ok so lets get this right
1. cobble together an operating system
2. form a monopoly and force all competitors out of business using dubious/illegal business practices
3. over charge for said operating system
4. systematically lie and spread FUD about every alternative to microsoft (communism=linux etc)
5. generate billions of dollars
6. as per corporate strategy give about 2% of earnings to charity, demonstrating goodwill to all mankind
7. restart at number 1

if a free operating system was used in every university, every school, every health service, every public service how much money would be saved from not having to pay exploitive licence fees for what is essentially an inferior product.

I think the long term implications of free software are much more beneficial to the worlds developement than a monopoly whose only motive is profit.

who cares...the majority of them in corporate America are crooks. You think Im going to single one man out because he made more $$$ than the others. Let em all eat Cake and become Selenas while the president of their fan club is trying to stab them in the back while others pat em on the back trying to establish a good friendship. Money is power unfortunately thats the way it works in the world and the nice guy doesnt get the girl but sympathy from the onlookers who sighs "ahhhh poor kid" Haha, and they can call me a crook to for pirating his OS and Office suite - the last cent they saw from me was in 98. Meanwhile I lace up my NIKES and sip my Starbucks while listening to some overpriced CD I purchased at the MALL.

actually las I heard half his wealth will goto charities according to his will. Thats not a small fraction. Runnign a company is completely different from robbing a bank despite the anti-corporate attitudes most people have. Which is just silly because those same people get in their SUV's goto their starbucks, buy their CD's, purchase Sony products, etc.

Anyways Whoopdeedoo lets force linux onto anyone because that would be a much better solution. All because its "free". Guess what. Someone would exploit it no matter what. besides of which people spend what they wish how they wish. You would be saving the world all that much. Even if you did the money saved won't goto charities thats for sure.

That thought crossed my mind yesterday when I heard it on TV. Nearly lost my breakfast, too.

"actually las I heard half his wealth will goto charities according to his will. Thats not a small fraction. Runnign a company is completely different from robbing a bank despite the anti-corporate attitudes most people have. Which is just silly because those same people get in their SUV's goto their starbucks, buy their CD's, purchase Sony products, etc."

At the moment it is a small fraction. We have yet to see this execution of any will, and the hint that it goes to charity may just be more PR. In any case it still doesn't make it all right. Yes I have an attitude toward a lot of corporate activity. I live in a slightly different world to that, physically and ideolically.

"who cares...the majority of them in corporate America are crooks. . . . Haha, and they can call me a crook to for pirating his OS and Office suite - the last cent they saw from me was in 98. Meanwhile I lace up my NIKES and sip my Starbucks while listening to some overpriced CD I purchased at the MALL."

MS has been creating some interesting attitudes of course. They are crooks do I can steel from crooks and it's okay... The world is getting a bit of an attitude to the US and money in general, and recent events in parts of the world haven't really helped this... I don't want to even get into that, so I think I will pull out of this... Cheers guys, I think I see some tech posts to work on

she should have had his head cut off.