For the first time ever, Microsoft will distribute its own version of Linux

Is this the end of the "embrace" stage or the beginning of the "extend" stage?

The "MS-designed chip" bit might actually be the most interesting part of the eventual story, though.

Seems like they're trying to fix the problem of vendors not releasing security updates after 2-3 years of the product's launch by taking on the responsibility themselves.

They'd be looking at long term gains here

I wonder if the realities of device drivers and hardware support come into play, if everyone only has to target a flavour of linux then that makes it easier. So Microsoft just have to put a wrapper around a core linux box that does all the heavy lifting. Sounds good to me.

Dupe. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16853361

Far from the first Microsoft Unix, however

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

Yes - that was my first *nix, on a multi-user TRS-80.

Alert:: Hell has frozen over

But seriously I still don’t know what to make of Microsofts new(ish) adoption of Linux it seems positive for Linux overall but I’m cautiously optimistic.