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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
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.
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!