08.29.08
Interlude: What Mono Could be All About
Substitution of ownership
Here is a theory. What if Microsoft wanted to create a cross-platform environment that depends not on more ‘neutral’ frameworks such as Java or C++ but instead depend on the Microsoft API? That’s what Novell and various volunteers develop not at Microsoft’s expense and without much suspicion or scrutiny from observers — those from whom Novell earned some trust between 2003 and 2006. Microsoft must be pleased to see de facto GNU/Linux applications like Tomboy coming to the ‘compatibility desert’ known as Windows Vista. They all use the Microsoft API, which is software patents-protected. It gives Microsoft power — both technical and financial — over opponent platforms, not just ISVs. Given the Windows crisis Microsoft is experiencing, it wants to at least maintain some control if customers walk away to other platforms. That’s Mono for you. █
“Moonlight is usable for anyone on any distribution of Linux (redhat, ubuntu, etc.) — it is not limited just to Novell as Mono is.”
–Brian Goldfarb, Microsoft Product Manager
[note: Moonlight depends on Mono, emphasis is ours]
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.