Doesn't it get you angry when a linux project is doing well, there is microsoft wanting a piece of the pie. For example the OLPC (One Laptop Per child) was solely a linux project and when microsoft saw how well it was doing, they gotten involved. Another example is the Asus EEE PC, microsoft saw how well this mobile computer was selling and wanted a piece of it too. Of course, It's possible that Asus contacted microsoft to make a deal to include windows XP operating system so it can sell more units as windows is more known to consumers than linux.

The thing with microsoft is they are never satisfy with a small piece. They use their money and influence to buy the whole pie.

I believe if microsoft keeps getting involved in linux projects now and in the future, this can slow down the growth of linux.

Why do you think?

Linux's growth can't be slowed down, free thinking people and coders aren't interested in Microsoft, Linux exist without Microsoft, it did not make Linux and there for Microsoft can not break Linux.

Since Linux just is there and not some by product of direct competition with another company, it was created just for fun as a hobby at first. Who cares about Microsoft, as far as I am concerned they haven't exist in my domain for 12 years, and they aren't doing to exist ever to me. If more people would take this attitude, Microsoft wouldn't be doing as well as they are, don't give them the attention they seek.

I think Microsoft is largely its own problem - with a rotting whale carcass like VisDuh, many people will finally try something new - probably OSX - but at least they see there are alternatives to Microsoft. Many people have such a bad VisDuh experience that they would rather have XP. I would avoid even XP due to the Windows Genuine Disadvantage - why do I need to call the company every time I reinstall? Why do I need to buy a new license every time I retire one computer and buy another? Why wouldn't I be able to install XP after MS decides I should use VisDuh? Other consumers may be happy to be raped and robbed of their rights, but that's their problem. MS is no problem for Linux - it's only the dominant desktop and laptop OS.

Thanks ProtoformX, pinniped and future repliers for your comments.

Like you, I could care less about microsoft. But the purpose of this post is why microsoft continues to deter people from using linux.

It seems when linux is doing well in some project, there is microsoft with it's grubby little fingers trying to get a piece of it. When people purchased the first generation of the eee pc, most of them didn't know it was linux, they just said it was cool. Now, you can buy an eee pc with linux or windows. This is what I mean about microsoft deterring people from using linux.

Even if they buy the linux version, they're still using some of windows codes as in the patent agreement with xandros.

Does anyone know which eee pc is selling more, the one with linux or the one with windows? If anyone knows, please post.

Well Microsoft give the general public the impression that they are the only one who provide you with a good OS
Once I read in magazine that if you compare Linux and Windows with cars than Linux is a LADA and Windows is a Mercedes
Selling and buying things that is where Microsoft is good in.
So Windows is more or less a believe.
But should we be happy if Linux become the main OS in this world ?
If Linux becomes the first OS it also becomes more a target for people that produce malicious software.

I don't believe that. Linux, like any UNIX, is inherently difficult to crack and exploit (well, as long as the passwords are good). WinDuhs just has huge gaping holes everywhere. *NIX systems will continue to be cracked, but it's hard to imagine they'll ever be cracked at the rate of WinDuhs machines. Also, one of the growing problems is 'phishing' and a good phishing scam only depends on the bare minimum of tools made available via a web browser - the attacks can be very effective and they will work on any system with a browser.

As for the original topic - MS will always be afraid of losing to Linux and do its best to hamper adoption (just look at that heap of crap called the "Get The Facts" campaign - it's still running and still the biggest load of bull). Personally I think it's hilarious that MS spend so much money on their propaganda while being completely ignored by most Linux users.

With the billions of dollars they made, they can afford to make fools of themselves. lol

Moved: This thread is more suitable in General and has been moved accordingly to help your thread/question get the exposure it deserves.

Yeah, Redmond is stealing markets that Linux jumped in first. But you could turn this around. Linux is moving into markets where Redmond was first. That's business in a free and capitalist market. It doesn't bother me. What bothers me is the way they do it. They really play at the man and not at the ball.


But then, if you have FF3 then <about:mozilla> will give you this 'prophecy'
Follower here I think doesn't mean follower of the movement... but follower of the market, lagging behind. Trying to keep up. Server virtualization? Low footprint operating systems? I think Redmond CE is a much bigger threat than Vista or 7 (is that 7of9? lol). Mainstream computer users just don't want to invest so much in hardware just to read email.

On a related note, shouldn't the 'Get the Fact campaign' also address the Halloween Documents?? Just for the sake of being complete??

The greed of M$ is unstoppable and unquenchable, the evil empire must be destroyed, that is the only stop to it.

Sure it is impacting the growth and acceptance of Linux. They say competition is a good thing, but when your competition is loaded with cash and can buy up companies or technology at will it makes it tough for anyone else in the market. It surely is not a level playing field .... but no one said life is fair. Linux survives because it is good. MS survives because of the empire they built early on. They are vicious competitors, and will not go down easy.

I agree to a certain point, but microsoft is such an enormous success. They have a strong hold on the computer market and they made billions of dollars. Why can't they let others prosper. They always want to put their name on everything. For example, when the Sony Playstation came out and did very well, all of a sudden microsost decided to get into the video game market.

I'm just tired of microsoft and its monopoly.

So is most of the world. In the US--until the current administration, there was significant government activity to put some limits on MS. Let's hope that a new administration reinstates this. Unfortunately, we face much bigger problems.

And I could return the compliment. I agree to a degree. It's not so much that they are successful that bothers me. It's the abuse of their power that gets me. MS-tax as a prime example, your honour. But it wont last. They had their moment.

For example:
If you google Microsoft (or Linux) && my home city then you get lots and lots of stories about how Redmond helped a school in my city to move away from Linux. Actually, that school had every OS thinkable in their network. It had a base of Novell servers, OS/2, Linux and Win98, WinME and such. In other words they where in for a good redo of IT. Perfect fit: Redmond. They gave discounts, they supervised the whole thing. Everybody was happy. It's true. And it's all over the internet. How Redmond saved a school from Linux. Are you angry yet??

Then think again. What it doesn't say is this. It's just /one/ school. A small school at that. What they don't say is that the municipality, employing some 2200 people, moved away from Redmond and started using Linux. In the same year. The same city. No more server2003. No more XP. No more MS office.

I think you forget that linux grew up in MS's shadow to begin with. MS has been pulling stunts like this with everyone in the industry since they stole windows from apple (who stole it from Xerox in the first place). The fact that linux usage continues to accelerate despite Microsoft is testament to the fact that MS doesn't matter to linux users.

We decide what we run, not Microsoft, and the people have spoken

Also the only reason the linux eee is $50 more than the ms version is the 32GB SSD drive. The MS version has a cheaper version. The linux version is still a much better value. They skimped on the hardware to offer the lower price for the xp version. It has little to do with the OS. If they had the same hardware setup, it would be the other way around.

MS didn't pay them off or subsidize them, they simply convinced them to offer a hardware crippled version cheaper with Windows on it.

-Viz