Microsoft's Profits Down Sharply, Microsoft's FUD Up Sharply

Dr. Roy Schestowitz

2009-04-24 11:03:14 UTC
Modified: 2009-04-24 11:06:58 UTC

Summary: Reaffirmation of Microsoft's problems comes from its sympathisers; Microsoft FUD ensues

MICROSOFT'S ATTACKS on its competitors are peaking. Apple too is target, but we focus mostly on Free software, GNU/Linux in particular.

Like a cornered animal (with net earnings down 32% [1, 2], as now confirmed even by the pro-Microsoft press), Microsoft turns vicious and merciless. It's not only suing Linux but it slanders it also. We'll get to a couple of prominent examples in a moment. But first, regarding the possibility of more Microsoft layoffs [1, 2, 3], Mary Jo Foley wrote about it last night:

1. Are there more layoffs coming, beyond the 5,000 announced earlier this year? One Seattle analyst predicted that there would be. A number of Microsoft employees have been walking on eggshells the past week or two in anticipation that more cuts would be announced, possibly today.

We are aware that Microsoft is encouraging its employees to go to ZDNet and comment sympathetically about Microsoft and here is Mary Jo being told off by some incognito ZDNet commenter for expressing her views amid these hard times for Microsoft.

FUD Machine

To give examples of outright FUD, one of the many publications that are in Microsoft's pocket (almost literally) is MSNBC. Watch how Microsoft may be using this 'news' platform to attack Android right now, despite the fact that Android has been doing exceptionally well and Google's CEO was bullish about it after the good financial report earlier this month. MSNBC's angle is characteristically Linux- and Google-hostile, so it focuses only on the number of devices running Android. It's the art of selective statistics. The rebuttal to it would go like: "iPhone too is only one phone, but Android has many phone lined up for release and it already sells well."

Another new piece of FUD comes from Rob Enderle, who is very close to Microsoft [1, 2, 3, 4]. Due to the intimacy between Enderle and Microsoft, it's not worth linking to his latest slanderous attack on GNU/Linux, but Groklaw has already explained:

In short, this is just FUD, or maybe hopeful dreaming on Enderle's part, and as written, I'd say it's going absolutely nowhere.

What next? Enderle has already beaten the SCO drum, then the TomTom drum. Now he opportunistically spins the Oracle deal. This FUD typically comes from Microsoft itself but never directly because it would be bad for PR. ⬆

'"Independent" analyst's report should be issued, praising your technology and damning the competitors (or ignoring them). "Independent" consultants should write columns and articles, give conference presentations and moderate stacked panels, all on our behalf (and setting them up as experts in the new technology, available for just $200/hour).'

--Microsoft, internal document [PDF]

Comments

Roy Schestowitz

2009-04-24 12:15:15

Another new example of FUD (from IDG):

"Intel CPU cache poisoning: dangerously easy on Linux"
"By Microsoft Subnet on Wed, 04/22/09 - 11:17am."

"Note: The following post is a guest blog submitted to Microsoft Subnet by a security expert who wished to remain anonymous."

Needs Sunlight

2009-04-24 14:46:11

The SMM hole busts Windows wide open:

http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/security/?p=1130

http://theinvisiblethings.blogspot.com/2009/03/attacking-smm-memory-via-intel-cpu.html

It's just that with the successful release of Jaunty Jackalope, MS' astroturfers are trying rather pathetically to find some way to steal the thunder.

Roy Schestowitz

2009-04-24 14:52:11

David Gerard wrote about this humourously:

"Microsoft snatches publicity crown from Ubuntu Linux"

"However, Microsoft has indicated to its press corps, Microsoft Completely Enderlependent Analysts, to ixnay on the evensay and highlight the job openings for work on Windows 8, firmly penciled in for a 2012 release. Windows 8 will be optimised for low-end 32-core systems with a mere 16 gigabytes of memory — 28 cores for the interface, 3 cores for the DRM and one core for everything else. “Seven is just so this year. I hear they’ll get $DATABASE_FILESYSTEM done next release for sure!” said ZDNet marketing marketer Mary-Jo Enderle. “It’ll be awesome™!”"
Roy Schestowitz

2009-04-24 20:43:12

Little update:

Given Heise's high-quality reporting, it's disappointing to see it parroting the FUD.

Roy Bixler

2009-04-24 21:41:57

And here's a comment on their story:

Smok Wawelski 23 April 2009 12:44 This is FUD

Did the "anonymous security expert" bother to read the Rutkowska's & Wojtczuk's paper?

"Of course on different systems than Linux, e.g. Windows, one doesn't have such a convenient access to /proc/mtrr pseudo-file. This is however only a minor technicality, as one can very well modify the MTRRs mapping using the standard WRMSR instructions."
Roy Schestowitz

2009-04-24 21:44:04

Well, at least nobody is embarrassed because “anonymous security expert” has no name.

twitter

2009-04-25 03:03:28

I wonder how the MicroSerfs can get any work done. With so few contractors doing actual software work, and so many fewer full time M$ people around, Vista 7 workers can't have much time to chat on line.

Microsoft's Profits Down Sharply, Microsoft's FUD Up Sharply

FUD Machine

Comments

"Intel CPU cache poisoning: dangerously easy on Linux"

"Microsoft snatches publicity crown from Ubuntu Linux"

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