And that is one of the things that scares Microsoft. They are well aware that problems which show up in Free Software projects are usually fixed quicker than problems that show up in Closed Software projects. This is why Apple has based OSX on one of the BSD variants, it cuts down on the amount of work they have to do, and problems with the Free Software part are fixed very quickly.

Desktop BSD is really nice, I’ve been playing with it for the last week. It’s a lot more stable than Windows XP, and runs in hardware that neither XP nor Vista would run well on.

I have some links about Vista causing hard-drive damage and there’s also this:

Windows Vista’s Constant HD Activity Craziness
http://texhex.blogspot.com/2007/11/windows-vistas-constant-hd-activity.html

Under the hood, Vista 7 is just Vista, so nothing has changed.

Note: comment arrived from a witch hunter that does not even use GNU/Linux.

(Note: lame disclaimer text was pasted by someone who spends massive amounts of time criticizing software he doesn’t even use)

This is what I call poetic justice

Feel free to actually answer my comments at your leisure, BTW, instead of doing this.

Note: comment arrived from a witch hunter that does not even use GNU/Linux.

Wal-mart is not likely to go out of business solely because of anything Microsoft might do or not do, but Wal-mart’s investors really would not be happy to antagonize Microsoft and suffer the retributory consequences.

In the future, if Linux uptake and the add-on market prove to be very successful, Wal-mart could really help pain Microsoft, but this surely wasn’t the case back years ago, especially while Bush was in the White House.

As for dependency at Wal-Mart, it’s Wal-Mart that depends on Microsoft. Many large OEMs have complained that they are left with no choice but to accept Microsoft’s margins, or else they go out of business.

See Comes vs Microsoft for details and proof.

Why ask the obvious?

Microsoft is working with it’s dealers to tune the market properly. Anyone that doesn’t play along suffers serious disadvantages as Monopolysoft withholds competitive deals from them.

What is confusing me is exactly what did Roy say that you think was way wrong and got you so upset?

I believe Microsoft has partnered with Wal-mart on large POS contracts and maybe in other major ways (Wal-mart does sell Windows PCs) since the time the Xandros machines were introduced years ago.

Wal-mart plays hardball. They can get major brand names to sign contracts completely not in the best interests of those suppliers. Certainly, they “push around” many small vendors and non-monopolists. Whether Linux was working out or not, Wal-mart does stand to gain by giving the impression Linux is succeeding.

However, Wal-mart has much potential on the line when it comes to Microsoft’s markets (see quote at bottom). Wal-mart depends on Microsoft more than vice-versa, partly because of the huge potential gains in future partnerships but also because Microsoft supplies very important business goods for Wal-mart’s own internal use as a business.

Wal-mart is not a monopolist except in small scattered markets. They don’t quite have the leverage Microsoft has. To Microsoft, Wal-mart is just another retailer. Microsoft won’t sell many fewer licenses without Wal-mart. Microsoft can reach just about everyone they otherwise might reach specifically through Wal-mart. Conversely, Wal-mart needs Microsoft to be able to tap even a little bit into the huge Windows-based markets.

Roy’s piece also specifically mentioned influences that were brought to bear to some extent (carrots it appears) on Microtel, which is a much much smaller company than either Microsoft or Walmart and does rely heavily on PC sales. [Is this them: http://www.spoke.com/info/c36CPEM/MicrotelComputerSystemsInc ?]

So…

Of this entire blog piece, what fraction of the content, if any, would you say you disagree with? I can’t figure it out.

Do you disagree with this? …

>> today’s antitrust evidence comes from 2006 and it reflects on things that were happening behind the scenes when the press was totally unaware.

[Maybe Roy meant that almost all (or all) of the press was not reporting and most might not have been aware.]

or how about this? …

>> In other words, the “task” is to suffocate or destroy GNU/Linux.

This maybe? …

>> “Luke is concerned that Microsoft is mad at them for selling Linux PCs.” Is that retaliation at play? Let’s remember that those who don’t choose Microsoft have the Microsoft executives yell “cut those fuckers off” and then sue them for something.

Do you disagree with any of the fact-based quotes?

This? …

>> [Wal-mart is] currently working on a way to offer additional software bundles with all of their PCs (like Office, Anti-Virus, etc.)

>> Luke [a major Wal-mart exec] is concerned that Microsoft is mad at them for selling Linux PCs.

>> [Luke] wanted to make sure that we knew that http://www.wal-mart.com is very “pro-Microsoft”

Gentoo User, I have to imagine you agree almost entirely with Roy’s posting, right? [maybe I just misunderstood you when I thought you were greatly disappointed]

>> Other than your groupies, no one who reads this would even for a second buy the premise that Microsoft somehow pressured Wal-Mart into anything, sorry.

Hmmm. I’m not sure what motivated that remark.

You’re just taking advantage of the relative crudity of these internal documents and spinning up their real meaning.

Other than your groupies, no one who reads this would even for a second buy the premise that Microsoft somehow pressured Wal-Mart into anything, sorry.

Note: comment arrived from a witch hunter that does not even use GNU/Linux.

It’s a combination of their unabashed faith in an unregulated free market and of the influence that Microsoft brought to bear.

“Free market” is an Orwellian term. It has little to do with freedom and the few with liberty to abuse may cause more harm while stifling real “innovation”

MSFT sank to $17 today. Layoffs are now confirmed too.