Stuart Cohen' comments, CEO of Open Source Development Labs (OSDL), regarding Microsoft's intentions of developing some of its applications for open-source and Linux have made many daydream and even fantasize about how would Microsoft Office 2007 for Linux look like.

Actually, Cohen's exact words were "as open source software grows, Microsoft will make its applications available in open source form."

Microsoft making Linux one of the key elements at the Worldwide Partner Conference presentations, Ballmer being seen at the same table with Matthew Szulik, CEO of Red Hat, and the giant from Redmond hiring Daniel Robbins, founder and developer of Gentoo Linux, are all arguments in favor of Microsoft new 'crush' on Linux.

Would an alliance between the two entities be possible, given that not long ago, both of them never missed a chance to criticize each other's mistakes? If Apple has switched to Intel, why shouldn't there be a MS Office for Linux? Obviously, for the Linux fans, an alliance between Microsoft and Linux would be a much bitter pill to swallow than what Mac fans had to endure when Apple migrated towards Intel.

And in fact, Apple might be one of the reasons why Microsoft should start being more open towards Open Source. For almost 10 years, Microsoft and Linux have never missed one opportunity to duel and quarrel over numerous issues.

During this war, Apple has stayed in the shadow (by the way, before Apple launched Mac OS X 10.4, how many Windows-Mac reviews have you read compared to the Windows-Linux ones?) and now the Cupertino company is pulling out the big guns.

Nobody knows for sure whether the new Mactels will be able to run Windows or what will happen to Mac OS X if it would be compatible with PCs. But Microsoft is more aware than us, the common users, of the impact Apple's changes might have on the 'crown's jewel': Windows. And perhaps that is why it's willing to ally with Linux; you know what they say: "keep your friends close but your enemies closer". A Microsoft Linux alliance would have all the chances to stop Apple's ascension and in this way, keep the balance of forces unchanged. I think you would rather have and adversary you know than one that is unpredictable, like Apple.

After all, the fact that some Microsoft applications will run on Linux is an initiative that deserves applauds. All that Linux has to do is not to die suffocated by this sudden love Microsoft has discovered for it.