Ballmer "Interested" In Open Source Browser Engine 410
Da Massive writes "'Why is IE still relevant and why is it worth spending money on rendering engines when there are open source ones available that can respond to changes in Web standards faster?,' asked a young developer to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer in Sydney yesterday. 'That's cheeky, but a good question, but cheeky,' Ballmer said. Then came the startling revelation that Microsoft may also adopt an open source browser engine. 'Open source is interesting,' he said. 'Apple has embraced Webkit and we may look at that, but we will continue to build extensions for IE 8.'"
Oh No! (Score:5, Funny)
Microsoft is going to be infected with the GPL virus!
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/craig/05-03sharedsource.mspx [microsoft.com]
The third "E". The other browser. (Score:4, Funny)
Embrace, Extend... wait, there's a third "E" and a third browser technology, isn't there, Steve, and it's probably got something to do with what you'd like to do with Gecko/Firefox.
Wonder what it might be.
3 E's (Score:5, Funny)
Embrace
Extend
Enjoy
HEAR ME (Score:4, Funny)
I USE TEH LINUX AND I R ANGRY
Re:Open Source? (Score:5, Funny)
Deliberately fucking up/poisoning what everybody else is doing is the only thing they do well!
Re:Reality check? (Score:2, Funny)
Remind me again, does one spell delusional with one or two l:s?
Re:Reality check? (Score:2, Funny)
So you mean, pretty likely [google.com].
Re:Some possible problems, here? (Score:5, Funny)
"Sorry, you do not have Internet Explorer installed. To download, please visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ [microsoft.com]"
Sure, most of us probably have a FF install on a USB key somewhere, but what about the people who just bought their computer from the store? This'll drive them insane just like the "Keyboard error. Press any key to continue" error.
Tags (Score:5, Funny)
itsatrapwhatcouldpossiblygowrongembraceextendextinguishrunrunforthehills
Ballmer is so visionless. (Score:2, Funny)
I mean, seriously... Microsoft is just not the same without Wild Bill at the helm.
chair (Score:5, Funny)
"Why is IE still relevant and why is it worth spending money on rendering engines when there are open source ones available that can respond to changes in Web standards faster?"
"That's cheeky, but a good question, but cheeky," Ballmer said.
What the story doesn't mention is that the developer who asked that question was found dead later that day with a folding chair wrapped around his neck.
Yeah, he's interested (Score:5, Funny)
He's interested in Open Source in the same way ticks are interested in dogs.
Re:Reality check? (Score:2, Funny)
Re:How? (Score:3, Funny)
...GAH!
If IE and ActiveX were the only reasons to use Windows...
You got it all wrong, (Score:2, Funny)
Extend, Embed, Enjoy
Re:Some possible problems, here? (Score:4, Funny)
There is a very easy way to fix this... the first time a user requests a web page, or maybe they click an icon on their desktop called "web browser" a little window pops up: "Would you like to download - Mozilla Firefox - Internet Explorer - Safari ... etc" problem solved.
"Hello there! It looks like you're trying to browse a webpage! Would you like to..."
Re:How? (Score:4, Funny)
Can you please use a few more dollar signs when you post? Right now you're at the point where I simply dismiss whatever you're saying. But verily, if you use a few dozen more, I'll start to think you're just disabled and take your opinion seriously in the name of equality and progress.
Re:chair (Score:5, Funny)
Good thing the chairs in Sydney's Exhibition Centre are all bolted down.
Is any body giggling when you read this sentence from the article? I was imagining Ballmer looking around for a chair, and the expression on his face would be priceless when he found that all chairs are bolted down :)
Re:Sig correction (Score:1, Funny)
But we wikes his wittle argument.
Aw, cute wittle wibertarian.
Re:Some possible problems, here? (Score:5, Funny)
They could just fix the "Add or Remove Software" applet so it points towards a collection of optional software hosted on a secure server. If you wanted to install IE, you could choose it there and have it installed automatically.
Maybe they could call it a "Repository".
Re:Microsoft can't win evidentially... (Score:4, Funny)
Someone buy the above poster a beer.
Well since flowers didn't work, I guess beer is worth a shot.
Re:3 E's (Score:4, Funny)
But on Slashdot it would have to be:
1. Embrace
2. Extend
3. ???
4. Profit!
Re:Wasn't Microsoft going to kill Open Source? (Score:3, Funny)
As [name any petty tech squabble] grows longer the probability of co-opting language used in historical social movements that faced abuse, torture, and often death against almost insurmountable oppressive inertia approaches one.
Re:Microsoft will never (Score:5, Funny)
Someone else mod this guy +1 something - I can't find "Funderrated."
Re:Some possible problems, here? (Score:5, Funny)
I just got thinking. So let's say Microsoft doesn't include the new IE in it's next Operating System -- how do you get it?
Gee, I wonder how I can install a browser on this Linux box without a browser already. That's unpossible!
Re:How? (Score:5, Funny)
There you go! Courtesy of sed.
Re:At least he's honest. (Score:5, Funny)
OT, I know, but...
Isn't it about time to replace Borg Bill with Balmer pitching a chair or something?
Re:Some possible problems, here? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Some possible problems, here? (Score:4, Funny)
Maybe they could call it a "Repository".
Suppository would be more appropriate.
As in "Where do I put this?"