Ballmer "Interested" In Open Source Browser Engine

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!

[nog_lorp]

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.

[Tackhead]

'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.'" [emphasis added]

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

[Anonymous Coward]

Embrace
Extend
Enjoy

HEAR ME

[Anonymous Coward]

I USE TEH LINUX AND I R ANGRY

Re:Open Source?

[nog_lorp]

Deliberately fucking up/poisoning what everybody else is doing is the only thing they do well!

Re:Reality check?

[lyml]

Yes because I'm sure Ballmer just can't think of anything more than ways to get slashdots attention.

Remind me again, does one spell delusional with one or two l:s?

Re:Reality check?

[guyminuslife]

So you mean, pretty likely [google.com].

Re:Some possible problems, here?

[Laser_iCE]

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?

"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

[Sasayaki]

itsatrapwhatcouldpossiblygowrongembraceextendextinguishrunrunforthehills

Ballmer is so visionless.

[tjstork]

I mean, seriously... Microsoft is just not the same without Wild Bill at the helm.

chair

[Scholasticus]

"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

[Anonymous Coward]

He's interested in Open Source in the same way ticks are interested in dogs.

Re:Reality check?

[canistel]

... as a matter of fact, he does seem to be rather interested in developers, and keeping them on his platform; slashdot is full of developers (I think) just a thought.

Re:How?

[SanityInAnarchy]

...GAH!

If IE and ActiveX were the only reasons to use Windows...

You got it all wrong,

[CDMA_Demo]

Extend, Embed, Enjoy

Re:Some possible problems, here?

[Anonymous Coward]

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?

[Anonymous Coward]

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

[2Bits]

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

[Anonymous Coward]

But we wikes his wittle argument.

Aw, cute wittle wibertarian.

Re:Some possible problems, here?

[ozmanjusri]

So let's say Microsoft doesn't include the new IE in it's next Operating System -- how do you get it?

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...

[bledri]

Someone buy the above poster a beer.

Well since flowers didn't work, I guess beer is worth a shot.

Re:3 E's

[bursch-X]

But on Slashdot it would have to be:

1. Embrace
2. Extend
3. ???
4. Profit!

Re:Wasn't Microsoft going to kill Open Source?

[omfgnosis]

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

[denmarkw00t]

My fucking whites!

Someone else mod this guy +1 something - I can't find "Funderrated."

Re:Some possible problems, here?

[Kjella]

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?

[lilomar]

M$ will have to adopt the open $ource, $ervice and $upport, web portal bu$ine$$ model whether it want$ to or not. Ballmer $tatement i$ much more about hi$ own per$onal $urvival a$ the M$ CEO rather the given any indication of the future direction of M$. Ballmer ha$ managed to produce the lea$t $ucce$$ful ver$ion of M$ window$ and M$ Office, xbox ha$ been limping along and M$N i$ a di$a$ter.

$o the $tatement about u$ing open $ource in the brow$er i$ ju$t to big note him$elf, a mean$ by which to gain bu$ine$$ publicity, to pre$erve hi$ identity a$ the CEO of M$. M$ i$ $tuck, I$ i$ way too tightly embedded with the O$, making it impo$$ible to reali$ticly combine Firefoxwith window$ or open the $ource code of M$ IE. Of cour$e M$ are currently $tuck with their inve$tment in $liverfi$h, the fla$h replacement that nobody want$, $o perhap$ thi$ i$ ju$t another $ong and dance to accompany the relaunch of ver$ion 2 adverti$ing for that product.

I M$ $eriou$ly want a long term future, they have to focu$ on M$N and, for that Ballmer ha$ not been the $olution, he ha$ been the failure.

There you go! Courtesy of sed.

Re:At least he's honest.

[networkBoy]

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?

[janrinok]

And the reason that we don't do that anymore is that the world has progressed and found a better way of doing things. What you are suggesting is a retrograde step, IMHO.

Re:Some possible problems, here?

[ignavus]

Maybe they could call it a "Repository".

Suppository would be more appropriate.

As in "Where do I put this?"