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Microsoft Ties $235m IT Aid To Use of Windows
E5Rebel writes "Microsoft will spend $235m in schools worldwide over the next five years, part of a plan to
triple the number of students and teachers trained in its software programs to up to 270 million by 2013. 'Microsoft's investment shows how important it views developing markets to its future business. Last year, Microsoft introduced the Student Innovation Suite, which includes the XP Starter Edition plus educational applications, for $3 for qualifying countries. Microsoft faces heated competition from companies supporting the open-source OS Linux and associated software in developing countries. "I think as a company we welcome choice," [Orlando Ayala] said. "Frankly, we welcome the competition." The company's educational funding comes with a hitch: "Of course, that includes the fact they [the schools] use Windows," Ayala said.' If you don't use Windows you don't get the cash." Microsoft has long been interested in the education of children.
What is it with americans (sorry, I don't see anyone else doing it) that you always feel the need to point out that [some unrelated entity] has done the same in the past, or might do the same in the future if it had the chance? Especially considering that it is invariably a wildly inappropriate comparison?
Don't you find it incredibly tiring to hear this tireless propaganda? Does anyone honestly believe that Apple back then can be compared to Microsoft now? Or that the lies perpetrated by Bush, that led to the invasion of two countries and hundreds of thousands killed, are comparable to those of Clinton about getting a blowjob? Does anyone think it is smart or witty to make such comparisons?
The mind boggles...
Give $235 Million worth of hardware w/ Linux installed and quit complaining.
> but the man's done some good no matter how you slice it
He had to loot his customers first, ruin some competing companies, break the law, and so on. Its easy to give away money and act as generous philantrophist when you did not really "earn" it but kinda extorted it from somebody. Its blood money. Gates is not a philantrophist, he just made enough money to buy himself any image he'd like to have.