The Web's core vision and value is to be platform independent. Microsoft has no right to think it can win a tool that is for the people, of the people, and ultimately - by the people.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
I thought Microsoft did a lot of things that were good and right building parts of the browser into the operating system. Then I thought it out and came up with reasons why it was a monopoly.
The unique value that Microsoft can add is around productivity and platforms. Productivity is broadly something we can uniquely do.
We could say we want the Web to reflect a vision of the world where everything is done democratically. To do that, we get computers to talk with each other in such a way as to promote that ideal.
To me, Microsoft is about empowerment... we are the original democratizing force, putting a PC in every home and every desk.
It's strategic for us - lots of people will develop applications in .NET.
It seems like the web, particularly software as a service, provides ample opportunities for you to flourish economically, completely aligned with the broader open source community.
The Web is not a prize to be won, and Mr. Ballmer's attitude is deplorable in the light of what the Web means to the world, to users, to designers and developers, and - to put it into Microsoft parlance - customers.
I think it's really important for the independent web to have a platform, and to the extent that WordPress can serve that role, I think it's a great privilege and responsibility.
The web's strength lies precisely in its unique position as the world's first universal platform.
The web as a platform is the most powerful platform we have ever seen.