04.14.09
Then They Lie, Then They Fight You, Then They Choose Your Products
“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.”
David Gerard said,
April 15, 2009 at 11:45 am
Actual photo of the entrance of Zune HQ. Note that all the iPods in the bin are (a) new (b) the same generation.
paul (the unverified) said,
April 16, 2009 at 2:12 pm
I know. MS should get Seinfeld to do a commercial about using MS’s search engine. I hear that Seinfeld is really a funny guy.
Roy Schestowitz said,
April 16, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Not really. That would be Larry David.
David Gerard said,
April 16, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Bob Hope!
sankaran said,
April 16, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Hi Roy,
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 Reply:
April 16th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
sankaran,
Done. I hope it did not seem offensive in any way.
sankaran Reply:
April 16th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
No, it was good actually
Roy Schestowitz Reply:
April 16th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Ah, OK. I assumed people would get the reference.
sankaran Reply:
April 16th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
And thanks for such a superfast response, you rock
David Gerard said,
April 16, 2009 at 2:32 pm
“First they fight you
Then they laugh at you
Then they ignore you
Then you lose.”
- the reverse-Gandhi as done by SCO
sankaran said,
April 16, 2009 at 2:39 pm
I got the actual quote from the following link
http://www.quotedb.com/quotes/2776
paul (the unverified) said,
April 16, 2009 at 6:51 pm
@D Gerard and Roy
Great ref to Larry David, Roy and a thoroughly amusing link (Bob Hope), Dave.
Thanks guys.