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As long as there are no string attached
As someone sometime said: There's no free lunch!!

I'm sure that if the agencies accept the "free gift" MS will look forward to collect the favor in the future. besides, having propietary code running on that important task could be a national security risk, or does anybody can be sure that MS does not put some code in the product to do whatever they want if the goverment does not do what they want? Remember the case betwen MS vs. DOJ (i'm being kind of paranoic).

This practice is not new at MS, they always give "free" software when they want to trash a company, ask netscape, realplayer and other companies that relayed on their software to continue running their business and now are dead because of MS "free gifts".

The difference this time is that there is no company to destoy, nodoby owns Linux or OpenOffice, that's why MS, in despites of all their efforts, couldn't stop linux yet (and i think they won't never).

This strategy makes me very happy, because it evidence that MS IS having problems with linux and the open version of this kind of software. Remember, they always do this when they are losing the battle.
Posted by: hal9000mx   Posted on: 03/10/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Army should be thanking Microsoft...  Mike Cox | 03/10/04
who's army?  Grimm Reaper | 03/10/04
Oh Mikey you are so astute  Squawkbox | 03/10/04
double standard  broadway al | 03/10/04
They are  Bobby Sskcat | 03/10/04
What ? Bush in bed with corporations? Give me a break  Squawkbox | 03/10/04
Source for the above posts REUTERS/CNN/ABC/WALL STREET JOURNAL  Squawkbox | 03/10/04
Don't bother providing links..it might establish some credibility  Bobby Sskcat | 03/10/04
Why provide Links? You can look them up for yourself  Squawkbox | 03/10/04
So you really think MS contributing massive amounts . . .  K B | 03/10/04
my 2 cents, which may not be worth even that  CO_TechGuy | 03/10/04
People will cite any "statistics" to defend their favorite criminals  Bobby Sskcat | 03/10/04
What's the air hangup?  techboy_z | 03/10/04
Just like ketchup is a vegetable?  AbsolutelyNot | 03/10/04
Same could be said about the.....  Rick_K | 03/10/04
what about haliburton?  stephen732@... | 03/10/04
reports of Halliburton influence are greatly exaggerated  markgros@... | 03/10/04
Explain this then  AbsolutelyNot | 03/11/04
To Act, or To interacct with redundant widgets  pj-xmesh | 03/10/04
All software has to be tested  boatelc | 03/10/04
In a perfect world, testing should happen, but it doesn't  AbsolutelyNot | 03/10/04
Dude, We're Connecting...  BanjoPaterson | 03/10/04
If I was the Sergeant...  kray_z | 03/10/04
SAY WHAT?  AbsolutelyNot | 03/10/04
Does the term Useful Idiot ring a bell?  erok | 03/11/04
Army to Gates: Halt the free software  Loverock Davidson | 03/10/04
That's because the software SUX!  Bobby Sskcat | 03/10/04
Huh???  doe_z | 03/10/04
Go easy on Lovey..Linux is his ex-girlfriend  Bobby Sskcat | 03/10/04
at least he had one  eLurker | 03/10/04
Another thing  Michael Kelly | 03/10/04
the military does use Linux  stephen732@... | 03/10/04
Hate to burst your bubble  AbsolutelyNot | 03/10/04
I don't get it!  dg mh | 03/10/04
it's not "free" software  el1jones | 03/10/04
m$ is the pusher corp  stephen732@... | 03/10/04
RE: i don't get it  ickusslime@... | 03/10/04
The Difference  Letophoro | 03/10/04
Even moreso  IT_User | 03/10/04
As long as there are no string attached  hal9000mx | 03/10/04
Big string attached. Nay, a rope....  Jack-Booted EULA | 03/10/04
Read Their Lips:  BitTwiddler | 03/10/04
Not the same thing  NoB$ | 03/10/04
...A way to force upgrades if you ask me.  Zen37 | 03/10/04
They sure don't want employees using OpenOffice at home.  DonnieBoy | 03/10/04
that is so true  JWatson77 | 03/10/04
At least I can give them copies of Open Office  AbsolutelyNot | 03/10/04
Stupid AOL discs  OhMyGosh | 03/10/04
if aol is targeting government officials with deals not generally public  JWatson77 | 03/10/04
and yes ms was targeting government employees ONLY  JWatson77 | 03/10/04
You still have to pay  el1jones | 03/10/04
Ethics rules.  Jack-Booted EULA | 03/10/04
more like a coupon...  ryusen | 03/10/04
I wonder  pschroeder@... | 03/10/04
well...  ryusen | 03/10/04
AOL sw is free, they earn $ as an ISP, m$ totally wrong on this  stephen732@... | 03/10/04
If they show up at work  AbsolutelyNot | 03/10/04
Slight difference  Domb2 | 03/11/04
AOL disks don't fit the rule  ejhonda | 03/11/04
MS will die soon  doomlinux@... | 03/10/04
Come on Microsoft  mabricen | 03/10/04
I'm glad they gave me a free copy  issthatso | 03/10/04
I wish they'd give me a free copy!  jbachandouris@... | 03/10/04
i have a "free" copy and i'm not using it...  ryusen | 03/10/04
microsoft acting as the drug dealer..!!  petem@... | 03/10/04
will gates be arrested ?  mvaar | 03/10/04
I wonder, . . .  James Dean_z | 03/10/04
I wonder, . . .  seosamh_z | 03/10/04
Good thing  NoB$ | 03/10/04
Something to think about...  Fred Fredrickson | 03/10/04
Not really  voska | 03/11/04
IANAL but...  ryusen | 03/10/04
My guess  IT_User | 03/10/04
I can answer that  voska | 03/11/04
Bribery is legal, but for Bill Gates only.  Vily Clay | 03/10/04
Corporations have same rule  Nullifidian | 03/10/04
Allow them to request it  Clone_z | 03/10/04
Don't think so  NoB$ | 03/10/04
MS Office is now a loss leader?  B.O.F.H. | 03/10/04
HOOAH!  dkwiatkowski@... | 03/10/04
Microsoft should have known better...  BitTwiddler | 03/10/04
I think I know the problem...  IT_User | 03/10/04
National Security Must Ban MS Products  brenthawkinsmd | 03/10/04
The knew darn well what they were doing!  rprice4499 | 03/10/04
Sounds like DUMPING to keep other offices suites out. (NT)  rinaldo | 03/10/04
Easier to ask forgiveness...  MacCanuck | 03/10/04
The difference between M$ and a drug dealer?  emartin_z | 03/10/04
Don't Worry, Bush won't allow MS to be prosecuted for ANY transgressions !!  Plain Logic | 03/10/04
General rules apply here  doh123 | 03/10/04
then again  myndlon@... | 03/11/04
Missing detail  Domb2 | 03/11/04
Scamming for Info  myndlon@... | 03/11/04
14 years ago...  rock06r | 03/12/04
There is a big difference  AbsolutelyNot | 03/12/04
It's simple - I accept the software, I can be fired ...  stina88 | 03/12/04
Army/Gov. policy  bchesmer | 03/12/04
Once and for all  softwareFlunky | 07/02/08

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