Microsoft Won't Vouch For Linux

theodp writes "Gov. Christine Gregoire applauded Microsoft's job training partnership with WA state and county government agencies, which calls for the distribution of 30,625 training vouchers statewide during the next 90 days. 'This program [Elevate America] is all about equipping people with the new skills they'll need to get a job in the changing economy,' said Microsoft Counsel Brad Smith, who also made it very clear that getting 'workforce ready' won't involve acquiring any Linux skills. At least this offer appears to be no-cost, unlike the $35 Microsoft requested in an e-mail come-on for 'The Stimulus Package for Your Career' (so much for Smith's and Gregoire's war on spam)."

Comments

They ought to provide training for Linux

[BadAnalogyGuy]

Next year could very well be the Year of Linux on the Desktop.

All these people with their outdated Microsoft training. Whatever will they do?

Re:They ought to provide training for Linux

[GNUbuntu]

Just look at the iPhone - Apple came out of nowhere to dominate the smartphone market in a 2 year timeframe.

Actually, no they don't. Nokia dominates the smartphone market with almost 39% marketshare. Apple was 2nd last time any sales figures were released at around 17% followed by RIM with around 15%.

Re:They ought to provide training for Linux

[Anonymous Coward]

OS X and Linux are STILL just playing catchup to where Windows was 5 years ago.

That could be a good thing. Vista wasn't around 5 years ago.

I would argue that neither OS X nor Linux have reached parity with Windows yet: neither have a virus problem or an entire software industry (AV) spawned to support it.

And you expected something different?

[Admodieus]

The theory of common sense states that if a company is paying to offer you training, then the training will probably focus almost entirely on, if not exclusively on, their own products. Does anybody really expect any company, Microsoft included, to pay for you to undergo training to make them obsolete one day/

What Will Canonical do?

[Leafheart]

So a company is giving training on their platform, and this is wrong how? Specially, if I understood correctly, it will be "free" (as in, neither the state nor you will pay with money for it, and not the "but they will be brainwashing the masses" type of cost)

What about Canonical try to partner with a state to offer training vouchers statewide and train people on the ways of Linux? That would be sweet, and awesome. Only think would be try to get Linux users with teaching skills for the non-technical. After all, your public wouldn't be grad students.

LOL

[GNUbuntu]

Okay this doesn't make any sense from that "stimulus package for your career" spam:

Get a FREE retake of a failed exam plus an E-Learning Collection for just $35 USD

Now how can it be a free retake if you have to pay 35 dollars to get it? Is this the same scam like "Free" Credit Report.com that actually requires you to buy a subscription to their site to get the "free" credit report?

In other news,

[idontgno]

Microsoft refuses to bankroll the "We Are Linux" marketing video campaign. Those monopolist bastages.

Slashdotters: regard this as a GOOD thing

[GPLDAN]

Why you consider this bad, I don't understand.

Linux is taking over in the data centers of America. You don't WANT competition from voucher trained indviduals. The free market will value your Linux skills, and the scarcity will drive your value up.

Look what MCSE boot camps did to Windows SysAdmin salaries. Just historically chart them with Janco data or Salary.com historical data.

Personally, I want EVERY government training program to be training people is skills the real free market considers useless. Don't you?

The Gov. of Wash. is in the tank for Microsoft?

[Presto Vivace]

I am shocked, positively shocked. Who could imagine such a thing?

Re:learn PowerPoint and Access skills

[Ahnteis]

Yeah, the lady who doesn't know how to use POWERPOINT is going enjoy learning scripting. [huge eye-roll]