Microsoft Du Jour - Talks, Upgrades, Salaries

Jeff writes: "CNN is reporting 'In a dramatic move, the new judge in the Microsoft case Friday ordered the government and the software maker into five weeks of intensive settlement talks, until Nov. 2.'" Other MS submissions coming in today: USAToday discovers the new upgrade scheme, designed to milk every last cent out of those who've locked themselves into Windows; tech-report.com goes a bit more in depth on the same subject; ZDNet hoists the black flag; MS discusses its plans to control how you compute (by the way, the license agreement for Windows Media Player now allows Microsoft to disable any software on your computer - you do read those license agreements, don't you?); Gates got $666,000 last year but won't have to apply for welfare just yet.

Comments

Honest question...

[TopShelf]

If I was going to look for an alternative to Windows for home use (gaming & surfing), what are my options? Please make some recommendations both for an OS/distribution (will any Win emulators allow stuff like EA Sports titles to run, for example) and a partitioning tool to set up a dual boot.

I've thought about tinkering w/Linux before, but this latest iteration of MS bullying just might get me going...