01.20.07
Here Comes Microsoft’s Next Anti-Linux Crusade?
Novell’s Linux versus Vista comparison site has been officially launched, just as Shane prematurely indicated a couple of days ago. Meanwhile, the entire World Wide Web is speaking about Europe’s latest study which proves Open Source software saves money. This is proving to be a real threat to Novell’s new deal partner.
Hours ago I discovered, through a Microsoft Most Valued Professional (MVP) who submits thousands of items to Digg (mostly pro-Microsoft, which makes you wonder), that the Yankee Group is conducting a new Linux versus Windows survey. Sounds benign, does it not? It might, unless you already know the history of the Yankee Group. They are often accused of becoming and acting as merely a Microsoft sockpuppet (see slang definition). Microsoft spreads its word through third parties, as means as avoiding customer alienation, as well as gaining credibility.
This particular nugget of information aligns with the words of Mary Jo Foley/Microsoft Blog. Therein she argued that a new Microsoft-commissioned, anti-Linux study is set to debut.
Let us take a careful quick look at The Yankee Group again. The firm conducted the notorious Get the Facts campaign, which has been revolving widely around the Web for a long time, even invading Web sites such as Slashdot. This anti-Linux crusade uses no credible data (a perfect fit for the Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics proverb). In fact, here is one recent criticism of the validity of this ’study’. Microsoft-Watch recently explained this well, albeit in a different context:
Research firms aren’t in the business of giving away information to the news media, but selling it to clients. The information provided to the press should be incomplete.
There are many other studies that are commissioned by Microsoft amid this time of rising criticism and endless pressure. These prove that money can buy repution (recall the blogger/laptop backlack), or even spread lies (or to the commissioner—biased truth).
Lastly, I would like to add that Martin Taylor, the man who headed Microsoft’s anti-Linux crusade, left the company without stating a reason for departure. That happened several months ago. And yet, a Yankee Group lead analyst (or one among them) — one who is responsible for the Get the Facts campaign — as already expressed her true sentiments when it comes to Linux and Open Source software.
An example of her opinion on how Open Source Software is handled shows in this remark (quoted from a phone interview from her home in Massachusetts): “The thing about Linux is, you can talk about a free, open operating system all you want, but you can’t take that idea of free and open and put it into a capitalist system and maintain it as though it is some kind of hippie commune or ashram, because if you can do it like that, at that point I’m like, ‘Pass the hookah please!’” [1]
Even recently, after admitting that a SCO victory in their case against IBM seemed like an extreme longshot, Didio said, “There is a larger issue, though: Even if the SCO case gets dismissed entirely, it does not remove the copyright cloud hanging over Linux and open source.” [2]
[...]
Unsurprisingly, Linux advocates have in response heavily criticised DiDio. Typical criticisms are a lack of formal Computer Science qualifications and promoting studies funded by Microsoft; frequently this has resulted in questioning of her integrity and her being characterised as “a Microsoft shill”.
Can the study from the Yankee Group provide results from a fair assessment?
Returning to the point which started this ramble, prepare for another storm of disinformation, often motored by MVP’s, such as the guy advertising this new study from the Yankee Group. The flood of professional and online shills is clearly bound to continue. It is history’s lesson, as well.
Highlight: Novell was the first to acknowledge that Microsoft FUD tactics had substance. Novell then used anti-Linux FUD to market itself. 
Highlight: Xandros let Microsoft make patent claims and brag about (paid-for) OOXML support. 
Highlight: Linspire's CEO not only fell into Microsoft arms, but he also assisted the company's attack on GNU/Linux. 
Highlight: Microsoft craves pseudo (proprietary) standards and gets its way using proxies and influence which it buys. 
Highlight: The invasion into the open source world is intended to leave Linux companies neglected, due to financial incentives from Microsoft. 
Analysis: Xen, an open source hypervisor, possibly fell victim to Microsoft's aggressive (and stealthy) acquisition-by-proxy strategy.
