EditorsAbout the SiteComes vs. MicrosoftUsing This Web SiteSite ArchivesCredibility IndexOOXMLOpenDocumentPatentsNovellNews DigestSite NewsRSS

01.12.10

Microsoft to Rent the Software It’s Already Renting to Fight GNU/Linux Adoption

Posted in Free/Libre Software, GNU/Linux, Office Suites, OpenOffice, Vista 7, Windows at 1:27 pm by Dr. Roy Schestowitz

Summary: Microsoft’s lowering of the cost of Windows and Office is a sign that GNU/Linux is gaining

LAST night we wrote about Microsoft’s dumping of Office and Vista 7. They are trying to block GNU/Linux and OpenOffice.org adoption [1, 2, 3, 4] in all sorts of nefarious ways.

The Microsoft boosters from ZDNet and CNET have just stated that Microsoft will allow “renting” of Office and Vista 7, but perhaps they fail to understand that this already is rental; that’s what proprietary software with licences to run binary code is all about. They should read the EULA.

Here is what Directions on Microsoft (which we mentioned yesterday for its Microsoft boosting) had to say about this development:

Until Microsoft added this option, DeGroot said, Microsoft really only had the option of threatening to shut down a business or potentially pushing rental businesses toward Linux and OpenOffice.

That seems like a symbolic move which shows just how concerned Microsoft has become about significant gains of Free software on the desktop. Here is another new story (from yesterday) about a man who rejects Vista 7 and decides to abandon Microsoft altogether. He will be moving to GNU/Linux, not the Hype Company.

Freeing myself from the vile clutches of Microsoft

I’ve decided that Windows 7 holds absolutely no appeal for me. According to what I’ve heard, most of the new and “improved” features gear more towards people who couldn’t handle Vista or otherwise just don’t know how to use a PC. Plus, I’ve also read that it has the same software compatibility issues as Vista does, so that’s no good. And, lastly, $120 USD for an upgrade to the HOME version is friggin’ ridiculous, especially in this economy. So, I’m officially working on leaving Microsoft.

It is stories like this which make Microsoft nervous. It knows better than anyone else what is really happening because Windows reports to Microsoft which programs are installed (that’s a verified fact), maybe even which partitions.

“I’m not one of those who think Bill Gates is the devil. I simply suspect that if Microsoft ever met up with the devil, it wouldn’t need an interpreter.”

InfoWorld Editor Nicholas Petreley

Share this post: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Reddit
  • co.mments
  • DZone
  • email
  • Google Bookmarks
  • LinkedIn
  • NewsVine
  • Print
  • Technorati
  • TwitThis
  • Facebook

If you liked this post, consider subscribing to the RSS feed or join us now at the IRC channels.

Pages that cross-reference this one

11 Comments

  1. TheTruth said,

    January 12, 2010 at 1:53 pm

    Gravatar

    “Freeing myself from the vile clutches of Microsoft
    I’ve decided that Windows 7 holds absolutely no appeal for me. According to what I’ve heard, most of the new and “improved” features gear more towards people who couldn’t handle Vista or otherwise just don’t know how to use a PC. Plus, I’ve also read that it has the same software compatibility issues as Vista does, so that’s no good. And, lastly, $120 USD for an upgrade to the HOME version is friggin’ ridiculous, especially in this economy. So, I’m officially working on leaving Microsoft.

    http://evilgenius180.wordpress.com/2010/01/11/freeing-myself-from-the-vile-clutches-of-microsoft/

    WOW ROY, thats great, testimonial from someone that has admitted they never even USED the product.

    “According to what I’ve heard,” ***********hearsay

    “Plus, I’ve also read that it has the same software compatibility issues ”

    WOW how indepth reporting you do ROY,, what a joke, if all you can do is quote troll who admit they have no experience with the product in question.

    But FUD is enough for you to post your bile as “true”.

    WHAT A JOKE ROY..

    I’ve read that Roy of BN is a troll, lies and fabricates stories to suit his own propaganda.

    I’ve heard that all the people who support BN want to destroy FOSS.

    A little fairy told me the earth is flat, and we all live on the back of a giant turtle flying through space.

    Gee ROY, are you having trouble finding actual FACTS these days ??

    Scraping the bottom of the barrel for you’re own unique brand of hate and FUD..

    What do you think thinks like this do to you credability? do you think anyone reading this will not see it for what it is.

    Some fool who has never used Win 7, but makes comments about it, with no actual knowledge. They admit they do not use it, and that the information they are stating as FACT is just what he has read.

    gee, ROY, Im sure I could find millions of quotes about you ROY, that I could quote, or that I have “heard” or “read” about you…

    You’re a pathological liar ROY, seems you’re own EGO, has gotten in the way of ANY intelligence you may of had.

    As for you’re credability, what credability you have NONE…

    Again, how does it feel to be the laughing stock of the FOSS world?

