Bonum Certa Men Certa

Leaked Microsoft Slides (2003): How to Win Against GNU/Linux

Summary: Microsoft's recognition of the GNU/Linux threat as shown in its internal, confidential presentations

WE have mountains of antitrust exhibits to show -- material that never reached any public attention because Microsoft settles quickly and buries evidence as part of the settlements. Today we deal with Comes vs. Microsoft Exhibit px07378 (2003) [PDF], from which wallclimber has managed to extract and reconstruct the main slides (high-resolution PNGs below). She could not salvage the entire text, but it was more than workable.



Internal documentation (intelligence) such as this proves truly valuable because it shows just how afraid Microsoft is of GNU/Linux, which Bill Gates calls the most potent competitor in operating systems. Apple is still a niche which targets mostly rich people, so surveys in developed countries alone do not tell the truth. In fact, in a recent presentation Steve Ballmer showed that globally, on the desktop, GNU/Linux market share is said to have exceeded Apple's.

There are many interesting portions to show in this latest exhibit, but here is some good material on GNU/Linux. From 2003 "IMPERATIVES" for example (highlight in red is ours):

FY 03 IMPERATIVES

* Drive Revenue & XP Excitement - Promote XP Software, Establish Products, Push to Professional+, Win Emerging * Turn the corner on Longhorn - Builds, alignment, execution * Earn the Trust of Our Customers, Partners, & Government - Community, closing the loop, compliance with SRPFJ * Win against Linux - Government, education, emerging * Invest in the Ecosystem - Metrics, roadmap, leadership * Develop People & Organization - Hires, communication, cross group, manager span, training

Challenges & Discussion * Winning Against Linux: government, education, enterprise, embedded * SRPFJ: OEMs hiding our innovations; Work to deliver, & comply * Dry spell coming in FY04 - revenue, annuity, competition * Emerging markets plan - Linux, other OSs, and piracy: ideas welcome * Improving sick ecosystem - quality, innovation, profit * Product segmentation - how many "premiums"? * Finding the right balance on legacy support * Making customer trust/connection a part of the culture * Piracy: How to make progress (and yet balance with Linux)


In the part about "COMPETITION", GNU/Linux comes before Apple and they use the TCO lie to fight against GNU/Linux.

COMPETITION Linux: Win in edu/gov't/emerging, prove lower TCO Apple: Partner w/ISVs/IHVs on scenarios, win digital media reviews/leadership Real: Maintain lead, broader/profitable ecosystem


A lot about media, DRM and also Palladium (Trusted Platform Module) is included in the full exhibit, which can be read as PDF or plain text below. A few slides were not reconstructed due to reading difficulties (the text is sometimes illegible due to scale, so reference to the original is better than a deficient translation).




Appendix: Comes vs. Microsoft - exhibit px07378, as text






________________________________________________ [Graphic: "OEM & HW Manufacturers" goes here]

Key points to make Innovation part of step function to drive needed volume

MS is the only one who cares about Windows-centricity

To rally industry around needed bold Innovaton, we need to message roadmap *much* earlier

While ODMs are a design aggregation point, we would prefer they not become a licensing aggregation point

OEMs play a different role than in the past - they now consist of channel partners and other PC brands and fulfill the role of customer touch rather than that of the platform innovator, however, technical engagement Is still required to create needed pull to ODMs.

Drive innovation for PC churn/market expansion/penetration Investments in quality such as OCA increase Windows value proposition to partners, end users

Investments in bold innovation to surf inflections

After market should not be an after thought. In conjunction with innovation we need to address aftermarket/incremental revenue streams in product development process

Make for frictionless Windows integration, increasing Windows criticality

Operating Margin chart Compaq: O.M. as reported by Compaq for its Access Business Group (commercial and consumer PCs, workstations, and handhelds) Dell: O.M. for commercial and consumer desktops, portables and workstations HP: Figures reported by HP for its personal and embedded systems group IBM: IBR estimates for IBM's PC business. we have removed the printing business from IBM's personal systems and printing group figures