Rex Ballard said,
January 20, 2007 at 5:56 pm
Please don’t be such a paranoid dumbass.
Darth Chaos said,
January 20, 2007 at 10:28 pm
It isn’t an anti-Linux crusade. It’s an anti-Linux JIHAD. Microsoft = al-CIAda
your conscious said,
January 20, 2007 at 10:32 pm
Why do you lie about rod trent’s digg submissions?
Roy Schestowitz said,
January 21, 2007 at 3:04 am
Judging by the vulgar E-mail address, here we have a forger of Rex Ballard (fake) and some more trolls.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_troll
Mark Kent said,
January 21, 2007 at 7:28 am
Thanks for quoting your own article in comp.os.linux.advocacy and calling it News. That is in no way extremely lame. Hint: it’s not Microsoft’s fault
Roy Schestowitz said,
January 21, 2007 at 7:35 am
Another troll pretending to be somebody else. “Mark Kent” and “Rex Ballard” are both forged identities.
Rex Ballard said,
January 21, 2007 at 11:43 am
What the hell are you on?
Mark Kent said,
January 22, 2007 at 3:12 am
Hi,
This is the real Mark Kent.
I suppose I should be honoured that Gary Stewart (80% prob) or Scott Nudds (15% prob) have decided to start impersonating me again… ah, it must be love!
Best regards all,
Mark K.
Mark Kent said,
January 22, 2007 at 6:29 am
No I’m the real Mark Kent. Don’t be fooled by imposters. I don’t even know a Gary Stewart or a Scott Nudds. Those two(just one?) other trolls pretending to be me are pathetic.
Roger Daltry said,
January 22, 2007 at 3:12 pm
This Roy Schestowitz chap who wrote this is quite the paranoid nut case, is he not? This is no factual basis for any of these delusional claims. Seems to me that somebody forgot to close the door at the mental asylum and this nut case got away.
Then again, this is probably some ignorant college student or juvenile posting from his mothers computer while she was out shopping.
Roy Schestowitz said,
January 22, 2007 at 4:23 pm
And again that same single troll who changes names and comes to discredit. Gary Stewart, is that you?
John Entwistle said,
January 22, 2007 at 7:55 pm
Are they trolls, or just right? Read what you wrote when you’re not high and paranoid and you’ll see the truth.
Roy Schestowitz said,
January 23, 2007 at 3:02 am
All these fake names (including John Entwistle, Mark Kent, Rex Ballard) come from the same Verizon IP addresss: 72.81.192.168
It’s the same sick troll pretending to be a crowd.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_sockpuppet
You said,
January 23, 2007 at 6:34 am
Maybe it’s just you pretending to be different people to drive the hit count up on this site. How much money have you made from this site? You want to boycott Novell because they are trying to make some money, and yet here you are making money of that very same issue. You’re a weird, hypocritcal bird Roy.
shane said,
January 23, 2007 at 9:24 am
For the record, ALL adsense ads are mine, despite my offering Roy an opportunity to "monetize" his posts; he has consistently declined.
Also, the CTR is not what you think, Firefox and Adblock lead to virtually no views via BN, and the site averages about $.60 per day on adsense over the 3 month period. It’s enough to ensure that the site can support itself, but this is not making us any money.
Roy is above reproach in this regard, sorry to disappoint. If you want to question my impartiality due to the presence of advertising on the site, that is fine. It can’t be any worse than being paid to edit Wikipedia ;^ ).
Oh, and Wordpress records IP’s on comments, so it is trivial to determine if it is the same person posting under numerous pseudonyms, which is certainly the case here having posted as Kent/Ballard/Entwistle/You all from the same IP.
Roy Schestowitz said,
January 23, 2007 at 11:45 am
This leads me to wondering if we should at some point change ’site policy’ and delete abusive comments. There is no censorship at the moment.
Groklaw adopted a constructive approach a very long time ago. Even a post from Linus got purged for the use of strong language. Groklaw is democratic and encourages freedom of speech. Pseudonames and personal attacks, on the other hand, are trolling, not expression.