Microsoft Throws Down Embedded XP Gauntlet

An Anonymous Coward writes: "Microsoft has published an online document entitled 'Why Microsoft Windows XP Embedded and Not Embedded Linux?', in which embedded XP is compared to Embedded Linux in eight ways. Given that fact that 'Embedded Linux' is not the product of a single dominant vendor, but rather is the result of the collaborative (and competitive) efforts of an entire market consisting of dozens of large and small companies plus thousands of individual developers, LinuxDevices.com is inviting the Embedded Linux Community to respond to 'Why Microsoft Windows XP Embedded and Not Embedded Linux?' through guest editorials and talkbacks."

Comments

I'm reassured by that last line:

[YeOldeCurmudgeon]

Hold up guys. Just keep in mind all that shocking Microsoft XP is better than Linux propaganda is followed by this classic Microcruft waffle: This document is provided for informational purposes only, and Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to this document or the information contained in it. So their lawyers don't want their marketing folks to stand by their words, even if they publish them like they are fact. Just wait until we'll have a new Mindcraft comparison at the embedded level.

Re:Huh?!

[__past__]

Calm down. Those who wrote this article were perfectly right in every major point.

Lets see:

• Integrated
  Microsoft[tm] is a monopolistic company known for kicking every competition out of business. Nothing is more integrated than a monoculture.
• Comprehensive
  Everything an embedded device needs, like the Internet Explorer[tm] Technology, the Windows Media Player and cool looking themes are integrated in the core OS.
• Unmatched
  You won't find any other OS with as good support for the standards Microsoft[tm] invented and not telling anybody how they work.
• Interoperability
  Microsoft[tm] Windows[tm] XP embedded will work nicely with all other versions of Microsoft[tm] Windows[tm] XP.
• Proven
  There are no unknown or hidden license or development costs. Everyone knows Microsoft[tm] Windows[tm] is an overpriced piece of crap with the most abusive license ever thought of.
• Global
  Everybody uses Microsoft[tm] technology. See also "Integrated".
• Linux in Not Free
  The costs of buying/ downloading a Linux distribution can easily be avoided by using an illegal copy of Microsoft[tm] Windows[tm], just as everybody else does. Additionaly, the constant down time of Microsoft[tm] Windows[tm], be it due to crashes or to install the latest and greatest hotfix, has proven to save expensive bandwidth costs and, in the case of embedded devices, battery power. The Microsoft[tm] Windows[tm] license has no clause that urges you to make the source code available, so it has to be more free.
• OEM Licensing
  Given that Free Software comes with many different licenses, all basically granting the same freedoms, it is obviously better for Your Business Plan to have only one style of license (and only one OEM license, and only one business license...), allbeit the most restrictive you could dream of.

Yours, fud@microsoft.org

What bozo wrote this?

[taniwha]

I tried to read the Microsoft document, but when I reached the line "There is no common integrated device electronics (IDE) for Linux" I had to stop ... I couldn't stop laughing. Strangely I could swear my Linux boxes are full of IDE drives. Of course they were talking about software development infrastructure. p>

Obviously this was written by someone who has no idea what they're talking about, and not much about computers at all, perhaps the meaphorical room full of monkeys with typewriters, or a marketting person with an MBA