Former Microsoft CEO softens stance on Linux

SAN FRANCISCO: Fifteen years after calling the open-source operating system Linux a "cancer," former Microsoft Corp Chief Executive Steve Ballmer has softened his position.Speaking on Wednesday night at a dinner hosted by Fortune magazine, Ballmer said the position was right for the time, but the threat from Linux was now "in the rearview mirror."

"The company made a ton of money by fighting that battle very well," he said. "It's been incredibly important to the company's revenue stream" to maintain its position with its own Windows operating system.  These days Microsoft is softening its anti-Linux position, including announcing earlier this week that it would sell a Linux-compatible version of its SQL Server database software.  Ballmer said he "loved" seeing the announcement, which prompted him to email current Chief Executive Satya Nadella in support.  He did stick to a theme he had raised at Microsoft's shareholder meeting in December: disclosure.