    You’re a joke ROY… Get a job, and a life…

  2. wallclimber said,

    January 12, 2010 at 5:00 pm

    Gravatar

    Dear “TheTruth,”

    I do hope you are feeling better after getting that rant out of your system. Roy’s BN post apparently caused you to spew some pent up frustrations.

    However, allowing your discussions to degrade into insults and name calling seems counter productive, not to mention childish.

    Here’s some truth for you. The days of Windows being on the majority of computers are not over, yet. I think we all understand that quite well.

    However, the days when Windows was the ONLY system installed on those computers are definitely, and permanently, gone. I don’t know anyone anymore that doesn’t dual boot, at the very least, or run Windows as a guest VM on a GNU/Linux host (if they must run Windows at all).

    Truly, people’s patience has begun to wear very thin with Microsoft’s over-priced and over-hyped products, as well as with their overbearing, mean-spirited, ugly business practices (and I’m being kind, here). The world’s gotten tired of it and is moving on.

    Microsoft is losing the battle, and when they’ve faded away into history, they probably won’t be missed.

    Now, please, get some rest and try not to get so overwrought, it’s surely bad for your health. :)

    Roy Schestowitz Reply:

    It’s “MUTEX” having another tantrum. You should see his verbal, highly vulgar attacks on me.

    Robotron 2084 Reply:

    Your post highlights what I enjoy most about folks like you. To me, the behavior and devotion of Linux zealots is far more amusing than Christians. Why? Because I stand a good chance of still being alive to see that your beliefs and predictions didn’t pan out. I’m truly going to enjoy your disappointment after years of telling other people your version of “the truth”.

    Your fifth paragraph shows the source of the problem. Your little world is radically different than reality. You’ve plugged yourself in with people like Roy who are just like you. What you haven’t yet realized, unlike investors who dumped millions into worthless on-line companies, dead teenagers who hung themselves after MySpace postings, and disappointed Ron Paul voters, is that the Internet is like the mirror on the passenger’s side of the car. What you see is a distorted, modified version of reality. You aren’t seeing the world as a whole.

    Regardless of being right or wrong, I’m willing to say you can’t unplug from the world you cherish so much because you really have nowhere else to turn. Linux zealotry provides the meaning that your life has lacked for so long and you really aren’t equipped to do without it. I’d say that’s more serious than having to read a few on-line insults from Mutex.

  3. Dennis Murczak said,

    January 12, 2010 at 5:36 pm

    Gravatar

    Wild accusations without any attempt to bring up an actual argumentation. That’s kindergarten level. You owe me three wasted minutes of my live, TheTruth!

    Robotron 2084 Reply:

    Never mind the comments. If you are a regular reader of this site, I’d say we’ve all lost more than just 3 minutes on the articles alone.

    Mikko Reply:

    Wow 2 trolls at the same time

  4. TheTruth said,

    January 12, 2010 at 9:22 pm

    Gravatar

    Nice “reporting” ROY LOL.. and to you duty guard dog, wallclimber,,, You’re welcome..

    your_friend Reply:

    You seem to always be on duty, harassing people here every day. Don’t you have something else to do?

    dyfet Reply:

    Perhaps it’s also his day job, so to speak. Certainly there are plenty of paid astro-turfers. It is amazing what some people will do for money.

  5. Robotron 2084 said,

    January 13, 2010 at 1:15 am

    Gravatar

    “The Truth” beat me to one of the problems with this article, so I’ll bring up another.

    Per usual, Roy likes to insert quotes, often out of context themselves, at the beginning or end of each article. The article itself criticizes Microsoft, so Roy sees nothing wrong with including a quote from someone doing the same, even if the author didn’t intend to comment on the subjects mentioned. Just another way to add insult to injury. There is a reason you won’t find this tactic used with any legitimate (think print) publications.

    For the record, Nicholas Petreley hasn’t been an editor at InfoWorld for a very long time and when he was only working for the “test center” division. He founded an on-line magazine called LinuxWorld in 1998. Why are we not surprised? I bet it didn’t take him long to think of the name.

    source: http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/au/2076

What Else is New


  1. The Reality Distortion Field of Patent Lawyers Helps Impede Abolition of Software Patents

    How widespread coverage and talking points from the tiny minority which is patent lawyers have contributed to biased and at times utterly distorted reporting on the subject of software patents around the world



  2. Eugene Kaspersky Says Patents Harm Innovation

    Some more criticism of the patent system and software patents in particular, courtesy of Eugene Kaspersky



  3. UEFI Restricted Boot Good for Microsoft Agenda, Not for Security

    News and analysis of UEFI 'secure boot' (lockdown), including the new role played by the Microsoft-funded SUSE



  4. Anniversaries

    Sites that deal with patents and with FUD as well as their respective ages



  5. EFF, Newegg, and the Canadian Patent System All Take a Stance Against Software Patents

    Hostility towards the practice of patenting software is seen in a nonprofit organisation, a corporation, and a government branch responsible for patenting



