A Times Now news story recently speaks of some colleges in Tamil Nadu, where boys and girls apparently aren’t allowed to talk / look / shake hands / eat with each other; you can read the story here.

OK, now this is way weird. ‘Saving Indian culture’ and ’stopping people from *straying* off’? LMAO! That’s rich. What I find even more weird is that some people actually berated Times Now and praised the colleges! Man, I wonder used to happen earlier down South if this is the condition in the friggin’ 21st Century. I mean, suspensions? Making people drop one year? OK fine, some places may have separate dinner mess’ for boys and girls (our school hostel does), but separate staircases? This simply takes the cake.

It’s at times like these when you really think that people like Anuj are right that drastic steps need to be taken to teach some people rationalism.

I just read about Microsucks deciding to go ‘more open than ever’, and releasing APIs for their various different products. Quite coincidentally, I had a sort of brainwave few days ago. Read on…

I happened to be in this *evil* mood recently, quite the right time for it, considering that my school exams are only a week away; came up with this crazy idea, and just *had* to share it - what would the tech scene be like if Microsoft, er yes, Microsoft, got into the Linux business? Now I know this might give regular readers a heart-attack, hearing someone who’s never called Microsoft ‘Microsoft’ before on this blog talk about Microsucks and Linux in the same breath, but hear me out.

From Uluen on Flickr

It’s inevitable that there will always be alternative operating systems, no matter how much Microsucks’ marketing department tries to tom-tom Windows’ superiority - it’s simply NOT in human nature not to have renegades. Given the fact that Windows Vista’s reception hasn’t exactly been…stellar either doesn’t make things any better; and on top of that, Linux has been rising steadily in the public consciousness - slowly but surely it IS trickling down to people that there *are* choices beyond Windows. What I think Microsoft can benefit from immensely is if it just stops trying to beat Linux, and join the race itself - market it own version of ‘Microsoft Linux‘…or something like that.

Seems like a weird idea - M$ and support something open source? A union of complete opposites? It’s one thing to make tie-ups with Novell, a wholly different ball-game to actively develop Linux itself. And yet, if it does that, I’m sure there will be many takers. For one, this ‘Microsoft Linux’ could tap into its immense storehouse of licensing contracts - have out-of-the-box support for devices like wireless adapters, licensed Windows Media / other media codecs - all the stuff which has been Linux’ Achilles’ heel for widespread adoption.

More importantly, it will help Microsoft strengthen its grip in the business segment - there will never be a dearth of companies which might want to try out Linux for their organizations IT needs; but if a ‘Microsoft Linux’ comes around, then any inherent doubts, like those on intercompatibility will be lessened. Since it’s Linux, it’s free software and can be modified (if needed) for the organization’s needs, but at the same time the fact that it has Microsoft’s backing could mean it might ship with, say, better emulation software to run popular packages like Microsoft Office - if not a Linux version of Office outright. And once again, since it’s Linux, any fears of vendor lock-in will be dispelled too, for they could, theoretically, shift to any other provider that want any time.

From gatepc on Flickr

Things could be brighter for the consumer segment too. No mucking about with stuff like ‘Gstreamer’ and ‘codecs’ - words which strike fear into the hearts of non-geeks. I know, because that’s been the reaction I’ve encountered a lot of times when I try to pitch Linux to my friends. Wider support for more devices could mean a ‘Microsoft Linux’ see major adoption from the Linux user base. Maybe not the fanatical open source enthusiasts like Richard Stallman, but the average user? Definitely.

Also, it could potentially mean more progress too - on the Linux front. Doing coding as a hobby and for the sheer unadulterated fun of it is OK, but at the end of the day, nothing draws talented people more than a fat wallet. Of course, this is not true for everyone. But given the deep pockets that Microsoft has, it can unleash its drones of Microserfs to carry out more R&D work on the Linux kernel / accompanying stuff which goes into distros. Since it’s free software, the code WILL eventually percolate down to other distros. Which on the whole, can mean a good thing - loads of motivated, and *paid* programmers working on Linux.

On a lighter note, what on earth could it be called? ‘Microsoft Linux’ sounds a mouthful, and…odd. Maybe something short ‘n sweet like ‘Micrux‘ will do. One thing is for sure though - IF it does, and WHEN it does get into the Linux business, Microsoft can pretty much assure itself of a bigger piece of the user-market pie.

Of course, everything might go horribly wrong, and things like Ctrl+Alt+Del might become a standard procedure on Linux distros too…

I just don’t know what it IS with movie channels. Especially and particularly HBO. Maybe they live in totally different world of grammar. Or, their copywriters never went to school. That’s why you can see these veritable gems on HBO…

“Premièring for the first time…”

Pardon me, my young Padawans - but isn’t ‘premiering’ in itself supposed to mean ‘the first time’? Bubbling with excitement, it’s another one of those famous hyperboles. That was bound to happen, you see - as humans is descended from an ancient and distinguished race of…hairdressers and advertisement executives after all.

If it bothers you, missing that long-awaited movie on television, fear not, for you can catch it when it ‘premiers’ for the second time.

There’s another one of hyperboles on which me and Karthick went bonkers laughing (among other topics) at Access 2007.

“New and improved Cadbury Bournvita”

I know this is an old PJ, but that was a time when we both were guffawing maniacally, to the rising alarm of chicks around us. Here’s the explaining bit: if it’s ‘new’, then there should have been nothing to ‘improve’ upon; if it’s ‘improved’, then there’s nothing ‘new’ about it.

I think I need to go back to HOTS questions. Getting delirious [bunny-like laughter]…