02.05.08
“Let Them Eat Vista…”
First they ignore you, then they spread patent FUD, then they start dumping…
Bill Gates’ dumping of Windows Vista [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] has received a lot of attention recently. This makes it apparent that Microsoft willingly loses money just so that more people become dependent on it (Gates uses the word “addicted”, not “dependent”). To Microsoft, one bonus might be reversing the effect of XP cannibalizing Vista, which most people are forced to buy and then remove.
Given the fact that Microsoft gives its products away (in order to ‘compete’), it is rather surprising to see it harshly punishing those who do the very same thing in under-privileged nations or nations where software counterfeiting is common and policing limited.
Microsoft forgers get jail time in Taiwan
[…]
A counterfeiting operation that Microsoft claims was responsible for 90 per cent of faked Microsoft software has been sent up the river in Taiwan.
Bill Gates said that it’s easier to compete against GNU/Linux when there is rampant copyrights infringement. This is nothing new.
Ironically enough, Microsoft actually wants what it calls “piracy”, yet at the same time it punishes the very same people that enable this ‘piracy’ (propaganda term for”copyrights infringement”). The links below ought to say more, as as well as provide admissions right from the horse’s mouth. █
- Microsoft Happy with the Evolution of Windows Vista Piracy
- Microsoft seals its Windows and opens the door to Linux
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.