“They’ll get sort of addicted, and then we’ll somehow figure out how to collect sometime in the next decade.”

--Bill Gates

WHEN will people finally understand the harms of 'free samples'?

MICROSOFT will rip an estimated $70 million out of the aged care sector's IT budget over the next 18 months as it forces users to pay full commercial rates for previously discounted software.

Aged care providers are shocked by Microsoft's decision to revoke their not-for-profit status, which gave them access to its products at a heavily discounted rate. As a result, Microsoft's Office, Sharepoint and SQL server products are firmly entrenched in the sector's IT infrastructure.

Microsoft did the same thing to British charities last year. It needs money -- and fast. We previously mentioned what it had begun doing in China [1, 2]. They too are annoyed with this 'trial version' ending and a second lawsuit has just come to light.

A second Chinese man has filed a lawsuit against Microsoft demanding it remove a notice from his computer accusing him of using illegally copied software.

Even Chinese officials have woken up.

Now, vice-director of China's National Copyright Administration, Yan Xiaohong has cast aired doubts over Microsoft tactics.

Microsoft is losing a lot of money in terms of overall value and bank balance. It has begun squeezing users and customers. Now is the time to escape to Free(dom) software. ⬆

Let the people roam