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The Intersection of Microsoft, Linux, and China

Posted by Zonk on from the tangled-web dept.

at_$tephen writes "Fortune magazine has an article stressing the Chinese market's importance to Microsoft's long term strategy, and touching on Linux's involvement in the Chinese market. In the early days of Microsoft rampant piracy helped establish it as the de facto standard in PCs despite good alternatives. History may be unfolding again here, with the exception that having the Chinese government as an ally has huge additional benefits. Or perhaps Gates has met his match with the Chinese government. 'In another boost for Microsoft, the government last year required local PC manufacturers to load legal software on their computers. Lenovo, the market leader, had been shipping as few as 10% of its PCs that way, and even US PC makers in China were selling many machines "naked." Another mandate requires gradual legalization of the millions of computers in state-owned enterprises. In all, Gates says, the number of new machines shipped with legal software nationwide has risen from about 20% to more than 40% in the past 18 months.'"

4 of 206 comments (clear)

  1. Hm... by spungo · · Score: 0, Troll

    ...In other news, China and Bill Gates have agreed on a China-oriented version of the popular Windows operating system -- it will be called 'Microsoft Tiananmen'. They've already agreed on the slogan. 'Microsoft Tiananmen' New and Improved -- now with fewer human rights!

  2. Re:$3 Windows? by Penguinisto · · Score: 0, Troll

    I do think its unfair that they get a "cost of living adjustment" for software and medicine, yet we have to compete for techie jobs on our own cost of living. They get the best of both worlds.

    So, what does the average Chinese working type pay in taxes to support those 'adjustments'? Cost of living is also relative... I could, for instance, work remotely from, say, Mississippi, and probably (not certainly - probably) enjoy a lower cost of living than some guy living in downtown Beijing.

    Not refuting your statement entirely, but IMHO it seems too simple, and there are other factors that seem to be missing which may mitigate your complaint somewhat.

    /P

    --
    Quo usque tandem abutere, Nimbus, patientia nostra?
  3. The Intersection of Microsoft, Linux, and China... by AndyCR · · Score: 0, Troll

    ...has a lot of accidents.

    --
    If there's anyone I hate more than stupid people, it's intellectuals.
  4. Re:"Naked PCs" = Anti-competitive bullshit by westlake · · Score: 0, Troll
    The characterization of computers without pre-loaded software as "naked" and mandating that software be bundled with PCs by the retailer is nothing more than an attempt to create a barrier-to-entry into the market.

    The "naked" PC is a barrier to sales in all but the most technically sophisticated of markets.

    The "naked" PC is to the Geek what thoughts of Playboy are to the teen at three A.M. The un-compromised fantasy without any immediate prospect or obligation of fulfillment.

    The install never barfs, the GIMP is a champion performer like Photoshop.