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Microsoft Proclaims Death of Free Software Model

Posted by timothy on from the faint-praise-and-damnation dept.

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.

4 of 750 comments (clear)

  1. Death! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    BSD IS DEAD! LONG LIVE BSD!

  2. Re:Isn't Rock-n-Roll dead as well? by AvantLegion · · Score: 0, Offtopic
    Rock and roll has been dead for a while.

    Listening to the local "modern rock" radio station is an exercise in pure genital-piercing pain.

  3. Re:MS is forgetting a major tsarkon reports ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    you know you are a fucking fool. people who run real companies and do real work dont steal you stupid shit. so you arent cute, or funny. you are a fat sexless idiot. shut up.

  4. Re:I believe that the correct way ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    whoa, you actually made a post that didn't slam Bush or the US, or put forward a retarded conspiracy theory.. the meds must be working, congrats!