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Microsoft's Software Philanthropy: The Goodwill Ploy
bethanie writes "The New York Times has printed a story concerning Microsoft's plans to 'significantly increase its donation of software to the nation's nonprofit organizations, to a level that may approach $1 billion annually in the next three to four years. ...But the increase has also drawn objections from developers of 'open source' programs (programs for which the source code is freely distributed). Those critics say they believe Microsoft is using a giveaway strategy to undercut the so-called free software movement in the potentially promising nonprofit market.' What do you think? Is it true philanthropy or just another tactic to assimilate everyone into the MS collective?"
Or yet another cheerleader comment opportunity to favourably impress the MS job interviewer? GAWD, the astroturfing /. is getting from Redmond is unbelievable!
Mi domando chi à il mandante di tutte le cazzate che faccio - Altan
Of course it is an undercut. Since there is no price involved, the only thing to compare is quality... There's where your undercut lies.
Gates and Ballmer cannot but help digging into their pocketbooks at the sight of this. How grateful we should all be.
And then there's those third-world nations, fumbling around with chmod and tr while half their country is dying of AIDS...
Yes, we are lucky that in today's world a multi-billion dollar company can be spare so much without self-interest. :)
Unless of course, you're a drug dealer....or BG.
Playing level...that's rich. Can't you 2D MS apologists be more subtle when when you shovel it? Try again....this sort of comedy is good for a laugh or two or three or....
Seems apt.
Ita erat quando hic adveni.
Gates learned this tactic from his coke dealer.
"Your first hit is free."
"What do you think? Is it true philanthropy or just another tactic to assimilate everyone into the MS collective?"
Umm... Is this a trick question?
Damiano
$1 billion annually
Would that be at full retail price? And what would be the level of the tax benefit claimed, considering that the cost to Microsoft is roughly $0.00 per piece, if you round it down.
And for the charities: what price pain?
Have you got your LWN subscription yet?
Does it still count as philanthropy if you give away a crappy product?
___ alwaysBETA.com - Hey, you've got nothing better to do.
The Beast is angry -- lashing out as he tries to defeat the foe. But
where is this foe? Where does he aim? Where does he swing?
For this foe is everywhere, yet nowhere. True, there have been foes
in the past, hitherto they have been vanquished. One swipe of
the claw and it's sent them dead or running.
Yes, the Beast was in a tough spot several years ago. But the Beast
is smart. We saw the beast learn. He learned to make friends with
the folks who have the power. This lesson served him well.
But now the the Beast is on the run. Watch him fight. Watch him
run, running like we've never seen him before.
The Beast is scared.
First the European sales slush fund, next the Beast's proxy's flaming
arrow shot across the bow -- a vain and feeble attempt to arrest the
onslaught of the foe.
But my friends, while the battle rages on, the Beast has lost. As Pompeii
was to lava, the Beast will succumb. We're watching the beginning of
the end game. It's over. The dancing monkey man is cashing out. As we
do Newt Gingrich, we'll miss the Beast.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
I'd like to point out that the power of the foe in our story is the power
of thousands. But, love or hate him, the credit for the laying of the
foundation that made this all possible, with little more than pen and
paper (and attorney) goes to none other that RMS.
Just goes to show how far a good idea can go.
...all the zealots cry fowl.
Typical chicken response...
Hi!
:)
Welcome to Slashdot.
You must be new!
I'm writing code for a program that is targetted at computer illiterate users, often with machines that were donated to them and these machines are almost exclusively Windows machines.
The simple fact of the matter is, end users who lack technical know-how would be simply throwing their hands up in despair if they had to work on linux machines. And "tech support" is on the other side of the world and would require a satellite phone call.
And yet, these totally and completely computer illiterate people who are too poor to afford a computer are doing something so complex they would need support if they were given a gnome based box (lets just deal with frontends here k?), but these computer illiterate people are magiclly figuring out windows? Moreover, Windows where they aren't restricted at all in what they can delete or screw up?
The free software was never there to drive out because it was too hard to set up and use.
Maybe you mean that these people wouldn't be able to setup new hardware and software? The hardware and software they were too poor to afford in the first place? My guess is the last time you heard anything about linux was 5 years ago in Wired magazine where they said it was just too hard, so you blew it off because you were too busy with your nose buried in a VB book to learn it.
You're "writing code" yet linux is too hard for you? I fear the quality of the software you are introducing to these people. People who can't afford tech support when your bad code breaks thier box and they don't know how to get rid of it.
But then, you're a "missionary", you can just tell them the bugs were introduced by Satan and that only through prayer and brainwashing could they ever hope to exorsize these demons.
You might be non-profit, but don't kid yourself into thinking your "mission" is without alterior motives from those in power.
Thank you folks, I'll be hear all night! Remember, the 9:30 show is completely different from the 7:30 show!
-1, Doesn't know the difference between a question and a "conspiracy theory"