Microsoft Exec Says 'Open' Means 'Incompetent'
from the oh-really-now? dept
Glyn Moody points us to the news that a Microsoft exec is criticizing the Brazilian government's support for open source software using some pretty weak arguments. This isn't new. For years, any government that supports open source software is attacked (falsely) as not supporting private enterprise. However, what's really ridiculous here is that the Microsoft exec in question, Hernan Rincon, president of Microsoft Latin America, seems to be making even more specious arguments than usual, claiming that "open" really is a way of saying "incompetent":"When you can not compete, you are declaring open. This masks incompetence." (translated)That's quite a statement, and one made with no basis whatsoever. Openness could "mask incompetence," but I'd argue that it's much easier to mask incompetence with a closed solution. Open generally is the opposite of "masking" anything. He also makes the typical FUDian arguments that open source is more expensive to run, which isn't quite accurate (or, realistically, depends on what it is you're trying to do). But this claim that openness is about incompetence is just plain ridiculous.
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Filed Under: hernan rincon, open
Companies: microsoft
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Incompetence experts
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Re: Incompetence experts
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Re: Incompetence experts
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Re: Incompetence experts
Heh, I guess it takes one to know one?
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Re: Perfected Incompentency
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Open does support private enterprise
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Re: Open does support private enterprise
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Re: Open does support private enterprise
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"Executive" means incompetent if you ask me.
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Where as in a closed source, idiots can congregate and no one will be the wiser. Case in point, Windows ME.
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Push and Patch
At least with Open Source Software, anyone who IS competent, can reasonably obtain the code and patch it themselves.
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Just another view
"...free programs require more work and investment from the government to keep them running and updated." Well that IS the truth. You might think it might not apply to goverments as they have a pretty non-changing environment. Well, you are wrong. There is much changing everywhere now, and the costs of developing and maintaining a linux-platform might become bigger than one wants.
The phrase open means incompetent was meant for Google and not the brazilian government.
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Re: Just another view
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idjut can't RTFA
The president of Microsoft Latin America, Hernán Rincón, sent word to Brazilian government: "innovation software does not happen in the hands of governments but the private sector."
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Re: idjut can't RTFA
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Re: Just another view
Don't get me wrong, Microsoft does have good products as well -but the creators of the 'Kin' phones and all those crappy operating systems should not be talking about 'Incompetence'. First they need to clean their junk code before criticizing others. But then again, what else can you expect from Microsoft execs.
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Re: Just another view
Check this out- it's great
Microsoft Windows: A lower total cost of 0wnership
http://www.immunitysec.com/downloads/tc0.pdf
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Re: Just another view
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Re: Just another view
fluor2 wrote:
None of which is relevant to the discussion at hand. That’s what a “strawman” is.
The most spectacular counterexample to why you’re wrong has to be the London Stock Exchange case. Back in 2008, Microsoft mounted a major publicity campaign, crowing about the fact that the LSE had chosen Windows over Linux to run its trading system.
Over the subsequent year, the system suffered major performance and reliability problems, culminating in a major outage that left the entire system unusable for an entire day.
So now they’re switching to Linux, the very system they previously rejected.
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Re: Just another view
While I admit that MS have some good software (even a stopped clock is right twice a day, right?), they're hardly a barometer of quality. We're talking about the company that released XP with large numbers of severe bugs that allows things like the Blaster virus to becomes rampant. The company that released Vista in such a shoddy state that my first Vista laptop was incapable of copying a file across my home network until SP1. That didn't even test certain classes of bugs because they didn't think 98 would become connected to open networks...
"Well that IS the truth."
Please tell me you're joking. I can point out hundreds of open source projects that receive nothing from government sources.
"There is much changing everywhere now, and the costs of developing and maintaining a linux-platform might become bigger than one wants."
There are numerous studies that show that a competent Linux administrator can maintain many more servers than an equally competent Windows admin.
"The phrase open means incompetent was meant for Google and not the brazilian government."
...so what makes Google specifically incompetent? Google search, Chrome, docs, etc. vs. the equivalent MS product makes the opposite assertion....
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Re: Just another view
That's the case with any operating system or application. It is just the case that usually supporting and developing for windows becomes much more expensive than linux...
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Re: Just another view
You mean, were an application gone rogue can lock up the entire system so only a power-cycle helps and you loose all data not saved yet? Yeah, admirably stable.
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Re: Just another view
>The phrase open means incompetent was meant for Google and >not the brazilian government.
That phrase by Microsoft is part of their "My, my,.. you sure have a nice bakery/kernel/house/OS there.. it would be a shame if something happened to it. If you pay us, we will make sure that nothing bad will happen. We wont tell you which things but it would be in your best interest if you did." routine theyve been doing for the past few years.
Their extortion routine didnt stop at Novell and the two other small fish that drowned i believe. Korean companies like LG and Samsung have been paying Microsoft for the right to use Linux for a few years now.
Its really a great racket theyve set up using mainly FUD and all the insinuations and innuendos that such extortion entails.
The ONLY way would costs of developing and maintaining a Linux platform cost more (than one wants they say) would be through such a taxation system.
Microsoft is doing the same thing as mobsters do to the bakery and ice cream places in my neighborhood. They offer no proof that Linux used Microsoft IP but they offer companies piece of mind (they wont sue) that a bundle of cash will make them forget about these offenses.
If Microsoft (which as a company does its best work in the boardroom and not the showroom) can manage to tax Linux, thats the only way costs will go up.
