01.23.08
When They Don’t Want Microsoft, Microsoft Will Pay Them to Want It…
“It’s easier for our software to compete with Linux when there’s piracy than when there’s not.”
–Bill Gates
A post that we published the other day about ‘addicting’ children in Finland actually received a lot of attention. It was the beginning of something broader. There is a news report which stems from a Microsoft press release (published on Tuesday). It talks about Microsoft’s intention to spend obscene amounts of money just to ensure GNU/Linux and Free software cannot gain ground as quickly as they do.
Microsoft faces heated competition from companies supporting the open-source OS Linux and associated software in developing countries.
There is also this new report from CNews today and it talks about Russia’s continued migration to GNU/Linux in schools.
FAS Amur Department agrees that Linux is Windows analogue
Be aware that Microsoft and Intel are currently talking to diplomats in Russia in attempt to reverse this. They resort to using the same tactics that they once used in China (against Red Flag Linux) and more latterly all across the world (against OLPC). Apropos Linux in schools, remember Kerala? Here is an article from yesterday:
Last week, Stallman was in India to celebrate the FSF’s triumphs in one corner of the country where his philosophy has been taken to heart. This is Kerala, where the India chapter of FSF has been instrumental in getting the 12,500 state-run high schools to switch to free software over a two-year period.
Watch a previous long post where we show how Microsoft tried to combat this migration. More recent reports from the state appear to suggest that Microsoft wants to introduce and settle on dual-booting. Didn’t we hear a similar story quite recently when it came to OLPC, which Microsoft actively sabotaged in the past (there’s plenty of evidence)?
At the end of the day, it is clear that Microsoft speaks the language of money when it needs to get its way. Just consider how much money Microsoft is spending to promote OOXML (and therefore abolish ODF). Novell is a significant part of this. Novell still supports its wallet; it doesn’t support ODF. █
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.