08.25.08
Eye on Microsoft: Portugal Visit, Regrets, and Vista Lies
A Bully Comes to Town
Microsoft has been playing some wicked games in Portugal recently. Microsoft’s CEO, Steve Ballmer, will soon pay a visit (English translation). It might be better than that trip to Hungary, but the agenda is not exactly known. Notice in the article that they attach a photo of Ballmer with Novell logos in the background. Is that prophetic or what?
Bad Take
Amid greater financial stress, Microsoft seems to regret some spendings.
It seems that Microsoft has been struck with a slight case of buyer’s remorse. The Redmond-based corporation took control of Avenue A/Razorfish about one year ago as part of the aQuantive acquisition, and reports indicate it’s now trying to trade the ad agency to WPP.
This company which Microsoft bought is actually based on GNU/Linux and Free software. There is some more information here.
Almost six months after the companies started talking, WPP and Microsoft have reopened talks that could have the software company unloading Avenue A/Razorfish. But the question is whether Microsoft could ever get anyone to buy the digital ad agency for the price at which it needs to sell it.
Vista
The failure of Windows Vista is evident and even Microsoft’s Windows chief had lost hope in Windows [PDF] and later retired. The following new article seems to call it a “Comedy of Errors.” Blame the latest publicity stunt which symbolises desperation.
Microsoft’s hiring of Jerry Seinfeld as a Windows Vista pitchman had the Linux community in stitches last week.
This could be even less effective than the Mojave/Vista lies, which according to Jim Zemlin, could soon open a Pandora’s box.
Swedish Television Rumored to Expose Microsoft’s Mojave Campaign.
[...]
There is a dark side to this type of advertising and it took a bold Swedish television station to expose this genre of ads for what they really are; a series of carefully edited clips that only show the most positive reactions. This video reveals the truth around this form promotion.
Perhaps Microsoft should cancel their contract with Jerry Seinfeld and instead bring back “Madge.” I think lot users who are exposed to Vista would be not be surprised to hear the words, “you are soaking in it.”
When all else fails, there’s always manipulation and FUD at hand. Here’s a timely reminder:
Expect Microsoft to ally even more closely with the RIAA and MPAA in making yet another try at hardware-based DRM restrictions — and legislation making them mandatory. The rationale will be to stop piracy and spam, but the real goal will be customer control and a lockout of all unauthorized software. Two previous attempts at this have failed, but the logic of Microsoft’s situation is such that they must keep trying.
I also expect a serious effort, backed by several billion dollars in bribe money (oops, excuse me, campaign contributions), to get open-source software outlawed on some kind of theory that it aids terrorists. We can only defeat that by making sure that national governments become so attached to open-source code that their military men and bureaucrats will short-stop the bribed legislators, rather than let their vital infrastructure be outlawed.
For those who are wondering, “Microsoft-critical” posts such as this one are simply a response to requests from readers. █
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.
Rui Miguel Silva Seabra said,
August 27, 2008 at 4:17 pm
OMFG 3rd of October Steve Balmer in Portugal? They must be trying to kill the Open Standards law proposal!
Roy Schestowitz said,
August 27, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Rui,
Do you have more information or a URL? I want to study this. They try to do the same thing in South Africa (along with intel) at the moment.