Linux and Mr. Softy a strange alliance?

Recently Linspire, Xandros and Novell have made agreements with Microsoft in regard to patent infringements. Some could argue that these Linux vendors have sold out and buckled much like SCO had hoped for in their suits against Autozone and Diamler. I would say that there is a distinct difference here. What these companies have done is forge a partnership that allowed them access to code and a symbiotic relationship where they can really benefit from learning how the software that runs on most of the worlds computers works and will allow them to offer it to a wider audience while simultaneously broadening their own exposure. One of the things that has held Linux back on the desktop is that there are many apps. people take for granted and expect that those apps will be available in any other O/S environment. This will put Linux light years ahead of Solaris unless Sun decides to pursue a similar route. While Solaris has many improvements from an operating standpoint it also lacks many of the same things Linux does. While the open source community will cry foul without a doubt lets mark this point in time and see which distributions enjoy the most growth over the next decade. I would put my money on Xandros or Linspire. Linspire has made a commitment to exclusive work on making desktop Linux easier to use and with the agreement now in place, has shielded its base from litigation. While I am somewhat dubious of Microsofts intent, I am glad to see them working to promote diversity and strengthen communications. Desktop Linux has essentially developed in about the third of the time it took Windows to develop. Of course it is easier to replicate what has been the norm than to innovate so some time differences should be expected. I think more people will try Linux and alot will quickly move straight back to Windows because it is a work in progress but it will have fewer and fewer people leaving it as it gets better over time.I think that Microsoft has seen that Linux will not go away, it will only gain share, especially overseas so the only way to get a piece of the emerging Linux software market is to start now by working with Linux vendors. Microsoft makes very little on the O/S in contrast to office applications so why focus on the O/S? A brilliant move. Work on software the masses can afford abroad regardless of the O/S and stymie the growth of inadequate open source apps before they have a chance to mature in the Linux environment. People will pursue something that is more refined and is genuinely supported before attempting to navigate the murky waters of open source which thus far has led to a large amount of fragmentation, duplicative efforts and poor cross distribution functionality. While this strange relationship will stain the open source community and fragment it even further to the fringes of isolation it will benefit Microsoft in the end as well as Linux. The penguin has not lost nor triumphed but has made a strategic yet loose alliance.