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This is the wrong tactic
I find it perplexing that an article like this one would start a discussion on whether Windows or Linux is cheaper. That's not the point.

The point is that Microsoft is again attempting to use their money to stomp out their competitors. And it's not surprising. Microsoft has used such tactics as they are using now to stomp out previous competitors, with the greatest success.

Here's the problem: Microsoft doesn't know who they are facing. It's certainly not an ordinary competitor, and thus, it cannot be eradicated using ordinary tactics. Microsoft thinks that they can just throw money at the competition and either advertise, sue, or buy it out. But they're wrong this time.

Personally, I'm not worried about Microsoft's anti-Linux advertising campaigns. This cannot defeat the open-source community. It's like communism versus democracy; it just won't work.

The only way Microsoft can permanently defeat open-source is by getting it to divide. United, the thousands of open-source developers can easily dethrone Microsoft, and get a foothold in the software market. But if they are divided against themselves, how can they stand?

It's been encouraging to see open-source software companies forge alliances. Software foundations such as Mozilla and GNOME can really get somewhere when working together. After all, isn't this what we're all about? Isn't cooperation the theme of open-source development?

As for Microsoft's advertising, I expect it will continue to go on for a while. It's proof that Microsoft just hasn't gotten it yet. But I hope that their open-source competitors will not be idle. The hurricane isn't over yet. We're in the eye.
Posted by: Linux_Developer   Posted on: 05/26/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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lol  eLurker | 05/26/04
Assumptions of study?  richard@... | 05/26/04
Assumption was, you say what we want or we don't pay you  oldskool | 05/26/04
Spin vs. reality  catlord17 | 05/26/04
For most, Linux is much cheaper. In some cases they might be about equal.  DonnieBoy | 05/26/04
I would go further.  doe_z | 05/26/04
The key is to use at least 5% Linux Desktop, or as much as you can.  DonnieBoy | 05/27/04
Reminds me of TV ads  STDog | 05/27/04
Ford: "Toyotas aren't cheaper!" (nt)  ryusen | 05/26/04
You know what is cheapest????  DonnieBoy | 05/26/04
basic math shows that MS is most costly OS ever  oldskool | 05/26/04
And then there is Fedora, Debian, Gentoo,...  Richard Flude | 05/26/04
Exactly: are companies buying Linux or a distro?  Anton Philidor | 05/27/04
Reply  MG_z | 05/27/04
Making a profit on open source.  Anton Philidor | 05/27/04
Re-read the "study" and your post  Richard Flude | 05/27/04
I think you nailed it...  Anton Philidor | 05/27/04
linux is better than windows in some ways  blahblahblah | 05/26/04
This is the wrong tactic  Linux_Developer | 05/26/04
Waaaa, Waaaa, Waaaa....  Da-Man | 05/27/04
Another INFOMERCIAL from Microsoft  George Mitchell | 05/27/04
Servers still are expensive, desktops called servers are cheap  oldskool | 05/27/04
Your point is???  MG_z | 05/27/04
Who Cares What You People Say!  Da-Man | 05/27/04
Proprietary SW was what makes IT work, turn the page  oldskool | 05/27/04
spare evengels...  ryusen | 05/27/04
5 years isn't long enough and assumptions are unknown  escoles@... | 05/27/04
excellent point, re-buying all the SW kills MS cost model  oldskool | 05/27/04
There is some truth  MG_z | 05/27/04
Simple Rules for Posting  jLindler | 06/10/04
Microsoft: Linux isn't cheaper  bear2bar@... | 05/27/04

What do you think?

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