Ask Microsoft's Linux Lab Manager

Microsoft Linux Lab Manager Bill Hilf has been mentioned on Slashdot before, not to mention (as you might expect) on Microsoft Watch. His latest high profile coworker, Daniel Robbins, has also gotten a bit of Slashdot attention. Got any questions for Bill he hasn't already answered elsewhere? Post them below (one per post, please). We'll send him 10 - 12 of the highest-moderated ones and post his answers next Monday.

what footware?

[SethJohnson]

I'd like to step aside from all the hardware and software questions people are going to throw at you and focus on a more tangible topic: footware. When someone like yourselves accept a job stomping on baby ducks all day, do you invest in new boots, or do you just come to work in whatever old shoes you have in your closet?

Appreciatively,

Seth

Why doesn't Microsoft release Microsoft Linux?

[amper]

The subject says it all (mostly).

One of the primary reasons Linux is somewhat inferior to commerical offierings when considered as a general-purpose dektop operating system is that there is a lack of a single guiding human interface standard for the various groups to work toward. Companies such as Apple Computer and Microsoft have invested large amounts of money in human interface studies, and although much of this information has been made readily accessible to the public, it would appear that very little of that information has been put to good use by F/OSS developers.

With Apple using the BSD branch of software as it's operating system core, do you see a future for a Microsoft-branded Linux distribution, using a Microsoft-developed HCI design?

Though there is a large amount of enmity in the F/OSS community toward Microsoft, it cannot be denied that Microsoft's development methods are demonstrably capable of producing quality software. Could Microsoft serve as a catalyst for consolidation within the community, while remaining true to the F/OSS philosophy? Could such a strategy be profitable for Microsoft?

Samba

[miltimj]

Is one of your projects to assist in analyzing Samba source code to help coworkers better understand the SMB protocol?

(Shameless, I know...)

Re:Plans

[owlstead]

Dear Azureflare. We are aware of the attempts of the Linux community to communicate with our infrastructure. You can rest assured that we are plugging the hole as we speak.

Yes, we immediately publish Linux vulnerabilities

[AHumbleOpinion]

My question is this: if you find a security vulnerability in linux, do you inform the linux community about it?

Yes, we immediately publish Linux vulnerabilities in our marketting literature and immediately distribute this literature widely to IT decision makers and other professionals.

Re:Slashdot as PR outlet for Microsoft.

[Foofoobar]

Hey... truths hurt. Reboot your XP box and deal.