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Microsoft Proclaims Death of Free Software Model
geoff313 writes "
As previously mentioned here,
Microsoft's new wave of FUD has begun to arrive. This time it is
courtesy of Bradley Tipp, Microsoft's UK national systems engineer, who
spoke at the Microsoft IT Forum in Copenhagen. In this article
from ZDNet UK, he is quoted as saying that 'Linux is great' and 'there
are a lot of things we should learn from open source' but then is quick
to point out that 'We haven't talked to a single user who has said
they're using [open source] because it's better.' Another Microsoft employee was quoted as
saying 'At least if Linux takes off, their viruses will propagate and
we won't be seen as the bad guys any more.' I for one am happy to see that they are taking their new interest in security seriously, and I'm
sure you all are too. Most interesting is the assertion that the decision by Red
Hat to end support for its free distribution and Novell's
aquisition of SUSE marks not only the death of free software,
but actually is a validation of Microsoft's business model. Does anyone
besides Microsoft see these events as the end of Free software?" I use Free software because it's better; they just didn't ask.
Pigs just landed at JFK airport
I for one won't say that I use OSS software because it's better.
I use it because M$ software is worster
Signature Pro version 1.13.2-3 release 83.5 beta3try7 after-breakfast edition
...p2p. As long as p2p exists, Microsoft's own software is "free."
Condemnant quod non intellegunt.
Microsoft is declaring open source dead? This is kind of like declaring Keith Richards to be alive.
This sig no verb.
Pepsi commented that it hasn't spoken to a single customer who said they drank Coca Cola because it tasted better. A senator from Maine said he hadn't spoken to a single constituent who lived in Hawaii because it was warmer. A doctor said she hadn't spoken to a single patient who had never been sick.
Or...could it be that people who use free software because it is better are not Microsoft users? Nah.
"We think Linux is great," he said, adding that competition from the penguin and associates keeps the Microsoft on its toes.
Anyone wanna go ice skating? Hell just froze over.
Oh wait a minute, they didn't mean it. They were hoping I'd hop onto Haydes and be burned to death. Oooo! You are a sly one, Mr. Gates!
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Most interesting is the assertion that the decision by Red Hat to end support for its free distribution and Novell's aquisition of SUSE marks not only the death of free software...
Now we know who the AC posting all those "* is dying" trolls is: Bill Gates.
I have 2 sheep to offer for a copy of Gimp. Any takers?
--- What?
And even if all the coders got a nasty bug and died all the source is out there waiting for the next generation to pick up where things were left off.
The OSS movement is harder to kill than cockroaches.
More likely, Microspeak for "We haven't talked to a single user."
"Obviously, I'm not an IBM computer any more than I'm an ashtray" (Bob Dylan)
This is coming from Microsoft. They declared that "DOS is DEAD" back when Windows 95 came out.
Yeah...right...
thank you personally for your insightful comments. They'd like to, but The Man(tm) won't let them.
Microsoft: "We haven't talked to a single user who has said they're using [open source] because it's better."
millions of people: "Ah, but there are millions of us here, and we all use open source solutions because they're better, cheaper, faster, more secure, and easier to maintain."
Microsoft: "What's that? You say that open source is better?"
millions of people: "Yes"
Microsoft: "Right! Then we're not going to talk to you. Now, as we were saying, we haven't talked to a single user..."
or maybe it was the other way around, and the pro-open source people didn't want to talk to Microsoft, because you know, why bother. And then Microsoft says "we haven't talked to a single user..."
Bill Gates: Damn it, we only made $10billion this quarter. Why can't we stop Linux. They are impudent. They are questioning my rightful place as sole ruler of the world!
Steven Balmer: Your most high and mighty worship, we are almost out of FUD, we need a new source.
Bill Gates: Hmmmmmmmm.....I have a brilliant and evil plan. Yes, let us turn our insecurity and forced upgrade cycle minions loose upon them. They will be destroyed by fear of virus infection! And be forced to use Windows as a more secure option which we can endlessly use to rule the world. And I shall collect endless profit and be a god forever.
Steven Balmer: Your high and mightyness, yor brilliance is brighter than the sun, and I grovel in awe of your every word. Direct me, how will we get the infectable source code into Linux.
Bill Gates: We will use a pawn, a patsy a proxy to do my bidding. We will secretly fund a company to pass off crapulent source code and insert it into Linux. CODE WRITERS, COME BEFORE ME NOW.
(a lacky strikes a gong and a Microsoft programmer appears)
M$ Programmer: Your most high and mighty worshipness, You rang.
Bill Gates: Write me crapulent code for Linux...at once, which we can infect with a virus!
M$ Programmer: Your worship, we already have code designed to break and become obsolete forcing upgrades. It is called 'Windows', which you solely created with your genius and godlike intuition. Shall I use this code?
Bill Gates: It is all so clear to me now, with my unparalleled genius I have seen the future. We will use our monopoly on buggy operating systems to destroy the open source community. Send the code to our minions at SCO. Go forth and destroy them! All of them...AT ONCE! Muhahahahahahah.
Steven Balmer: Muhahahahahaha
ALL: Muhahahahahahaha
I like your point, but... Who's Luna?
phase 1: ignore free software
phase 2: laugh at free software
phase 3: fight free software
phase 4: hope ghandi was wrong
Thank you Microsoft. This declaration has activated the sensible part of my brain, I will now proceed to dump my Linux installation and buy 10 licences for Windows XP.
-------
"In times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."
-- George Orwell
or rather "OSS: we suck less"