Opinion: Linspire CEO Kevin Carmony spins his Microsoft deal

In his Linspire Letter, CEO Kevin Carmony talks about why he decided to make a deal with Microsoft, trading some technological info for an assurance from Microsoft that the Redmond giant won't sue Linspire's Linux customers for "intellectual property" infringement.

Here's his reasoning, in part:

Today, Linspire announced our latest partnership, one with Microsoft, to bring even more choices to desktop Linux users, and together, offer a "better" Linux experience. Just as Steve Jobs announced in 1997 that "the era of setting this up as a competition between Apple and Microsoft is over," I too believe it's time for Linux to do the same. Rather than isolating Linux, I believe we need to understand, as Apple did in 1997, that Linux exists in an ecosystem and must work with and interoperate within that ecosystem. As unpopular as it may appear to some, Linspire is willing to take a lead in this effort. Some people booed Steve Jobs back in 1997, but if you trace the history of his announcement, I think it was an incredibly smart move for both Microsoft and Apple, issuing in a new era for both.

Nice ... get yourself neck-deep, then compare yourself to Steve Jobs. Even Steve Jobs knows he's a crazy f---. Or should know. Rich, cunning, possessing uncanny instinct, etc. ... but still kind of crazy.

Here's more from Carmony:

So about a year and a half ago, I contacted Microsoft and asked for a meeting to discuss how we could work together to make a "better" Linux. I was confident Microsoft would welcome my invitation, because I knew there could be an economic incentive for them to do so. As I had expected, they welcomed my call, and I immediately flew to Redmond for the first of many meetings over the following months, taking place in both Redmond and San Diego, culminating in this week's announced partnership.

...

(and here's the kicker, emphasis mine)

As good as Microsoft believes Microsoft Windows is, some people will in fact choose Linux. If Microsoft can contribute in a win-win way towards a "better" Linux experience, some people might be willing to pay a little extra for that. After years in the prominent position of desktop computer operating systems and applications, Microsoft certainly has many assets, which can be brought to bear to improve Linux (technology, interoperability, intellectual property, distribution channels, marketing, etc.).

About the "pay a little extra" part, Carmony addresses it again in the Q&A (again, emphasis mine):

How much more will I have to pay for this "better" Linux?

Nothing actually. Linspire has decided to cover the cost of these enhancements without raising the retail price of Linspire. Freespire will remain free, and the retail version of Linspire will remain at $59.95.

How bloody sporting of them ... and everybody who hasn't made just such a deal with Microsoft ... guess it's long-walk-short-pier time, eh, Mr. Carmony?

And what about GPLv3, which is supposed to nix (pun intended) this sort of thing? More from Carmony:

As I mentioned last week, hopefully the drafters of the new GPLv3 will take such options into consideration as they finish their work. It's important that Linux not be relegated to a 3rd-class player behind Microsoft's and Apple's operating systems, which do provide for this type of interoperability with the legacy desktop computer ecosystem.

I'm about to go all caps ... wait for it ... IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN ... NOT ... GONNA ... HAPPEN.

And here's Kevin Carmony's parting shot:

I'm sure some people who feel strongly about this will turn to other distributions, and I respect that. I do, however, think many more will end up coming to Linspire Linux for the enhanced experience they find from a distribution that works with as many partners as possible in an effort to make Linux work better. This announcement doesn't take any choices away from anyone; it just adds one more option. Choice is a good thing. I'm glad we have lots of them today as we choose a desktop OS.

It's NOT about an "enhanced experience," it's about worrying that Microsoft is going to chew you up and spit you out.

Now's not the time to get between the sheets with Microsoft. I couldn't disagree more with Kevin Carmony -- the Linux (or GNU/Linux, if you prefer) and general open-source community doesn't need Microsoft or Apple to help make "Linux work better." It seems as if Microsoft needs Linux ... or Linux companies, for that matter, to boost its own softening business.

And I resent Carmony bringing Apple into this whole mess. Apple isn't threatening to sue anyone, least of all the users and distributors of Linux. Would I like to see iTunes on Linux? For sure. Will Apple bring Safari to Linux. Maybe -- but, really, who cares?

As I've said in just about every editorial I write on this topic -- and since Microsoft is doing one of these deals just about every other week, I repeat it all too often -- let's just go to court and hash this thing out.

Microsoft and the Linux distributors it's aligning itself with need to remember that the Redmond-friendly Bush administration has a year and a half left in office. The next president and his Justice Department probably won't look very kindly on Microsoft's maneuvering -- and those of us using free, open-source software shouldn't do so either.

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Linspire's press release on the deal.