Forward vertical integration Smaller ODMs are going direct to end users in targeted regions like Taiwan, larger ODMs don't want to compete directly with their customers Current turnkey or "no touch" ODMs: Wistron, Compal, Quanta, ECS

Progress on OCA OCA crash fixes tracking at 26% (goal 33% by SP1) From OCA crashes determined Dell was still shipping old nVidia image, causing 70k blue screens a month; working with Dell to fix

OPK improvements On track for covered OEMs -Componentization of the OS for ease of image creation, install and distribution -Imagability of the OS (both online and offline configuration) for creation, modification, and testing of the image -Full scriptability of the manufacturability tools suite complete with an SDK (Incl WinPE, Storage mgr, and updated scripting tool WH) -Total OS hardware independence (1 image for all models) -Reduction in the number of required SKUs/Images (HE/PRO become switches, Languages become optional components and hardware independence goes away with HAL PnP)

Additional examples of a much-needed OPK improvement -Automatic download of the latest QFEs which are seemlessly integrated into the preinstall process -Potentially have web "offers" that the OEMs can integrate into the preinstall from 3rd parties as well

Security/data protection after market programs suggestions -anti-virus packs -Palladium-related services -cross firewall management services

Home networking -Upsell of remote management -Management SW -Physical needs (note that UI will make the OS networking aspect transparent) -Demand marketing to push to high touch environments like Gateway stores, Best Buy etc.

Two ways to address IP Pooling. 1.Participate in industry pool where everyone pays to enter and then per unit cost. Not a good solution for Windows integration, but reasonable for a plus pack format. OEM channel would need to be set up to address integration of pack offerings. 2.We create the pool, offer TTM advantage, fee to enter for non-participants

30

Plaintiff’s Exhibit 7378 Comes v. Microsoft

MS-CC-Bu 000000180667 HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL




[Graphic: "Software Developers" goes here]

Software Developers

______________ [rectangle top left]

SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS

Situation Analysis

Lack of new investment in Windows client code No killer Windows XP apps/solutions Corporate trend away from client code Trending to "dumb clients" is slowing/reversing Competitors in rich client space growing Macromedia Flash, Java Unclear adoption trajectory Continued decline of retail SW, enterprise client deployments

[rectangle top right]

FY '03 Strategy & Big Bets Short Term Targeted efforts around Tablet and eHome Continuing w/ NET FX evangelism Enhancements to Windows Catalog ISV portal close the quality feedback loop

Longhorn Plan LH API is 100% managed code (exposed) Cohesive strategy built on NET to leapfrog competition reinvigorate client development Need to attack both technology and business model issues for ISV market Hardware acceleration requires quantum eap in IHV investment and stability Growing from Corp/LOB to ISV and Web Apps

[rectangle bottom left]

Taxonomy

End-user

Pro ISV MGI, Corel, Adobe, Intuit, Symantec Freeware and shareware

Siebel, SAP, Reuters, ABB

Corp Schwab, Barnes & Nobles, Ford

Corp IT apps MSMARKET, etc

Web Amazon, E- bay

[can't read this entry]

Content Encarta, CNet Yahoo Lycos Google

Gartner, Dow Jones, Source One

Games & Ent xxxxxgamer, Electronic Arts, xxxxxxxx, Disney

[rectangle bottom right]

Next Steps Events LH API Owners Offsite May 23/24 (brada) LH API Design preview end-September (lenop) PDC in April '03 (MCG/charlesf) Risks Align CLR drops with major LH dates (encr) Align storage integration/deliverables given recent reorganization/refocus (pcelis) Set strong date/priority message across teams (jimali) Investments not being made New Win32 or Trident work

Microsoft Confidential 6/12/2003 FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY 31 ______________________

Top 3 takeaways for bpr 1. Work in short term is minimal and not about new api's -- more about marketing/positioning. Even w/tablet and ehome, these are niche efforts for small segments of developers. 2. Longhorn API effort is all about managed code exposure. This creates conflict w/the "legacy" teams such as office, who want an unmanaged (exposed) solution, and solutions for issues like management/delivery for unmanaged code as well. 3. The CLR focus must move from LOB/Corp to also include Pro-ISV (ms internal as well as external consumer ISV) - this is a change and a challenge

