Ballmer's open letter takes aim at Linux
Ballmer's open letter takes aim at Linux
Oct 29, 2004: In the latest executive email to be posted on its public website, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has used the soapbox to explain why Windows is better value for money than Linux.
Ballmer's lengthy memo begins: "In the thousands of meetings that Microsoft employees have with customers around the world every day, many of the same questions consistently surface: Does an open source platform really provide a long-term cost advantage compared with Windows? Which platform offers the most secure computing environment? Given the growing concern among customers about intellectual property indemnification, what's the best way to minimise risk? In moving from an expensive Unix platform, what's the best alternative in terms of migration?"
Well blow me down if Ballmer doesn't arrive at the conclusion that Microsoft and Windows emerge as the winner in each category. The Microsoft CEO backs up this argument by claiming that the escalating prices charged by major Linux vendors and distributors, including IBM, HP, Novell and Red Hat, for technical service and support, product warranties and licensing indemnification, now outweigh the financial benefits of "free" open source software.
While that argument was unlikely to cut any ice with Linux advocates, Ballmer moved on to decidedly shakier ground by discussing the merits of both platforms when it came to security.
"About three years ago, we made software security a top priority, and since then we've invested heavily in a multi-pronged effort to improve software quality and development processes, and to reduce risks for customers through education and guidance, industry collaboration and enforcement. I think it's fair to say that no other software platform has invested as much in security R&D, process improvements and customer education as we have at Microsoft." Maybe so, but Microsoft is still constantly dogged with security problems around its offerings.
He continued: "Still, Linux has often been touted as a more secure platform. In part, this is because of the "many eyeballs" maxim of open source software that claims a correlation between the number of developers looking at code and the number of bugs found and resolved. While this has some validity, it is not necessarily the best way to develop secure software. We believe in the effectiveness of a structured software engineering process that includes a deep focus on quality, technology advances, and vigorous testing to make software more secure."
In closing, Ballmer said that there is no doubt that customers are benefiting today from a healthy, competitive IT industry.
"Competition requires companies to really focus in on what customers want and need. At the same time, customers have a clearer opportunity than ever before to evaluate choices."
While Ballmer's arguments are unlikely to sway the opinions of many people from either side of the debate, it is a clear demonstration that Microsoft is concerned about Linux and is treating the open source platform as a genuine threat.
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