Wal-Mart eyes Microsoft for Web build-out

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This IS a big deal folks ...: Regardless of what "the community" might think, the fact that Walmart, the world's largest retailer is moving to piggyback their Linux expansion on top of the Microsoft-Novell partnership is extremely significant.

1) This will prove to be a major win for Linux (and SuSE/Novell specifically), since it means that Walmart will begin to extend the use of Linux BEYOND its current bounderies. And it does not in any way validate any IP claim that MS might want to place on Linux. Those issues are decided in the courtroom, not in the marketplace. Bottom line, this is, in the long run, a good thing for Linux and will serve to increase Linux credibility in the enterprise marketplace which will actually also benefit Red Hat in the long run, even though they are suffering a short term MAJOR loss.

2) This is a win for MS as well. Regardless of how much Walmart builds out Linux, there will ALWAYS be a major MS presence there. There will, in fact, always be things that Windows will do better than Linux (or Unix). This is also a win for MS because now their understanding of Linux will move beyond their in house Linux lab and into the enterprise marketplace, and that is a 'hands on' opportunity they have never really had before. AND, IP realities not withstanding, the fact of the matter is that companies like Walmart will likely prefer to purchase custom interworking solutions from MS and other proprietary vendors, as opposed to implementing community based solutions. And the issues behind this go far beyond IP. They include perceptions of issues of quality, customization, and support assurance. Note I use the qualifying term 'perceptions'. The bottom line is that Walmart is a proprietary business. They understand dealing with other proprietary businesses. They are less comfortable dealing with community based solutions. This doesn't invalidate the community based model or imply that it is 'bad' or 'illegal', it simply indicates that like Linux itself, the MS-Novell relationship is a reality, like it or not, that all parties are going to have to come to grips with.

There are those of us, myself included, who initially threw our support behind this initiative and then became critical because of the way in which both MS and Novell handled it by trying to leverage it with IP FUD. The fact is, if Unix vendor SCO can't make a decent IP case against Linux as an OS, then MS doesn't stand a chance. But the reality is, ITS HERE, its not going to go away, and all of us will have to learn to deal with it. We will have choices to make in the days ahead. There will be minor violations of proprietary IP in Linux. Thats inevitable. There will also be minor violations of the GPL on the commercial side, that is just as inevitable. But I would advise both sides to choose their targets carefully. We all need to decide whether we want to be in the tech business or (like SCO) in the litigation business. I think there is a much brighter future for all of us in the tech business. And I hope that both MS and the Free Software people recognize this and respond accordingly and responsibly. While significant violations from either side should not be tolerated, there is an argument for a live and let live philosophy that will bring prosperity for all the major players in a vibrant, diverse, competitive marketplace, to the benefit of us all.; Posted by: George Mitchell Posted on: 01/23/07 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use