All of this sort of stuff just makes me chuckle -- my circumstances aside -- about what the world's economy is doing to the global tech market. It's pretty interesting -- and good, imho.

I'm not a MS hater. I'd rather not use their products, but I must for many work-related reasons. But, what if all of this (and I've read other news in other places) will start a trend for MS to move to an even more open philosophy as well? (No time soon, of course, but maybe someday?)

Any alliance between any two (or three, or four, or...) major corporations is always a good thing. Alliances are better than mergers and acquisitions and inherently create a more "open" vibe, regardless of the products that come out of it.

Tim