03.18.08
Hewlett-Packard to Sell GNU/Linux, But Pay Microsoft for the ‘Privilege’
Linux wins, Microsoft gleefully smiles?
People keep discussing adoption of GNU/Linux as the dream to come true. If that’s a dream, then that’s not the way it was supposed to materialise. This latest announcement from H-P is reminiscent to that from Lenovo and Dell (in China). It will preinstall Ballnux rather than GNU/Linux.
HP is planning to introduce desktop and laptop computers that come with Novell’s Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop operating system preinstalled.
Systems are scheduled to start shipping worldwide in select geographies in the second quarter of this year, according to a source familiar with the matter. The two vendors will jointly develop software drivers and provide support to end-users.
Be aware that they are only offering the option of a Linux for which Microsoft is paid ‘patent tax’. H-P and Microsoft are still business buddies, so this might — just might — be an explanation. This is not the way Linux is supposed to become mainstream. Linux is not a Microsoft cash cow as Microsoft contributed not even a single line of code to it.
We are still trying to figure out if Microsoft got Dell imprisoned in the Microsoft Tax Cage as well. We never inquired. OEMs must be pressured to avoid the Ballnuxes because it gives legitimacy to non-gratis Linux. █
Image from Wikimedia
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.
Niklas Brzesinski said,
March 18, 2008 at 8:22 am
Well, that must be quite a blow for you; as boycott-minded person and so on… :p