  6. Microsoft's Fake 'Open Source' Front is "Pushing Software Patents" (Updated)

    Microsoft's front group which pretends to support Free/Open Source software (FOSS) is using a guest post to entertain the idea of software patents inside Free/Open Source software



  7. Links 17/5/2013: 0.9 Billion Android Activations, New Devices, Android Studio

    Links for the day



  8. Links 16/5/2013: Firefox 21 Out, Android 4.3 Foreseen

    Links for the day



  9. More Android FUD From Former Microsoft Staff in CBS

    New examples of anti-Android sentiments being spread by the Apple- and Microsoft-funded media conglomerate, CBS, which pays current and former Microsoft staff to act as "journalists"



  10. Where Fear of FOSS Comes From

    More Microsoft ties to some of the latest FUD about Free/Open Source software (FOSS)



  11. Microsoft Skype Messaging Surveillance Not the Main Issue, Audio Recording (Bugging) and Computer Hijacking Are

    Debates about the dangers of Skype focus on one of the least dangerous aspects of Skype



  12. Links 15/5/2013: Android 4.3, Antergos Debuts

    Links for the day



  13. Man From Microsoft Runs the Ubuntu Project Now

    How the leadership of Ubuntu has changed and how it may relate to some strategic decisions inside the project



  14. Has Microsoft Irreversibly Taken Over ZDNet (CBS) to Disseminate Its Lies?

    ZDNet promotes Microsoft in the editorial sections, not just in the ads, and it employs Microsoft people who habitually also censor commenters for expressing views that may upset the customers (advertisers like Microsoft)



  15. Microsoft is Attacking Boston Over Brand Ideology

    Another hypocritical attack of Microsoft against Google, this time in Boston



  16. Software Patents Reality Distortion Field

    How press coverage of software patents in the EU and New Zealand (NZ) varies depending on the source; allegations that the US press tries to dismiss end of software patents by twisting an outcome of a major trial



  17. Links 14/5/2013: Android Growth Explosion

    Links for the day



  18. Links 13/5/2013: New Linux/Open Source Documentary, Lots More About International Space Station

    Links for the day



  19. Prominent GNU/Linux/KDE Developer Jonathan Riddell Complains About UEFI Restricted Boot, Calling it "a giant Microsoft conspiracy to make installing Linux more faffy than it already is."

    UEFI abuses continue, but Microsoft PR, lies, and attempts to silence the media go a long way, ensuring evidence gets insufficient coverage



  20. Facebook and Microsoft Get Closer, Now Reaching Their Relationship's Peak as Facebook Declines

    Facebook starts leaning on Microsoft for help now that its users (products) no longer log in and give data (content) to consume advertisements (Facebook's real clients) as much as they used to



  21. Dr. Ravitch: Gates Foundation Underwrites Almost Every Organisation in its Quest to Control American Education

    More complaints about yet more rogue influence that is masqueraded as "public interest" or "for education" (whilst in fact having the opposite effect)



  22. Formerly Microsoft, But New FUD

    Microsoft FUD by proxy; or, how the old claims that FOSS is complex and dangerous are now coming from firms created by people from Microsoft Corp.



  23. Matt Asay is Wrong, Microsoft Does Sue (SLAPP Action), Doesn't Just Threaten

    Misleading article helps portray the aggressor as a negotiator, using patently false claims that are easily disprovable



  24. Todd Simpson From Mozilla Joined an Angry Patent Troll, IBM Tries to Warp Debate About Software Patents to Focus Just on Trolls

    Revisiting the stance of FOSS proponents on software patents and patent trolls; Mozilla, IBM, Red Hat, and Nokia (also before Microsoft takeover) discussed



  25. Unitary Patent Impediments Covertly Addressed by EU Member Governments

    The UK is modifying its law to accommodate takeover of national interests by foreign interests which may usher in software patents among other nasty elements of protectionism (primarily exported by multinational corporations from across the Atlantic ocean)



  26. Software Patents May Have Just Died in the United States, According to Some Pundits and Experts

    The collection of opinions from notable figures and sources that analysed the CAFC decision regarding a software patent in the US



  27. People Power Works in India, Microsoft Deal Partly Crushed After AICTE Comes Under Fire

    Weakening of a Microsoft pact after intervention by freedom-respecting software advocates in India and abroad



  28. IRC Proceedings: May 5th, 2013-May 11th, 2013

    IRC logs for May 5th, 2013 (and subsequent days until May 11th, 2013)



  29. IRC Proceedings: April 28th, 2013-May 4th, 2013

    IRC logs for April 28th, 2013 (and subsequent days until May 4th, 2013)



  30. IRC Proceedings: April 21st, 2013-April 27th, 2013

    IRC logs for April 21st, 2013 (and subsequent days until April 27th, 2013)


RSS 64x64RSS Feed: subscribe to the RSS feed for regular updates

Home iconSite Wiki: You can improve this site by helping the extension of the site's content

Chat iconIRC Channel: Come and chat with us in real time

Recent Posts