08.26.08
Microsoft’s Brian Valentine and the DH Brown Conspiracy Against GNU/Linux
Microsoft appears to have insisted on destroying court evidence depicting criminal behaviour. A few of the exhibits remained, however, and so has the following damaging correspondence which shows how Microsoft prepares its anti-GNU/Linux ‘facts’.
What’s cheaper than an OS you can buy outright once and install on every PC in your shop — and upgrade cost-free for eternity to boot? Why, a slew of cheesy licenses for Microsoft Windows, ‘Doze Division VP Brian Valentine claims in his latest cheerleading effort for his sales associates.
That’s right; a putatively independent analysis by ‘we’ll-conclude-anything’ whores DH Brown is going to rip Linux a new one and find that Windows is actually cheaper. How Valentine knows this is anyone’s guess. Perhaps he has a mole in the Brown organization as good as the one we have in his. Or perhaps MS simply paid for it. We don’t know.
It also appears that MS has bought off a number of Linux/Sun ‘insiders’ whose job it will be to explain to the sales team how to pitch the illusory advantages of Windows to unsuspecting IT managers. “Dumber people can run Windows” is the best advert I personally can come up with, though this is without the benefit of expensive analysts and turncoat ‘insiders’ to feed me intriguing tidbits.
IDC, by the way, is pretty much the same [1, 2, 3, 4]. Here is another old example of an anti-GNU/Linux ’study’ from IDC. Of course it was funded by Microsoft.
Research firm IDC, in a Microsoft-funded study, has reinforced a Microsoft argument that Linux is more expensive to administer than Windows, a factor that makes Windows less expensive overall in most server uses.
There’s a lot more stuff to explore here. Other analysts like Forrester and Gartner are no better. They serve Microsoft’s business ambitions. That’s how they make money. █
“I’m thinking of hitting the OEMs harder than in the past with anti-Linux. […] they should do a delicate dance”
–Joachim Kempin, Microsoft OEM Chief
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.
pcole said,
August 26, 2008 at 5:37 pm
At least whores are honest about what they do, but equating this bunch to them you’re really giving whores a bad rep. I think these ANALysts are pushing the spin envelope for whatever money they gain and most common folk see them for what they are. Impotent Infommercials
Good honest, without bias, journalists and competent technical writers are hard to find.
Thanks for keeping us informed.
Penny Lane said,
August 26, 2008 at 7:52 pm
You failed to mention that Vanentine left Microsoft about three years ago… how old is this?
Roy Schestowitz said,
August 27, 2008 at 12:21 am
It does not matter if he left and you can see the date at the top of the articles.
Dennis Matthies said,
August 27, 2008 at 7:33 am
Of course it matters… Microsoft’s leadership has changed signifianctly over the last 3 or 4 year.
Roy Schestowitz said,
August 27, 2008 at 7:57 am
For better or for worse? For all I can tell, Microsoft engages in more corruption now than it did some years ago. It’s slightly better at hiding it, but it’s still visible.