31

MS-CC-Bu 000000180668 HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL




[Graphic: "Networking & Infrastructure" goes here]

Networking and infrastructure

______________________

NETWORKING & INFRASTRUCTURE

[top left rectangle]

Situation Analysis

Always-on wireless and broadband networking Paradigm shift to wide band wireless packet data Connectivity hampered by complexity, security, address shortage Optical technology leading to gigabit networking Broadband deployment stalled, blocked by lack of demand due to cost and lack of compelling scenarios Home networks still very difficult IM pervasive IP becoming signaling backbone - Carriers shifting to VoIP P2P applications spreading fast Enterprise Conferencing growing rapidly

[top right rectangle]

Big Bets

Secure end-to-end transparent communications - Authenticated, authorized, private and tamper proof communications between Windows systems - Implement Dist. RWs & IPv6 in end systems, Solve FW traversal Wireless - Always-on Nomadic (Wi-Fi, WAN, Wired) networking Roaming, Location, QoS, Power Management, soft Wi-Fi - Monitor & stimulate Wi-Fi hotspots everywhere: Public, Guest Communication and Collaboration - Establish Windows as the infrastructure platform for RTC - Enable presence-based multi-party multi-modal data conf - Telephony integration using SIP - Improved audio/video quality Ease of use and diagnostic enhancements - Reduce support calls and enhance user satisfaction by diagnosing & giving directed, actionable feedback to the user - Simplify Broadband Deployment; Painless internet connection, file sharing in the home

[lower left rectangle]

Key Ecosystem Metrics

Secure end-to-end transparent communications -Easy to deploy end-to-end security xx/xx Firewall/NAT issues -Get adoption of MS Client technologies IPv6 VPN DFW

Wireless -All laptops enabled for dual-band Wi-Fi, -90% of enterprises deploy Wi-Fi use 802 1X -Wi-Fi/WAN offering from a carrier in a very convenient

Communications and Collaboration Every PC ships with usable microphone and optional camera Every PC can have a phone number 80% of collab. apps. use Windows RTC/P2P APIs

Ease of use and diagnostic enhancements Reduce device related ODH issues by 50% Eliminate PSS calls w/r/t ICS & File sharing scenarios Windows Diagnoses 80% of network related failures

ISV ISP IHV NEP OEM

[lower right rectangle]

Risks/Issues

Blocked scenarios due to no clean short term firewall traversal solution Down-level platform support to drive adoption of new protocol initiatives. Resource shortage to pursue full plan given industry/technology trends. Particular concerns in Wireless, Networking ease of use, diagnostics Wi-Fi Hotspot efforts fragmented -Lotus SameTime, WebEx reach critical mass before MSFT is competitive Ecosystem Investigation Driving Enhanced distributed Service Provisioning on MSFT platforms

MICROSOFT CONFIDENTIAL 6/18/2003 FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY 32

______________________

32

MS-CC-Bu 000000180669 HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL




[Graphic: "Digital Media Ecosystem" goes here]

33

MS-CC-Bu 000000180670 HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL




[Graphic: "Digital Media Ecosystem Summaries" goes here]

digitalmediaecosys-summaries-small

______________________

DIGITAL MEDIA ECOSYSTEMS SUMMARIES

[top left rectangle]

Content

Situation $60B Industry threatened by file sharing / piracy Legislation & Copy protection drive content away from PCs Exponential growth in DM fueled by music Explosive DVD player & media sales Challenging business model for streaming media RealOne projected to hit 1M subscribers at CY02

FY03 Strategy & Big Bets Ensure Windows is central and valuable for content qwners Develop and promote subscription services based on WM Corona, Palladium Engagement in policy efforts short term, standards long term

Investments not being made Improved/competitive DRM for entertainment pre-longhorn Exclusive content rights and/or aggressive subscription offering

[bottom left rectangle]

Pro/Media ISVs/IHVs

Situation $8B industry migrating to more affordable, PC-based systems Expanded opportunity for Windows partnerships in response to competition from Apple Standards, Gov. mandates & non-MS DRM and CA

