[shmerl]

> I think it's fair to assume that the days of "embrace, extend and extinguish" are over and they are genuinely interested in cooperation.

I'd welcome that, but MS still needs to fix several very major issues which stand in the way of such cooperation.

1. Stop the patent aggression.

2. More support for open standards. Especially in 3D graphics (DirectX lock-in), filesystems on removable media (exFAT lock-in), and so on and so forth.

3. Stop Windows tax / Windows bundling anti-competitive practices.

Once those are changed for the better, I'd say MS really changed. There is some progress with the above for example in case of the browser. MS joining Alliance for Open Media is one such case. But quite a lot still remains problematic.

[merb]

> 3. Stop Windows tax / Windows bundling anti-competitive practices.

well bundling is not a problem for me. I mean most people will use windows no matter how much better linux gets.

however the bigger problem is that windows actually allows vendors to create shitty drivers and fix shitty hardware within there kernel, that should not happen. windows should ONLY allow signed drivers for companies that are willing to create specifications for their devices.

[kovach]

3. Are they still doing that though, I don't see any evidence? Over here (Macedonia) you can buy laptops/PCs from most brands without Windows, cheaper.

4. What really irks me, is a point you missed: they are dealing with corrupt governments everywhere to make sure all government and education computers have Windows and Office, and that is what gets taught in schools.

[shmerl]

> Are they still doing that though, I don't see any evidence? Over here (Macedonia) you can buy laptops/PCs from most brands without Windows, cheaper.

In many countries yes, they are still doing it.