Steve Ballmer is Microsoft’s CE0. He speaks about Linux in an interview with News.com:
We have a built-in application server that’s well integrated; there is no such comparable notion in the Linux server. We have a directory server built in; there is no such comparable thing in Linux. The Linux client hardly runs any applications, except a bunch of shareware stuff that’s not very good.
There has yet to be any innovation, new features or new capabilities out of the Linux platform.
I think it’s not complete, it’s a poor value proposition vs. Windows. It is a clone of an operating system. There has yet to be any innovation, new features or new capabilities out of the Linux platform. First they cloned Unix, and there are people working on cloning some of our stuff. But it’s just a cloning operating system. That doesn’t mean we can stand still–we have to push along. But I don’t think anyone should expect anything innovative coming out of that world. There’s no data to support that.
Microsoft and Ballmer are making a mistake. Its a typical “Innovator’s Dilemma”. Linux is sneaking up from below…it is getting batter. Microsoft’s Windows and Office are in overshoot. Its a great opportunity for Linux on the desktop – if Linux is focused on new markets and new users. The Linux desktop is now more than good enough.
