"First They Ignore You, Then They Ridicule You, Then They Fight You."
--Mahatma Gandhi
Summary: Phases of an ongoing Microsoft crisis, in detail
HOW CAN ONE tell that Microsoft stands on its last leg?
Well, there are many yardsticks one can use, but one of them is a purely behavioural one. Microsoft employees, for example, are attacking competitors out in the open right now. It's not just quick smears but also well-orchestrated smears that are managed and planned by groups of seniors in an air-conditioned office. How about Microsoft's attacks on Apple (e.g.
'Apple tax', which was mentioned the other day) and similar ones against GNU/Linux (e.g. the
sub-notebooks lies, mostly seeded by Microsoft/NPD/IDG)? Here is
another post on this subject.
Despite these attacks (including
notorious lawsuits against Linux),
Microsoft is pretending that everything is cool. Quoting from this story,
writes Tony O'Bryan:
Subject: Lying Sack of Offal
> [Sam Ramji] said that Microsoft's commitment to delivering compatibility with open source software is largely driven by user demand.
Any interoperability between Microsoft and FOSS comes from two sources:
1) Very hard work by FOSS developers despite unceasing interference, antagonism, and threats from Microsoft.
2) The butt-kicking Microsoft has received from the only government on Earth with the guts to protect its citizens from Microsoft: the E.U.
It seems that a prerequisite for working at Microsoft is the ability to lie without flinching.
It wasn't long ago that Sam Ramji lied about the GPL and got caught.
So, Microsoft is not only fighting quite aggressively against GNU/Linux but it also relies on deception and ignorance. Who could blame Microsoft? Its Windows franchise
shows signs of crumbling not only due to cost (Windows is now
as cheap as a few bucks because of fierce competition from GNU/Linux).
Microsoft moving XP into reduced-support phase on Tuesday
[...]
The move out of mainstream and into extended support also comes just days after a leaked Microsoft memorandum spelled out a relaxation of the rules for computer makers that want to continue selling new PCs with the aging operating system.
OEMs will be allowed to advertise new systems as XP PCs, something that hasn't been allowed since June 2008, and can "downgrade" a license for Windows 7 -- the operating system that hasn't yet been released -- to XP for at least six months after Windows 7's launch.
That in its own right is bad and it shows that Microsoft anticipates problems with Vista 7 [
1,
2,
3].
Lastly, how can one tell that Microsoft is close to giving up? Approximately half (or more) of its employees
choose the competition's product.
Half Of Microsoft Employees Use Google To Search Web
Forget about selling Live Search to the American public—Microsoft is struggling to get its own employees to use the search engine.
This is also
covered here. Shall Steve Ballmer ever have his wish granted, his employees might struggle to get work done.
⬆
"I'm going to f---ing kill Google."
--Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO (quote from Sydney Morning Herald)
"Every time you use Google, you're using a machine running the Linux kernel."
--Chris DiBona, Google
Comments
paul (the unverified)
2009-04-16 23:51:27
Great ref to Larry David, Roy and a thoroughly amusing link (Bob Hope), Dave.
Thanks guys.
sankaran
2009-04-16 19:30:25
Why did you put Gandhiji's photo there? Please put the exact quotation what Gandhi told below Gandhiji's photo
Thanks for an excellent post
Roy Schestowitz
2009-04-16 19:40:59
Done. I hope it did not seem offensive in any way.
sankaran
2009-04-16 19:42:07
Roy Schestowitz
2009-04-16 19:44:02
sankaran
2009-04-16 19:43:04
David Gerard
2009-04-16 19:32:28
- the reverse-Gandhi as done by SCO
sankaran
2009-04-16 19:39:49
http://www.quotedb.com/quotes/2776
David Gerard
2009-04-16 19:22:35
Roy Schestowitz
2009-04-16 19:18:40
paul (the unverified)
2009-04-16 19:12:33
David Gerard
2009-04-15 16:45:31