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MS kills Linux demo at PIII launch

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the aint-that-nice dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Spencer F. Katt has written a piece that among other things describes how Microsoft forced Gateway and Micron to demo their PIII machines running NT intead of Red Hat as had been planned. Nice to see the DOJ case is teaching them nothing. "

4 of 193 comments (clear)

  1. How to maintain control over the market... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4

    This latest stunt (it would be *wonderfull* if the DOJ could confirm it and use it as evidence during THE trial) is just Yet Another Facet of M$'s Grand Plan to maintain absolute control over the market.

    First, you lock the competition out of the most convenient distribution channels: hence the pre-loading agreements. (This also has the convenient side effect of garanteing (sp?) you a constant incoming flow of cash, while the competition has to sell its wares through stores... but how do you compete against something that's already loaded and perceived to be free?)

    Second, you prevent your competition from getting any exposure whatsoever. Hence killing this demo, or preventing NetScape from appearing (sp?) on the desktop.

    This was not just a simple childish fit on M$'s behalf. This is preventing the unwashed masses from learning that there is something else than M$ out there. As long as Joe Schmoe Consumer is unaware of the existence of alternative, he will not think of asking for an alternative.

    Get it?

  2. can linux still show up to demo? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5

    If VA research could get in the conference and demo oracle8 and redhat in the next booth it might make quite an impression.

    If oracle/linux blew away gateway and micron servers both MS and GW/micron would look bad.

    Chuck

  3. Vicious Rumour Mongering... by Dawn+Keyhotie · · Score: 4
    That's all this is. Microsoft, champion of the downtrodden and friend to the poor, would never do such a vile thing. Microsoft has always been honest and completely above board. They have never lied to anyone about their ultimate plans for total world hegemony, and the elimination of all possible competition in all possible markets of all possible types of computers and media. ;^)

    Seriously, though, I think raising these second hand rumours to the level of a /. headline is probably uncalled for and unproductive. People who would believe it already hate MS/Borg, and people who won't believe it are already totally supportive of MS, the last defender of innovation in the computer marketplace.

    When I want slanted news stories and unsubstantiated rumours presented as fact, I already know where to go. (Hint: Starts with 'ZD'.)

    --
    "The only good windmill is a tilted windmill."
  4. Easy thing to thwart.. by CoffeeNowDammit · · Score: 4

    Y'know, if this is more than just a
    rumor, any OEM could thwart MS's tactics
    rather easily, especially with DOJ
    looking so interested:

    "What? You want us to run NT instead
    of Linux? Well, before we do that, we'll
    need to get it on tape. Be sure to state
    your name and your employee ID, okay?"

    -----

    --

    ".sig, .sig a .sog, .sig out loud,