04.20.21
Gemini version available ♊︎Phoronix Needs to Exercise Caution and Stay Vigilant/Careful of Microsoft
Summary: Taking note or lessons from the blunder of Raspberry Pi (back in February), Phoronix should be careful of Microsoft ‘freebies’ as they’re never free and there are strings attached, destined to alienate longtime supporters
Michael Larabel’s Phoronix is a very important site. It does things no other site does, notably detailed benchmarks and graphics-centric analyses.
“Don’t let it be hijacked by Microsoft with its Free software-hostile agenda.”Yesterday, however, Phoronix did something I wish not to see — a combination of two Azure puff pieces, along with the acknowledgement of a Microsoft role (with gratitude and promotional links thereafter added).
I wasn’t sure how to approach the subject gently enough; after some consideration I decided to just speak frankly and naturally about topics other than the Microsoft aspect.
Phoronix is a very important (some might say cherished) site to the GNU/Linux community. Yes, community. Don’t let it be hijacked by Microsoft with its Free software-hostile agenda. █
“Mind Control: To control mental output you have to control mental input. Take control of the channels by which developers receive information, then they can only think about the things you tell them. Thus, you control mindshare!”
–Microsoft, internal document [PDF]