Comments

• Bruce Byfield

  2007-08-27 23:59:45

  I think you meant to write that you believe I am *unaware* of the deals.
  
  If so, apparently you have never considered that a middle ground exists between being mentally consumed by a threat and seeing no threat whatsoever.
  
  Another thing: an identity that is based on opposition to another group is an unstable one, unhealthy and stuck in a reactive mode. Personally, I'd like to see a less time in the free software community spent reacting to Microsoft and more spent building an alternative to it.

• Roy Schestowitz

  2007-08-28 00:14:45

  Bruce,
  
  Thanks, I've proofread the post (I usually put pace before polish) and I had spotted that "unaware" slip just before I read your comment.
  
  Being "mentally consumed by a threat" is what you get when you become intimately familiar with Microsoft's predatory past. I have read many memos from Comes vs Microsoft and I see patterns that repeat themselves. I try to share my assessment here and back my contentions using factual proof. If you find something erroneous with the assessment, be specific so that we can improve upon the knowledge that we have.
  
  

  Personally, I’d like to see a less time in the free software community spent reacting to Microsoft and more spent building an alternative to it.

  
  
  I strongly agree. However, as you certainly know, better products do not always win. Consider many of the standard wars, including Blu-ray and ODF. Money is being used to subvert and affect natural judgment. SCO is used as a bogus legal weapon to hinder adoption of Linux.
  
  Nice guys finish last. I hate this song title, but it's true. By no means do I suggest that Linux should stop being nice. We should become aware of the fact that a competitor does not play nice and understand how we can face this.

• Jared Spurbeck

  2007-08-28 23:47:00

  I find it important to keep track of Microsoft's dealings. They're tricky and malicious. The last thing we want is to fall into a trap, and they're _always_ trying to set traps for us. That's why I subscribed to your blog: It brings useful information to light.
  
  Reading it, though, I can't help but feel depressed. With the exception of Do-No-Evil Saturdays, it seems that all you report is bad news. Every day, more and more articles about evil people doing bad things, with the injunction that SOMEONE has to stop them but without any faith that they'll do so.
  
  Do you honestly believe good will win in the end? Or do you believe, as you said, that "nice guys finish last?"
  
  I don't know if Linux can beat Microsoft. Linux itself can't easily be killed, but Microsoft can still do a lot to stifle adoption of Linux. They can pass laws, create standards, and bribe international committees in order to lock the world into their technology. Just thinking about it makes me upset.
  
  Fury with Microsoft is how I got into Linux. I wanted to use anything other than Windows, and I didn't care what. But once there, I found something more than just anti-Microsoft sentiment and hard-to-install drivers. I found Ubuntu, and the message that they embody. I found a friendly, uplifting community and a real software alternative -- not just generic-brand Windows, like Linspire tries to be, but the future of desktop computing.
  
  I want to help stop Microsoft, by promoting something that's better. But I can't if I become so depressed that I decide it's impossible. That's why I am unsubscribing from your RSS feed.
  
  I hope things go well for you, and that you continue to help people to know what's going on. But I hope you don't become so convinced of evil's strength that you decide that their victory is inevitable.

• Roy Schestowitz

  2007-08-29 02:36:38

  I find it important to keep track of Microsoft’s dealings. They’re tricky and malicious. The last thing we want is to fall into a trap, and they’re _always_ trying to set traps for us. That’s why I subscribed to your blog: It brings useful information to light.

  
  
  Thanks, Jared.
  
  

  Reading it, though, I can’t help but feel depressed. With the exception of Do-No-Evil Saturdays, it seems that all you report is bad news. Every day, more and more articles about evil people doing bad things, with the injunction that SOMEONE has to stop them but without any faith that they’ll do so.

  
  
  If you read my postings elsewehere on the Web, you'll see that I advocate Linux directly (without necessarily mentioning 'opposition'). Shane created this site and I thought it could be used in a way similar to Groklaw. It is intended to describe the plots and debunk FUD. It's not necessarily fun reading, but if we remain unaware of the Big picture, we'll get backstabbed.
  
  

  Do you honestly believe good will win in the end? Or do you believe, as you said, that “nice guys finish last?”

  
  
  While I don't focus on these aspects in this blog, Microsoft is in a poor state at the moment, but it's very, very good at hiding it. Google and Free software are its greatest threats. IBM is another.
  
  

  I don’t know if Linux can beat Microsoft. Linux itself can’t easily be killed, but Microsoft can still do a lot to stifle adoption of Linux. They can pass laws, create standards, and bribe international committees in order to lock the world into their technology. Just thinking about it makes me upset.

  
  
  The dysphoric nature of the writings here is supposed not to invoke shock or hatred, but to bring awareness. I disagree with Bruce on this.
  
  

  Fury with Microsoft is how I got into Linux. I wanted to use anything other than Windows, and I didn’t care what. But once there, I found something more than just anti-Microsoft sentiment and hard-to-install drivers. I found Ubuntu, and the message that they embody. I found a friendly, uplifting community and a real software alternative — not just generic-brand Windows, like Linspire tries to be, but the future of desktop computing.

  
  
  I firmly believe that GNU/Linux is better for getting one's work done, but it depends on the field one is in. To many, it's about becoming the early adopters and demanding change. It's about compromises and ambitions.
  
  

  I want to help stop Microsoft, by promoting something that’s better. But I can’t if I become so depressed that I decide it’s impossible. That’s why I am unsubscribing from your RSS feed.

  
  
  That's perfectly fine. The information that is posted here is intended to provide insight into areas that are scarcely explored by others. If you ever wish to know more about the story, then stop by. :-)
  
  

  I hope things go well for you, and that you continue to help people to know what’s going on. But I hope you don’t become so convinced of evil’s strength that you decide that their victory is inevitable.

  
  
  Apathy and complacency are too dangerous. OSI, OOXML, and Linux deals are too hard to ignore. By telling the other side of the story, we can balance people's judgment. I know about several journalists who read this site regularly. If we broaden their perspective, then we achieve something.