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Microsoft Asks Fed For Bailout
snydeq writes "Microsoft requested on Tuesday some $20 billion in bailout funds from the federal government, claiming that as the company controls an overwhelming share of the OS market, it is too big to fail. Low adoption rates for Vista, the ensuing ad campaign trying to convince people that they really do like Vista, and the increased need for development resources to rush Windows 7 to market to make people forget about Vista have necessitated the bailout, the company said. 'We want to make it absolutely clear that this is not a crisis of mismanagement,' said Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer in a prepared statement. 'This is simply a crisis of dollars — a crisis of not having enough dollars coming our way.'"
At least it was funny with the pink ponies thing. Today it's just useless.
"Thanks for all the money you paid to us. We've used it to buy off ISO among other things" -Microsoft
Maybe because /. is a US based site, and it's not April 2nd anywhere in the US yet?
Because every year I get a regular reminder of why subscribing to Slashdot would be a waste of money.
Too silly to be real; Too real to be fake; Too fake to be silly. So really, where does that leave the story?
Bye!
There is probably not a major player that is not receiving a bailout. We know that MS is getting a new federally funded bridge, and who knows what else. Who know what MS executives lobbied for and got that would directly or indirectly benefit them personally or professionally. We have seen them corrupt the H1B visa system, and then give the finger to country that provided Bill Gates with resources and education by saying the would move to Canada. In Canada they would certainly have health care, but would they get 50% discount on a luxury bridge?
"She's a scientist and a lesbian. She's not going to let it slide." Orphan Black
Maybe the FOSS should ask for a bailout also?
no matter how good it is, it is human nature always wants to make things better
...is you have to put up with two full days of April Fools crap.
The alternative is that capitalism works, but can take some time.
Microsoft has a lot of cash which is why it is still so strong. It's current products are coming under increasing pressure from open source, the web etc. So this may not last forever - unless of course they get a bailout.
This is a April 1 joke but spare some time to think what if it really happens in the future, especially if you are a Developer who has put all eggs on Microsoft/Windows basket. Can't happen? Trust me, it happens. If someone came and told Amiga will be dead while we use that Amiga 500 miracle, we would laugh at his face.
Look to what happened to General Motors giant, especially them since they never thought about future may change, people may really pay more money to smaller cars made by companies they joked about just 5 years before.
It's 4+ more hours in Redmond WA before April 1 is over
All theory is gray
Talk about killing the goose that lays the golden eggs...
Or at least chasing it away.
Good question. Why DID we bother bailing out a failed industry? Never mind how many people are walking, a failed industry is a failed industry.
"Windows is like the faint smell of piss in a subway: it's there, and there's nothing you can do about it." - Charlie Br
The bridge in question connects one publicly accessible area to another publicly accessible area where there are limited ways to get across the freeway in question.
Would the bridge make the list of projects if Microsoft weren't involved? No? Then the public shouldn't pay a dime for it.
While Microsoft accounts for about 40% of the expected traffic on the new bridge, they [i.e. Microsoft] are actually footing the bill for approximately half the cost of the bridge.
All the non-Microsoft traffic might simply be taking the bridge because it's there and it has already been paid for. The question is what the actual utility of the bridge is to the public.
I've driven around the Microsoft campus a lot, and I don't see any public need for another bridge in that area.
For the love of God - please stop with the font tags! I'll defend to the death (figuratively) your right to say whatever you like, but not your right to use small, ugly fonts to do it!
Nope, in France since we have Sarkozy, it's all year long...
and all those people using it are taxpaying residents, regardless of where they work. There are plenty of reasons to rag MS, this just ain't one of them, unless you are just a zealot who looks for any opportunity to find fault in MS, in which case, your opinion is worthless.
Sounds like a good plan for the city, a good offer by Microsoft, and a win/win for the taxpayers. On all other points, yea, Microsoft sucks, just not on this one.
Tequila: It's not just for breakfast anymore!