01.17.08
Quick Mention: Sears Sells You Ballnux for $199
Freespire/Linspire makes your Linux ‘protected’…
If you keep abreast of Linux news, then you have probably read about this by now. Sears.com is now offering a low-cost PC that competes with Everex, but make no mistake. While Everex sales help the tiny company behind gPC and indirectly assists Canonical/Ubuntu, this PC from Sears.com rationalises and helps the existence of Linspire, whose patent deal with Microsoft makes it somewhat of a parasite. Here is part of the press release:
As the market for Linux desktop and laptop personal computers continues
to grow and develop, “low-end” or “value-priced” PCs are one segment where
desktop Linux continues to gain traction with hobbyists, enthusiasts and
the general consumer interested in trying Linux for the first time. The
$199 PC is also the first Linux PC pre-installed with the newly released
beta CNR Client.
Do remember that when you buy this PC (at the expense of other GNU/Linux PCs, of which there are now plenty), you make more dominant a company which passes software patent royalties to Microsoft, supports OOXML, and uses Microsoft services (as in “Live”) right there on the Linux desktop. The company’s former CEO also attacked Linux vendros who did not join hands with Microsoft for its extortion plan. Put your wallet where you ideology is. If you don’t respond (apathy), Linux might cease to be free. █
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.