Slashdot Mirror
Microsoft to Give Away Software
dptalia writes "In an attempt to suck up to the European Union, Microsoft has announced that it will give away software allowing multiple operating systems to run simultaneously. Microsoft says this is part of their strategy to make more software available through OSS." From the article: "Georg Greve, president of the Free Software Foundation Europe, said he had not seen the details of Microsoft's giveaway but cautioned against assuming it was motivated only by pragmatism or a new spirit of cooperation. 'If Microsoft were doing this for altruistic reasons, it would be a first,' Greve said. 'I think they are probably trying to get more machines on the Windows platform, and they may also be trying to improve relations in Brussels.'"
Claiming slashdot and/or its readership doesn't lean anti-MS is one of the most insanely asinine things I've ever heard.
As for MS being ethical, I think they are. So there's one exception to your grand sweeping generalization. I would actually argue that most rational people think MS *is* ethical, and they also would agree that, in the past, MS was *not* ethical. Assuming MS is unethical now and forever, because once upon a time several years ago they abused a monopoly, doesn't give the impression that you're thinking critically about this.
If people get modded up for saying things like, "Well, to be fair, MS is a business...", its because they're the only ones who can overcome their irrational personal loathings long enough to have some perspective.