Whoa, I'm confused! First Apple announce Boot Camp, a free download that'll run Windows on a Mac, and now Microsoft are going to support Linux - an operating system once described by CEO Steve Ballmer as "a cancer" while a Senior Vice President called it "a virus". But no, it's true. The Borg's own virtualisation software, Virtual Server 2005, not only now runs serveral flavours of Linux but it comes with 24-hour intergration support and is also free. According to the announcement, "Microsoft is committed to providing a positive customer experience when running supported Linux operating systems as guests in Virtual Server 2005 R2."

Are we at long last heading for a world where the hardware and operating system's irrelevant and applications rule? Possibly. But before you rush out and hug a Microsoft executive it might be worth reflecting on the sort of people you're dealing with. Check out these anecdotes from Microsoft's early days courtesy of veteran Silicon Valley watcher Robert X. Cringely.