Microsoft's plans for Linux on Windows?

Found on Newsforge on Friday, 13 August 2004
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A Linux developer -- he prefers to remain anonymous -- has told NewsForge he was recently contacted by Microsoft and invited to a job interview. He accepted, and during the interview he asked the obvious question: Why was Microsoft interested in hiring someone with strong Linux skills? The reply was that Microsoft is working on an emulator that will allow Windows users to run Unix.

Considering that Microsoft already has an emulator that will do just that, it's not crystal clear exactly what the monopoly has in mind for Linux on its desktop and/or server products. Microsoft purchased its Virtual PC product from Connectix early last year.

Just prior to the first release of a Microsoft version of Virtual PC last November, Microsoft announced what apparently was a slightly different approach. eWeek's Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols reported being told that "the new version will no longer offer official support for BSD Unix, Linux, NetWare, or Solaris on Intel."

Why is Microsoft interviewing Linux developers? Are they needed to work on the Virtual PC product, or on Longhorn? I called Microsoft public relations -- actually, it was Waggoner Edstrom's Rapid Response Team, which handles MS public relations -- and put the developer's question to them.

The first response I received said "After speaking with my colleagues, I can confirm that Microsoft has no plans to port to Linux at this time." Since that was an answer to a question I hadn't asked, I asked again. The second response was unequivocal: "Unfortunately, we do not have further comment on your question."

If MS plans to make Linux applications useable on Windows systems, then the first thought is: they are afraid. More and more move away from MS to Linux. Now, if it would be possible to run Linux applications on Windows, a bunch of people might stick to it, praising it as a "multiplatform OS". It's funny tho how MS reacts vice versa. And then there is a much more important question: When I run Linux, I run it because of its stability. Why should I include the troubles with Windows (like being controlled by the OS)?