So Im not impressed by your comment either.
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Re: Just another view
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*nix
Somehow I doubt it.
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Did I just get agitated, this easily?
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MS lies about OSS FUD easily debunked
http://gnuwin.epfl.ch/articles/en/reponseperou/villanueva_to_ms.html
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Because when the big boys start squeaking its either because it is hurting or because they are afraid.
It makes me feel all fuzzy and warm inside.
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Re: It makes me feel all fuzzy and warm inside.
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Observation
But hey... M$ fudding it isn't exactly new. They've been playing this card as long as they exist.
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Re:
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The fishbowl effect
If you're genuinely incompetent, no open source project is going to grant you commit access (or accept your patches) into their central trees.
And when you *do* have such commit access, the immediate publication of you changes to anyone who cares to see them is a hell of an incentive to make sure that it's code you can defend as reasonable! Dodgy hacks still happen, of course, but they're almost always accompanied by a comment explaining why the dodgy hack is necessary and/or asking for ideas on less hackish solutions.
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LOL at the FUD
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Re: LOL at the FUD
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Re: Re: LOL at the FUD
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Hey....
There will always be someone out there who could do it better. Whether its the entire thing or individual parts, this is why "Open" is better. Microsoft should beef up their beta program and make it easier for users to contribute.
In the mean time, the "This computer lacks Genuine Windows Software" window just popped up on my laptop, and THAT is my way of silently resisting.
Sources:
http://marketshare.hitslink.com/operating-system-market-share.aspx?qprid=8
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Re: Hey....
No, they got it by stealing, copying and blackmailing competition and by means of other unlawful practises. A good starting point to read about this is here.
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Re: Hey....
Why do it silently?
Use Linux!
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Re: They didnt get 90% of computers to use windows by being incompetetent.
Has nothing to do with technical competency, just back room business deals.
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Incompetence to compete
Please realize that it takes a lot more than developing the software/apps to make money off it. The product might be revolutionary but the developer might not have the knowledge to make money of it. (Remember the DOS ;)
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If competence is judge by the response time that takes months or years in Microsoft case then sure open source is incompetent for having fixes 2 days later, of course there are some issues that still didn't get resolved after years but the numbers are low on the open source front.
If competence is about locking up every feature to make others pay more sure open source lost there, they don't lock anything, BTW that is one of the reasons I switched, because after expending $400 bucks on windows I discovered that I would have had to purchased a new one costing $600 dollars for the privilege to change the language of the OS, the last straw was that DRM crap embedded in Vista, I'm not giving up the control of my computer to a company that used to be consumer friendly but turned on people and got in bed with the entertainment industry which I hate.
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Given Microsoft's own record of 'competence'
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Something I'm not... Something that you're
So, I think that is more competent a large people's group collaborating into the same software coding, and not a huge set of engineers making software with closed eyes.
Think about it man. You lose.
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Microsoft and Incompetence? A tale of two smartphones
2. Windows Phone 7 Series.
October will bring the launch of Windows Phone 7 Series. Phones from the same company that brought you such fine products as Edlin, DOS 4, Windows ME, Internet Explorer 6, Zune, Vista and Bing. Phones with the kind of quality, stability, security and robustness you’ve come to expect from the Microsoft name. Yes, Windows Phone 7 Series is a new ballgame that abandons compatibility (and your investment) with Windows Mobile and literally dozens and dozens of developers who wrote apps for it. It is unconnected with the recent Microsoft Sidekick/Danger fiasco that made national news when it lost all data for millions of smartphone users worldwide. (Microsoft acquired the successful Sidekick/Danger and tried to “Microsoft” it.) After the Sidekick/Danger fiasco, don’t expect T-Mobile to be friends with Microsoft anytime soon. I’m sure the other carriers are also paying attention. Also don’t forget the recently launched, and recently discontinued Microsoft Kin phone! Microsoft spent over $85 Million in marketing for it, and managed to sell over 500 units! Microsoft announced that it wasn’t as bad as the press was suggesting – they only lost $120,000 per Kin phone that was sold. When asked about the Kin phone and the Zune music player, teenagers said: the what and the what? So be looking forward to Windows Phone 7 Series in October. (If at first you don’t succeed, use a shorter bungee.)
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LOL ... bug a day Microsoft talking about incompetence.
Thanks Mike you really made me laugh with that quote.
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I'd be insulted but....
Excuse me sir exactly how many viruses and security holes have your operating systems had over the years? How many BSODs have your "competent" programmers inflicted on the general public?
I'm a PC tech and I tell people who want to buy a new computer to go buy a Mac, or to shop online and get a Linux box. I know Microsoft products too well to honestly recommend them to anyone.
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I agree with you, NotAnExpert...
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what a silly comment
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So Typical
I don't understand how IT gets away with this shit. When new environmental laws are passed I don't get to say, "I really don't know the details of that law so we are still going to use the old law".
Done with my sort of off topic rant, but that rant is caused by Microsoft and their constant spewing of inaccurate info in regards to certain areas such as open source.
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So Typical
I don't understand how IT gets away with this shit. When new environmental laws are passed I don't get to say, "I really don't know the details of that law so we are still going to use the old law".
Done with my sort of off topic rant, but that rant is caused by Microsoft and their constant spewing of inaccurate info in regards to certain areas such as open source.
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when you can't compete...
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Surelly MS Exec is terribly missinformed
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Packers Movers Delhi
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