The fox in the open source henhouse

eWeek reports that Microsoft approached OSDL (Open Source Development Labs, where Linus Torvalds plies his trade) to do joint "fact-based," "independent" analysis and research on Linux and Windows. OSDL CEO Stuart Cohen (left) and Microsoft's general manager of platform strategy Martin Taylor (right) met at LinuxWorld earlier this month to discuss the proposal, in which Microsoft would pay half the cost. So far, OSDL isn't taking the bait, and open source companies like Red Hat don't believe the research would be objective, and neither do I. Just trying to define 'objective' tests and configurations would kill the project, given neither party wants to be shown in an unfavorable light.  Instead, how about spending the time and money on making sure the two platforms interoperate much better...