the Microsoft upgrade path? To laugh at those using such inferior
software?

In short, aren’t some of them doing it for the *wrong*
reasons?

Upon the horizon

Windows 2000 is on its way from Microsoft. Previously entitled
NT 5, it is now in the public beta stages. Despite suffering many
set-backs and delays, it is destined to be released soon. Ish. Most
are wary of Microsoft’s release schedules.

The question that the Open Source community should be aware of
is this: What if Microsoft get it right this time? Early reports
indicate that Windows 2000 will be faster, more powerful and more
stable than Windows NT.

Aside from the more upgraded GUI (As well as the bells and
whistles a la Windows 98, configuration is now much more
centralized), many recognized Internet standards are being
employed, such as in the matter of encryption. Previously, such
systems were kept “under the hood”, a philosophy known as “security
by obscurity”. This did not wash well with the “Total Disclosure”
attitude of the Open Source people.

More Enterprise-level features are being added, such as the
Active Directory. This will compete with Novell’s long-standing
Directory Services (NDS).

So, let us look at a possible future. Windows 2000 ends up being
an excellent product. Not only is it packed full of features for
the desktop *and* the server, it is more stable and secure than NT
4. In fact, it is extremely stable and secure in its own right. It
does not need to be rebooted after every minor configuration
change. Rogue crackers from the Internet cannot compromise its
systems with ease.

Like Linux, it starts to enjoy periods of 200+ days or more
without having to be rebooted. Memory does not vanish into thin
air. Things don’t just “freeze” without warning. The infamous Blue
Screen Of Death fades to be just a memory, occurring as rarely as a
“Kernel Oops” under Linux, which is the equivalent.

The Windows Scripting Host will allow more power over the
system, without having to use slow point-and-click interfaces all
the time. Although not quite on a par with the ability to “hack”
Linux at such a low level, it will allow powerful scripts to be
written to automate various administrative tasks. It is another
step away from the evil world of batch files.

Many will find this very unlikely to occur. But it *could*
happen. And if it does, how will the Open Source community
react?

Chase the dream, not the competition.

The community must remember their mantra. Deep down beneath the
flame wars that occur regularly between the Linux and Microsoft
factions (and even between users of different distributions of
Linux!) on the Internet is the simple phrase, “Chase the dream, not
the competition”.

Because when moaning about Microsoft technologies being bad and
unreliable is no longer a driving force, the dream is all that will
remain. Those within the community must look forward, and remember
how they are doing the Right Thing. That they do not need to be
spiteful and look down on other users in order to give their
programming meaning.

I am sure that many within the community share my views, and are
indeed already pressing on with that attitude. Ignoring the
competition, but just wanting to lovingly craft their Open Source
software.

But such voices appear very quiet in comparison with the roaring
rage of the Linux advocate.