FY03 Strategy & Big Bets Grow the beachhead with Corona Hardware assisted encoding for real-time broadcast Continue to move upstream in content creation Investigate format alternatives for professional editing, interchange and archive (AVI, WAV, AAF)

Investments not being made Professional mastering

[top right rectangle]

Infrastructure Situation Broadband subs forecasted to grow >1000% to 130M by 05 Entrenched players and standards Global consolidation, commoditization and heavy debt

FY03 Strategy & Big Bets Win reference accounts in DSL, cable VOD Move CDNs caching vendors from xNIX to Windows Partner with outsourcing providers on NET services

Investments not being made Not building a VOD solution Not building a content management/CDN solution

[bottom right rectangle]

Consumer Electronics

Situation CE Industry projected up 3% to $98.7B for CY02 Entrenched and emerging standards - not PC friendly DVD upsurge ABM partnerships (Sony/Nokia/Real/AOL) Immature business models in VOD / Wireless Media CE Industry driving for home network control Commoditization / loss of IP control by CE companies (e.g. Phillips)

FY03 Strategy & Big Bets Ensure PC is central component in managing digital media on CE devices Ensure Windows provides enhanced DM experience for all connected devices Drive format and DRM adoption

Investments not being made Wireless Media Business Models & Standards Participation Media DRM stalled. No CA interop story yet Windows Media Brand development/broad WMA awareness PPC / Stinger Media Player

MICROSOFT CONFIDENTIAL 6/18/2003 FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY 34

______________________

WW Sales of recorded music fell 6.8% last year 1.6B consumer spend on burners, blank CDs & digital media players

Content sourced through file sharing and ripping v. subscription -Downloading music is number 1 digital media activity -Morpheus/Kazaa users >7M v. RealOne ~600K

34

MS-CC-Bu 000000180671 HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL




[Graphic: "FY03 Non-Financial Targets" goes here]

Non-financial

______________________

FY03 NON-FINANCIAL TARGETS

[top left rectangle]

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP/PERCEPTION

Maximize impact of Tablet PC, Freestyle, and Mira in FY 03 Knowledge workers (reading, annotations, collaboration) Consumers (digital media, home network) Developers (managed code, storage, presentation, programming model) Communications (wireless, RTC, peer to peer) DRM (software, content) PC Hardware (quality, innovation, low cost)

[middle left rectangle]

SHARED BETS

MSN 8 (MSN) Longhorn (Office, Server, MSN) Developer Platform (Visual Studio) Terminal Server/Projection (Xbox, Mira) Devices (Windows CE, MPD) Feedback Loop (Watson/OCA) for Microsoft, industry Microsoft Update (Office) -PRD for tools, education (Product teams)

[bottom left rectangle]

CUSTOMER

Methodical customer connection process by end FY03 Fix 33% of OCA/Watson issues by SP2 Fix all MSRC & major P1 security bugs by SP1, SP 2 Drive customer satisfaction to 60% with XP Windows XP IPU to .28, MPI to 70 Days to Solution (<7 Days) = 90% (80%) QFE Days to Hotfix - P1 = 14 days (43)

[top right rectangle]

KEY PRODUCT DELIVERABLES Windows 2000 SP 3 Q2 2002 Windows XP Refresh Q3 2002 Windows XP SP1, Freestyle, Tablet PC, Mira, Embedded SP 1 MSN 8 Q3 2002 Corona Q4 2002 Windows NET Server Q4 2002 Longhorn PDC Q2 2003 Windows XP SP2 Q2 2003

[top-middle right rectangle]

COMPETITION Linux: Win in edu/gov't/emerging, prove lower TCO Apple: Partner w/ISVs/IHVs on scenarios, win digital media reviews/leadership Real: Maintain lead, broader/profitable ecosystem

[lower-middle right rectangle]

ORGANIZATION

Single vision/priorities for Windows Client, make WinBLT an effective decision making body Fill critical positions OHI + 5% in communication, x-group, & connection Progress on org span by Oct people review

[bottom right rectangle]

ECOSYSTEM

All XP ingredients: >50% of market leading products DFW % of Pro Devs, targeting Win XP: 75% % of DFW drivers redist on WU: 50% % of DFW partners in OCA program: 60% WM format on Top 100 sites: 40% Top 4 NAT vendors support 6to4 (achieves 80% coverage)

MICROSOFT CONFIDENTIAL 6/18/2003 FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY 35

______________________

Guidelines

Purpose: Highlight the non-financial performance metrics/goals your business will be measuring in FY03. Assume that these metrics will be reviewed at the mid-year Scorecard Review next year.

