[Info-vax] Microsoft (was: Re: Taking a break - Open Source on OpenVMS Conference Calls Resume)

[Stephen Hoffman]

On 2022-07-03 20:29:43 +0000, seasoned_geek said:

> Just what "programs" does Microsoft actually have?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Microsoft_software

The core of the VSI IDE is included in that list, too.

> I'm serious.

What evidence might or will convince you to change your beliefs? While 
we're being serious.

> During the age of Windows for Workgroups your point was highly valid. I 
> believe 2019 is the last installible version of MS Office one can 
> purchase and you __really__ have to hunt for it.

Current is Microsoft Office 2021 for Windows and Mac, with plans for a 
future and follow-on LTSC perpetual-license version listed here:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/office/office-2021-and-office-ltsc-for-windows-and-mac-faq-d574cf0b-3ebc-42cf-9035-a3b837e0463c 


Microsoft has been on a three-year release and support cycle, in recent years.

Beyond the LTSC versions, Microsoft 365—the new name for Microsoft 
Office 365—provides the same local tools, with a subscription license. 
You can use a web browser if you don't have local tools, and Microsoft 
365 includes "fully installed and always up-to-date versions of 
Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote for Windows or Mac". 
Downloads. Apps. Which run locally.

There are Microsoft app downloads for iPhone, iPad and Android, too. 
Which also run locally.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/mobile

Does Microsoft want most folks to purchase subscriptions? Does 
Microsoft want folks migrated to and running mostly-current 
subscriptions and apps, and want rid of the support costs of the folks 
running inevitably ancient LTSC perpetual-licensed versions? Well, 
sure. Obviously.

> MS has tried to force customers to Office 365 on the cloud. That just 
> needs a browser.

Browser or local tools. And yes, Microsoft does want everybody over 
onto subscription services and Azure. So do most vendors. Subscriptions 
are recurring revenues. Including VSI and their current subscription 
licensing for OpenVMS.

> The Windows 10 Solitaire game requires an Internet connection to pump 
> advertisements at you, and to run because it is pretty much just a 
> browser front end too.

Windows includes advertising for pretty much everybody but Enterprise 
tier licenses, yes.  The inclusion of advertising in Microsoft products 
is not news, either.

The settings to disable (parts of) this advertising stuff are scattered 
around, as has been longstanding Microsoft UI practice.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/stop-ads-in-windows-10/06d95d0a-a767-4ba0-ac9e-a60b43e30da7 

https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-remove-annoying-ads-from-windows-11
https://www.howtogeek.com/269331/how-to-disable-all-of-windows-10s-built-in-advertising/ 
(no relation—includes details on the Solitaire and Minesweeper USD$10 
subscriptions, and alternatives)

While less visible than advertising, telemetry is another controversial 
feature within Windows, and all versions of Windows ship varying 
amounts of telemetry data back to Microsoft.

I expect that VSI will eventually add telemetry into OpenVMS too, 
though preferably opt-in to comply with various applicable privacy 
regulations.

> The vendors in the Microsoft store are all going to be screwed, yes. 
> Linux developers will need for Qt, CopperSpice, wxWidgets, 
> insert-heavy-cross-platform-UI-library-here, to support the new desktop.

For folks selling apps for a platform? You get to deal with what the 
associated platform vendor offers. Donno about the others, but Qt 5 and 
later do list Wayland support.

I'm usually dealing with SwiftUI / UIKit / AppKit, or with what VSI 
offers for UIs, and ignoring this whole area of Windows and 
cross-platform. How I know this much about Windows and Microsoft 365, 
inquiring minds might wonder.

> Most of them are still scrambling to get something that actually works 
> with Wayland right now.

RHEL has been shipping and defaulting to Wayland for a while now, same 
for Fedora, and Ubuntu had switched back to Wayland when last I 
checked. And Wayland can run X, for those that need that.

Whether VSI will eventually port Weston and Maynard to OpenVMS, as the 
foundation for an updated DECwindows, err, VSIwindows? Donno.

> Microsoft and quite a few others are in the process of eliminating the 
> "personal computer." They all want you 100% connected to the Internet 
> paying for subscriptions. They want a dumb browser terminal that 
> supports touch/mouse/keyboard and has no local apps. Without an 
> Internet connection what you have is a brick. They are pushing the 
> "personal browser" device.
> 
> Has anyone looked under the hood for Windows 11? I haven't, but I hear 
> there is almost nothing you can do without an Internet connection.

Windows 11 evolved from Windows 10, and all that shares a direct 
lineage back to Windows NT, and to DEC MICA.

Services for Linux (SFL 2) uses the Windows hypervisor platform—APIs 
for hypervisors and for containers—and I've wondered how related that 
API might be to the now-ancient DEC MICA subsystems.

Apple has the macOS hypervisor frameworks for similar reasons and uses.

TL;DR: Long term for Microsoft? Microsoft wants everybody using Azure. 
>From 2014: 
https://www.techradar.com/news/world-of-tech/what-is-satya-nadella-s-strategy-for-microsoft-1222212 



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