06.04.08
Microsoft: The Nearness of CitriXen, MySQL
The article “MySQL Gives .NET High Five” comes from a biased source, but nonetheless, the headline can really turn heads given the apathy of Microsoft’s developer community towards this databases, which makes a digital fabric that competes against .NET, WS, and IIS on the Web.
There was a lot of head scratching at this year’s MySQL Conference and Expo when Microsoft was singled out for its contributions to open source development.
“Seriously?” one attendee was overheard asking during the keynote address of Marten Mickos, who was CEO of MySQL AB until Sun Microsystems Inc. acquired the open source database developer for $1 billion in March. Mickos, who’s now senior VP in Sun’s new database group, pointed to Redmond’s work with MySQL in naming Microsoft one of three companies to receive its Partner of the Year awards.
The above is far from an act of engagement, but what about the following speech where the bizarre acquisition of XenSource is discussed? And indeed, the question about a Microsoft acquisition is raised as well (transitively grabbing XenSource for Windows' benefit).
The following are just a few of the many questions that the Citrix Geek Speak audience asked me during my session:
* Desktop Virtualziation - VMware VDM vs. Citrix XenDesktop.
* What do I think of Citrix buying XenSource for $500,000,000.
* Should Microsoft Buy Citrix? If so Why?
[...]
The video therein requires Adobe Flash to view. █
Highlight: Novell was the first to acknowledge that Microsoft FUD tactics had substance. Novell then used anti-Linux FUD to market itself. 
Highlight: Xandros let Microsoft make patent claims and brag about (paid-for) OOXML support. 
Highlight: Linspire's CEO not only fell into Microsoft arms, but he also assisted the company's attack on GNU/Linux. 
Highlight: Microsoft craves pseudo (proprietary) standards and gets its way using proxies and influence which it buys. 
Highlight: The invasion into the open source world is intended to leave Linux companies neglected, due to financial incentives from Microsoft. 
Analysis: Xen, an open source hypervisor, possibly fell victim to Microsoft's aggressive (and stealthy) acquisition-by-proxy strategy.