Instructions: *Here are some ideas of things to include: - Thought Leadership

*Shared Bets - What investments are you making in support of key cross-company initiatives? - What will you deliver in the current fiscal year?

*Key Product Deliverables - Major product milestones/launches/important feature/product deliverables in FY03 - Product shipment dates - PSS/QFE response/service level commitments - Key trustworthy metrics (security, availability, privacy) - If acquisitions are a part of this process please discuss

*Customer Goals - Customer/product satisfaction goals - Support for communities - Important flagship customer situations *Organizational Goals - OHI, People goals and initiatives

35

MS-CC-Bu 000000180672 HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL




[Graphic: "FY01-FY05 Windows Client P&L" goes here]

36

MS-CC-Bu 000000180673 HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL




[Graphic: "FY 03 Imperatives" goes here]

[Contents of "FY 03 Imperatives" graphic as text: ************************************]

FY 03 IMPERATIVES

* Drive Revenue & XP Excitement - Promote XP Software, Establish Products, Push to Professional+, Win Emerging * Turn the corner on Longhorn - Builds, alignment, execution * Earn the Trust of Our Customers, Partners, & Government - Community, closing the loop, compliance with SRPFJ * Win against Linux - Government, education, emerging * Invest in the Ecosystem - Metrics, roadmap, leadership * Develop People & Organization - Hires, communication, cross group, manager span, training

Challenges & Discussion * Winning Against Linux: government, education, enterprise, embedded * SRPFJ: OEMs hiding our innovations; Work to deliver, & comply * Dry spell coming in FY04 - revenue, annuity, competition * Emerging markets plan - Linux, other OSs, and piracy: ideas welcome * Improving sick ecosystem - quality, innovation, profit * Product segmentation - how many "premiums"? * Finding the right balance on legacy support * Making customer trust/connection a part of the culture * Piracy: How to make progress (and yet balance with Linux)

MICROSOFT CONFIDENTIAL 6/18/2003 FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY 37

[************************************]

37

MS-CC-Bu 000000180674 HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL

________________________________________________

Credit: wallclimber

Comments

Recent Techrights' Posts

GNU/Linux Seen as Rising to 20% in Eritrea, But That's statCounter Identifying "Unknown" as GNU/Linux
What if statCounter managed to figure out what all those "unknowns" are?
 
