Slashdot Mirror
For Microsoft, Market Dominance Isn't Enough
chemstar writes "Last summer Orlando Ayala, then the top sales executive at Microsoft Corp., sent an e-mail titled 'Microsoft Confidential' to senior managers laying out a strategy to dissuade governments across the globe from choosing cheaper alternatives to the ubiquitous Windows operating system. Ayala's e-mail told executives that if a deal involving governments or large institutions looked doomed, they were authorized to draw from a special internal fund to offer software at a steep discount, or free, if necessary. Steve Ballmer, the Microsoft chief executive, was sent a copy of the e-mail.
The memo, which focused on system software for desktop computers, specifically targeted Linux, a still small but emerging competitor. "Under NO circumstances lose against Linux," Ayala said." Perhaps that's because, as roomisigloomis writes, "Seems that MS' licensing practices are working against the company," pointing out this article which "suggests that open source, Linux and other software is actively being sought."
How can BSD be dying when it has a mascot like this?! Linux needs to get its act together if it's going to compete with the kind of hot chicks and gorgeous babes that BSD has to offer!
You just can't take Linux seriously when its fronted by losers like these. You Linux groupies need to find some sexy girls like her! I mean just look at this girl! Doesn't she make you hard? I know this little hottie floats my boat! This guy looks like he is about to cream his pants standing next to such a fox. As you can see, no man can resist this sexy little cock teaser. Even this old bearded Unix guru is apparently unable to take his eyes off her!
Join the campaign for more cute open source babes today!
So, if you want to have Microsoft software for free, you know what to do!
My karma ran over your dogma
the bigass ".NET" advertisement I got when I loaded this page. Figures. Thanks Slashdot.
As the chair of my neighborhood gardenclub, we have been considering implementing a new server rack with either Win3k and MSSQL to track the movment and eating habits of chinch bugs. Given our modest budget, it currently looks as though we will have to forgo using MS products in favor of OSS/FS alternatives. Can I have my free software now?
Just as irrigation is the lifeblood of the Southwest, lifeblood is the soup of cannibals. -- Jack Handy
How dare a company try to increase its profits and make more money?! How dare a business try to best its competitors in the marketplace?!
I for one am disgusted and only hope that this evil is vanquished!
jack's bicycle is music to my ears
Christ! Second post and we're already invoking Godwin's Law on the article.
Move along folks. Nothing to see here.
Having fourty two stories an hour about Microsoft Isn't Enough
I'm shocked. Shocked!
Random Businessman 1: "We're doomed! Only a miracle can save us now!"
Hysterical Woman: "We need Linux! Tux, where are you?? Save us!"
Random Businessman 2: "Look! Up there!"
cut to shot of Tux, soaring above city. Tux looks down, smiles and waves
Chorus of Schoolchildren: "Tux!!!!"
Yes kids, tune in next week when Tux saves the world from the evil clutches of Microsoft yet again ...
Obliteracy: Words with explosions
While I still haven't figured out why I should be outraged that Microsoft's sales force, you know, sells stuff, that bit made me laugh. Like this guy is James Bond, successfully impersonating a consultant. I've worked the KDE booth at Linux conferences, alongside teenagers who know even less about the IT business than I do -- Steve Ballmer himself could walk up to the booth and unless he was sweating and screaming, "Developers! Developers!" no one would recognize him.
I mean, do Microsoft sales people have horns and a tail? Why would anyone doubt him?
What I'm listening to now on Pandora...
the licensing of Windows -- product activation and the like -- are what's really kicking Microsoft's teeth in
Awww, why do licensing and product activation get to have all the fun?
While Linux is riducularizing Microsoft, they should also insultarize and ignorificate them too! This will lead to both increased market competization and increased humorification.
Sun was/is so bent on destroying linux, when I discussed our setup with their sales engineers they were *throwing in* Cobalt Raq web servers to replace our linux web servers because they didnt want us running linux. They didnt see the irony :) (cobalt raq's run linux)
Religion is a gateway psychosis. -- Dave Foley
If Gates has a net worth of about, what?, $45 B, i'd assume that Balmer has at least $1 B. If i was in Balmers shoes, i'd cash out and spend the rest of my life trying not to dance on camera.
Cool! Now throw in some comedy, action, music, sex, plot and special effects in accordance with the formula and we have a box office hit!
Let's call it Firebird.
In related news, an internal memo from Microsoft was released today that confirmed Microsoft is aware that Linux exists and that it is a competitor.
"We know," said Microsoft company spokesman Bob Chambers.
Slashdot readers collectively said "AHA!" and then proceeded to shake their heads when told tha Microsoft would try to compete with other products.
"We just can't believe it," said Jeff Nerdmeier, an avid Slashdot reader. "That Microsoft would try to compete in the marketplace is just amazing to us. Why they don't just give everything away, well, we don't understand it."
When Nerdmeier was told that Microsoft might try to compete by price-cutting and free installations, he further stated: "This is unprecedented. No other company in any industry has ever done something like this. We're shocked."
Also in the news today, Slashdot readers were amazed to learn that the United States is a capitalist nation and that their assertions that an entire industry should survive solely on the basis of services rendered in support of what otherwise should only be free, open products, some regard as dogmatic, highly political, and even quasi-religious.
In related news, scientists revealed a study today stating that Linus Torvalds is a human being, not a God. Slashdot readers formed lynch-mobs in response, vowing to "git them anti-Linux bastards".
Chr0m0Dr0m!C
I see a restraining order in your future
"I'd rather be a lightning rod than a seismometer." -Ken Kesey
Vacuum tubes and Beta systems are still being made and used. The funny thing is: they're in high end devices these days. Joe Shmoe uses transistors, audiophiles use amps with tubes. Joe Shmoe uses VHS, broadcasting agencies use BetaCam (if they haven't transitioned to full digital yet). Joe Shmoe uses Windows XP, 1337 H4x0rz and middle aged men with foot-long beards use Linux.. ;o)
Learn from the mistakes of others. There isn't enough time to make them all yourself.
Ok granted they've been able to keep their source code contained, but executive memos like this should be at approximitly the same sensitivity level.
Every time someone successfully breaks into the source code repository at Microsoft, their brains melt. It's a very effective strategy - the source code equivalent of the Medusa. Only specially trained MS developers can bear to look at the code for any length of time and even then, the constant barage of marketing material renders them useless fairly quickly. Those developers who can't stay the course end up as Soylent Green for the canteen.
In the specific scenarios covered by this story, Microsoft isn't dumping the price below the competition. It is merely lowering the price to the same level as the competition, which makes sense.
;-)
Hmm.. compete with Linux on the basis of... price?
Pretty soon, I'm sure we'll see Linux offered for free, too, in a retaliatory move certain to enrage Redmond.
Just remember to take off your suspenders and at least trim your beard...
-Zipwow
(seemed fitting while we're throwing around sterotypes)
I don't know which is more depressing, that 2/3 didn't care enough to vote, or that 1/2 of those that did are crazy.
This is more like it.
Moreover, I'd rather have condescending technical support than a condescending operating system.
Comment removed based on user account deletion