08.06.08
Microsoft, Novell, Mono and the More Expensive GNU
“The core of this trial is consumer choice and the premise is that consumers ought to make that decision, not Microsoft. Microsoft’s argument that says Java would have died anyway is a little bit like saying if somebody shoots you they can defend [themselves] by saying you have cancer.”
–David Boies, lead trial attorney at the DOJ
Microsoft now sells Windows for as little as $18 apiece. It’s not sustainable. It’s because of GNU/Linux, which Microsoft considers its #1 threat. The company can try to pretend that this is not an issue, but occasionally it frankly admits it all. Margin erosion can be tolerated more than an actualising risk of GNU/Linux gaining a foothold and a critical mass.
Methods for slowing down GNU/Linux adoption cannot rely on price. GNU/Linux is just too affordable and Microsoft’s business model is not prepared to adjust to it. FUD tactics, interferences and the SCOs of our time were attempted before, but it never works out. In some cases, it backfires.
As last reported a day ago, Microsoft continues trying cheap (or gratis) against free (or libre). It’s an old an failing strategy and Matt Asay has just explained why.
Microsoft tries to battle free with cheap. It won’t work
[...]
Crappy but cheap? It isn’t going to stop open source. Open source wins, in part, because it’s cheap, but anyone that has run Linux, Apache, Zimbra, etc. knows that there is plenty of open source that wins because it is awesome…and just happens to be cheap as an added benefit.
Microsoft knows that GNU/Linux and Free software are brilliant. It uses them to get work done. So Microsoft, as baffled as its latest filings reveal, might try something else. What if it managed to make its competition more expensive? That’s just what the Novell deal is about (among a few other things).
The Mono/vell unrest is due to the fact that Microsoft is no true friend. It views open source not as a friend but as a thief. Here are some more new articles that have not been cited yet:
- Open Source: A ‘Growing Challenge’ to Microsoft
- Microsoft Fears The Open Sou[r]ce Penguin
- Did the bad cop gremlins get at Microsoft’s annual report?
And here is a new article that stands out: Microsoft accuses open source programs of theft
Microsoft accuses open source programs of theft
Software producer Microsoft has noted in its annual report that its business model is being threatened by open source software after it claimed that many vendors have stolen its intellectual property, it has been reported.
Microsoft does not like to compete based on price. Throwing accusation seems easier, albeit impulsive and baseless. It’s a poor long-term strategy
Microsoft is likely to try subjugate GNU/Linux users. Novell was merely a first stop and plans for the Silverlight-powered desktop are just a trap, which seems very unwelcome based on Slashdot’s feedback and some of the comments here.
Our reader Vexorian has just left a good comment in Slashdot (pointed out by Groklaw). Pamela Jones also points to this old page, adding: “Written in 2004. Anything changed since?”
One person has already published Mononono. What is Mononono? Here you have it.
Mononono
Description
Introduces an intentional conflict with Mono packages
By creating an intentional conflict with mono packages, this package can be
installed to prevent Mono from being installed (or at least force you to
address the conflict)Conflicting files/packages
At the end of the day, in order to effectively and broadly reject Mono, its source needs to be convinced to change direction. That would be Novell, which sponsors Mono projects such as Banshee.
Already, as many of us know, Microsoft sacrifices margins to ensure the crippling of GNU/Linux laptops (last mentioned yesterday). On top of this, assuming one buys SLED, there is a software patents fee, which means that people who buy GNU/Linux actually pay Microsoft. And it’s not getting any better based on this new press release.
Lenovo to Present More Linux-pre-loaded Laptops
[..]
Lenovo was reported to plan to launch a full array of laptops pre-loading Novell’s Linux operating system, to provide wider product options for consumers to choose from, according to sources.
“Wider product options,” it says. Really? It’s just Microsoft Windows or Microsoft Linux. Great choice, eh? Microsoft is paid either way. As stated here a month and a half ago, Lenovo stopped offering those cheaper FreeDOS (or no-O/S) laptops, so Microsoft tax need be paid no matter what O/S you choose now. For those who think that Novell and Microsoft are separable, just watch this new press release from Novell.
With expanded platform support for Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008, this latest release extends Novell’s leadership in identity-based, cross-platform system management. ZENworks Configuration Management SP1 helps customers efficiently manage both medium and large scale enterprise IT environments by offering streamlined operations, greater flexibility, better compliance and increased performance.
Novell and Windows: so happy together. Take II. █
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.
frank johnson said,
August 7, 2008 at 2:37 pm
This article was poorly written and I really cannot even figure what the point of it was.
paul (the unverified) said,
August 7, 2008 at 11:09 pm
So do you think m$ is freaked out or what? They are throwing every twisted, devious attack they can muster at FOSS and Linux. Wow! I’m impressed. It’s really entertaining to see everything that they’re doing in one blog. This really is the final step in the ignore, ridicule, and fight sequence.
I’d like to think that eventually investors will get wise to the fact that there isn’t much holding m$’s value together anymore. Sometimes market share and inertia aren’t enough. Especially if there is no growth.
Re the Yahoo thing, I’ll email a link to you that might be of interest.
Thanks, Roy. You made my day.
Balzac said,
August 8, 2008 at 9:55 am
The only thing Microsoft can do to participate in the so-called “open source movement” is to repudiate their authoritarian, control-freak mentality and to participate as a sincere contributor.
The Microsoft brand is synonymous with control imposed on users from a giant, incompetent, condescending, bureaucratic monopoly.
So long as Microsoft’s strategy is to subjugate all users, they will be rejected by the most creative and influential thinkers in the IT industry.