Garrett Does Not Just Try to Cover Up for Himself, He's Clearly Covering Up for His Mates From Microsoft (and Admits Third Parties Fund His Litigation, With Their Legal Bills Estimates Already Approaching $1,000,000)
They have already sent us about 75 KG of legal papers. How is any judge supposed to keep up?
Richard Stallman in the United States - Part IV - Back to Switzerland
The "cancel mob" tried to "finish off" RMS 5 years ago
Dr. Richard Stallman in Ada Lovelace Lecture Series 20 Hours From Now in Lucerne School of Computer Science and Information Technology (Rotkreuz)
Well-connected and affluent corporations want everything to be controlled by them, ranging from culture to words and news
Threats Issued to Daniel Pocock Having Launched the JuristGate Web Site Which Covers Financial Fraud in "Legal Insurance" Clothing
Is our world governed by laws or by rich corporations (or nations/superpowers) with well-connected lawyers/politicians?
International Women's Day: At the EPO, for Women to Become Managers They Need to Sleep With Well-connected Men and Mingle With Corrupt Men
Sunday is International Women's Day
Dr. Richard Stallman Starts His Talks in Switzerland in 8 Hours
They try to assess how many people plan to attend to ensure everyone gets a seat (without compromising the privacy/identity of those attending)
IBM Red Hat Layoffs: It's Not About "AI"
"Automation" is not "AI", it's just a generic term which can describe jobs left for machines to do, sometimes computers
Microsoft Windows Used to be Identified on Over 99% of Web Requests From Benin. Now It's Around 50%.
Or a lot less
Microsoft 'Open' 'AI' Has Severe Financial Problems, Version Inflation ("GPT-5.4") is Mindless Hype and a Misleading Distraction
In practice, both users and sponsors of ChaffGPT are fleeing
The Techrights Static Site Generator (SSG) Turns 5 Next Year
It's still under active development in our Git servers
New XBox Boss (Sharma) Implicitly Confirmed XBox (the Console) is Now Dead
Vista 11 is now also known as "XBox"
Murder as a 'Joke' to GAFAM People (Sociopathy)
When it comes to Microsoft and Salesforce, they profit from this mentality
Microsoft ‘Project Helix’ is Just a Tweet in MElon's "X"
Some "tweet" is easy, as words are cheap
Microsofters' SLAPP Censorship - Part 4 Out of 200: Rianne’s Version of Events and Narrative
today we tell Rianne's experience
EPO Staff to 'Meet' This Coming Tuesday to Plan Industrial Actions Including Upcoming Strikes
using Microsoft spyware to organise this can be an own goal because Microsoft serves the dictators, not the union that tries to topple them
Thousands of EPO Workers Rally Against EPO Management
The staff is furious to see what became of the EPC and the EPO. This is not sustainable.
In Argentina Firefox is Measured at Only 1%, Google Chrome (Proprietary) at About 90%
And it has long been that way
IBM's March 2026 Layoffs Already Happening (to Accelerate Soon in Europe and America)
We're probably seeing some of the last years of IBM and it's anything but certain that IBM can survive the coming decade
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Thursday, March 05, 2026
IRC logs for Thursday, March 05, 2026
Gemini Links 05/03/2026: Industrial Panettone, Cancel, and LLMs
Links for the day
It's Not "AI", IBM is Collapsing Due to Financial Difficulties, "All Small Country Offices Will Close"
IBM is in trouble. Insiders know it.
"AI Companies" Running Out of Money, GAFAM Layoffs Are Signs of Weakness, Not "AI Efficiency" or Novelty
In the past, this term ("AI") had another meaning and connotation
Libel/Defamation Law Does Not Exist to Cover up Crimes
The projection tactics are nothing new
Myanmar/Burma: Growing Acceptance of GNU/Linux, Big Losses for Windows
GNU/Linux has come close to 5% there
Without IBM, Microsoft Would Not Have Taken Off. Both Companies Need to be 'Taken Down'.
Maybe it's time to boycott IBM as well
'Former' Red Hat Staff Upset That Techrights Covers IBM Accounting Problems
Are we touching a sensitive subject at IBM?
Ubuntu is Controlled by a Youngster From the British Army (Background in Mass Surveillance), So One Can Expect Ubuntu to Not Respect Privacy
"Canonical is aware of the legislation and is reviewing it internally with legal counsel"
IBM Hates Computer Freedom. This Means Red Hat Too is an Enemy of Software Freedom.
A summary of Fedora's position when it comes to "attestation"
IBM Union Says Many IBM Layoffs in Europe, With Netherlands and Belgium Confirmed, Allegedly Italy Soon (200 Layoffs)
IBM's demise will harm Red Hat and already harms Red Hat, according to whistleblowers
