Microsoft Trying To Appeal to the Unix Crowd?

DigDuality writes "With the news that Windows 2008 (recently discussed on Slashdot) will have GUI-less installs and be fully scriptable, that they've opened up their communication protocols for non-commercial usage and are providing a patent covenant (Redhat Responds), and now finally an interesting rumor floating around that Microsoft will be taking on GNU directly. Has Microsoft totally switched gears in how it is approaching the Unix and FOSS sector for direct competition? According to an anonymous email leaked from a Microsoft employee, it seems Microsoft will be developing a framework that will be completely GNU compatible. Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer, said on Friday (23 February) that they are aiming to restore a Unix-like environment to its former proprietary glory, at the same time proving that Microsoft is committed to interoperability. Ballmer emphasized that Microsoft's new strategy is to provide users with a complete package, and this includes users who like Unix environments. According to the supposedly leaked email, UNG, which stands for UNG's not GNU, is set to be released late 2009."

Wow

[Renegade Lisp]

A rumour that sounds about as trustworthy as an e-mail from Nigeria.

Microsoft: UNG's not GNU

[FlameWise]

> UNG, which stands for UNG's not GNU

Wait is it april's fool's already?

Obligatory Jokes

[SendBot]

Microsoft: Bringing new meaning to "Gnu's not unix"

Didya hear that there's this operating system that gives you the best of windows and linux? It's called linux!

book about UNG

[stoolpigeon]

There is already a book out on UNG [oreillymaker.com]. How do publishers knock this stuff out so quickly?

Re:Microsoft: UNG's not GNU

[morgan_greywolf]

In related news, Microsoft announced today that it has hired Richard M. Stallman and Linus Torvalds, who will be working together as partners on their new UNG project. Torvalds and Stallman hugged following a speech given by Steve Ballmer, and promised to put their differences in the past.

itsatrap

[BoberFett]

If ever there were an appropriate story for the itsatrap tag, this is it.

Re:Makes some sense

[genik76]

>Something like "Those who forget Unix are doomed to recode it".

And those who forget important quotes are condemned to reinvent them, poorly.

Re:Wow

[AKAImBatman]

This is like Satan trying to appeal to Christians.

Is that really that great of a description? I mean, Satan is depicted as putting money, power, wealth, women, and other temptations in front of Christians to tempt them from their path. He's also depicted as regularly succeeding.

I think the analogy you're looking for is something more along the lines of selling sno-cones to Eskimos.

Re:Fake

[Anonymous Coward]

Your mother.

Wait, is this supposed to be a joke?

Re:Wow

[MightyMartian]

When I can recompile the Windows kernel to my liking, then we'll talk about how Windows will be a better FOSS platform.

Re:Wow

[Bill_the_Engineer]

More like Yellow sno cones, being sold as lemon-aide.

Eskimo: Hey! This doesn't smell right!

Microsoft: Trust us, it's an improved lemon flavor.

Re:Wow

[BotnetZombie]

We use car analogies around here. This is like a car-dealer trying to sell Trabants [wikipedia.org] to a Formula 1 team.

Re:Wow

[Archangel Michael]

Wine on top of NT Kernel? Now we're talking!

Re:Microsoft: UNG's not GNU

[arclyte]

Oh, and here I was thinking the name "UNG" was just them foreshadowing their user's responses, as in... "This new M$ OS is supposed to be like Unix, but UNG! it's worse than DOS!"

Re:Wow

[Provocateur]

I think he's right, Satan with the upside down cross, MS with UNG instead of GNU...

Re:Microsoft: UNG's not GNU

[the_B0fh]

No wonder Stallman's stepping down as the maintainer of EMACS. He's too busy GPLing Windows.

Re:Microsoft: UNG's not GNU

[Anonymous Coward]

... before RMS ceremonially shaved off his beard, Linus crushed a live penguin underfoot and they all then chanted, "We're gonna fucking KILL Google!!" together.

Man, it was a beautiful press conference.

Me, I'm just glad this whole FOSS thing is finally over... it's been going on quite long enough, thank you.

Re:Wow

[clang_jangle]

Where the heck have you been? We've come a long way since those days -- now we have classic poop, diet poop, cherry poop, new poop, and of course salty lemonade!

Re:Microsoft: UNG's not GNU

[Abreu]

Don't forget Andy Tanenbaum's emotional toast blessing the union during the celebratory dinner!

Re:Wow

[melikamp]

Wine is great, but will it run Linux? Oh, wait...

Re:Microsoft: UNG's not GNU

[AJWM]

Of course, that would be Microsoft UNG, or MUNG [wikipedia.org].

Figures.

Re:Wow

[stox]

And if you like the Lemon, just wait until you try our new chocolate flavor!

Okay, who told Microsoft...

[rHBa]

...that GNU stands for Generally No User interface? Come on, own up, who was it?

Re:Wow

[cayenne8]

I wonder if there will be 'religious' wars between users of MS Vi, and MS emacs?

:-)

Re:MS already has unattended scripted installs

[obender]

Not any more, now you have to double click on those email attachments.

Re:Wow

[QRDeNameland]

...or else you'll find yourself trudging across the tundra, mile after mile, until you reach the parish of St. Alfonzo...

Re:Wow

[evil_neanderthal]

[0] Unix
[1] GNU: Gnu's Not Unix
[2] UNG: Ung's Not Gnu
[3] UNU: Unu's Not Ung
[4] UNU: Unu's Not Unu
[...]
[n+0] UNU: Ununix's Not Unu
[n+1] UNU: Ugnu's gnot Ununix
[n+2] UNU: Unugnu's tong Ugnu
[n+3] UNU: Gnugnuung's gnongt Unugnu
[n+4] UNU: Ungnungnungnu[...]

Xenix

[flyingfsck]

MS should buy Xenix back from SCO.

Re:Wow

[ozbird]

...and of course salty lemonade!

Gatesorade.

Re:Wow

[Paracelcus]

Just think of the incredible added value M$ will be including with Windows! A GNU (Unix) work alike, now we won't have to get Linux and FreeBSD anymore! Now we can pay through the nose for it, oh wow, I'm hyperventilating, in fact my breath is coming in short pants!

Re:Wow

[Anonymous Coward]

[n+5] Ubuntu: ???

Re:Wow

[debatem1]

I mod randomly.
The dice have decided- you get 'Insightful'. Congratulations.

Re:Wow

[Dracophile]

[n+6] ...

[n+7] Profit !!!

Re:Wow

[Tsagadai]

I think I saw a video of that. It had two girls and a cup...

Re:Wow

[Marcos Eliziario]

There's a rumour floating around that Hans Reiser found a solution for that problem for every wife X, where X is not using bullet-proof vests.