Microsoft and Microsoft's 'Open' 'AI' Seeking Bailout From the Pentagon Means Brand Erosion
Microsoft and its offshoots growing more and more dependent on military ("defence"; "Department of War") budget
Another EPO Strike a Fortnight From Now, Local Staff Committee Munich (LSCMN) Shares 127-Page Document Explaining How Policies Impact EPO Staff
The Office is circling down the drain
Microsofters' SLAPP Censorship - Part 3 Out of 200: A More In-Depth Breakdown
presents the narrative in a less chronological and more logically coherent fashion
2026 Seems Like (Potentially) the Last Year of Slop Drowning News Sites
Sites that do so perish [...] It's getting hard to find slop in news sites which cover "Linux" because many gave up
Links 05/03/2026: New LexisNexis Data Breach Confirmed, "Goldman Sachs Head During Financial Crisis Says He “Smells” a Similar Crash Coming"
Links for the day
"Silent Layoffs" or "Forever Layoffs" at IBM and Red Hat (After Bluewashing)
Like every day (all day long) we can see people who leave IBM and say something that's based on a 'script'
Free Software Foundation (FSF) and Others Promoting String of RMS Talks, Starting Tomorrow in Lucerne School of Computer Science and Information Technology
Well done, FSF!
Links 05/03/2026: A Bet Against Substack, American Government Openly Hostile Towards Environment
Links for the day
Gemini Links 05/03/2026: Greed and Sentiments Shifting Against Slop
Links for the day
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Wednesday, March 04, 2026
IRC logs for Wednesday, March 04, 2026
FSF Promoting Richard M. Stallman (RMS) Talk in Switzerland in Just Over a Day From Now
RMS may have more talks on the way
Why Slop Will Flop - Part IV - We've Seen the End of It
Some years ago they insisted blockchains would revolutionise everything
Android is Proprietary 'Linux' and It Becomes More Malicious Over Time, Google Only Delayed What It Planned All Along
Google is a proprietary software giant, GSoC is only a distraction and confusion
Links 04/03/2026: Scam Altman Causes Chatbot Sub Numbers to Plunge, "Stocks Drop as Inflation Risk Emerges"
Links for the day
Why Slop Will Flop - Part III - Our Relationship With Slop (and Yours)
I never - except inadvertently - "used" an LLM-based chatbot
Why Slop Will Flop - Part II - Devil in the Details
News sites or social control media sites which tolerate slop are digging their own grave
Simpler Means Faster
Do you know your bottlenecks?
Gemini Links 04/03/2026: About a Missing Symbol and "Good Manners"
Links for the day
The Register MS Takes Money From Chinese Surveillance Threat to Promote a Ponzi Scheme
"Sponsored by Huawei."
Nicaragua's GNU/Linux Usage Measured at Over 8% by statCounter
Nicaragua is a poor country, but it also has rich culture
Why Slop Will Flop - Part I - Slop Fatigue Prevalent
See, sooner or later people (audiences of colleagues) find out and as soon as they find out you are slopping, they will lose interest
Microsofters' SLAPP Censorship - Part 2 Out of 200: Detailed Timeline From 2012 (Attack on Reporters That Question Restricted Boot) to 2024 (Lawsuit Against Reporter and His Wife in Another Continent)
we reproduce a document produced 2 years ago to give people more context and more facts
Links 04/03/2026: "The EU moves to kill infinite scrolling" and a call to "Nationalize Amazon"
Links for the day
Coming Soon: Evidence of Abuse in Our IRC Network
IRC's freedom can sometimes be its 'weakness' if not properly guarded
High GNU/Linux Adoption in Brunei Darussalam
It's worth noting (or at least noticing) that Microsoft loses ground in some of the countries where the government contracts paid the most
Media Blackout Reducing or Preventing Press Coverage of Microsoft Layoffs in 2026
Worse yet, there will be gaslighting and deceit
GNU/Linux in Laptops/Desktops Still Matters, It's Likely the Only Way to Achieve Software Freedom
Software Freedom requires all sorts of things at the "OS level"
Gemini Links 04/03/2026: The Garnet Star, The Hunt, The SYN Attacks
Links for the day
The EPO's General Consultative Committee (GCC) Discussion Illuminates How Much Worse Things Have Gotten ("on Strike and Participated in the 'Meeting'")
a videoconference - not a physical meeting - discussed EPO policies
Free Software Foundation Supports Its Founder, Advertises His Talks in Switzerland
When you suppress voices, assuming the reasons for suppression are bunk, it is always bound to backfire very badly
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Tuesday, March 03, 2026
IRC logs for Tuesday, March 03, 2026