Whereas Microsoft crumbles at its executive ranks, it appears to find its influence penetrating other innocent companies, some of which are direct competitors of Microsoft. In addition, bias in the media can transcend the borders of the technical industry amid managerial changes, so this can affect also commerce-independent channels, such as the BBC.
Chris Dobson, Microsoft's VP for its UK Online Service Group, is leaving the company. Dobson is believed to be joining BBC Worldwide in a senior role. He joined Microsoft in 2001 following positions at Zenith and MTV Networks.
“The language and attitude is very clear to see and for the BBC to publish such articles would simply be irresponsible.”Let us assume -- but not hope -- that Microsoft employees at the highest of levels are running the BBC and managing public money (tax money). What might be the impact? Technical facilities (e.g. iPlayer framework) is just one small ingredient of this equation; the other is media coverage. Might the BBC refuse to say anything positive about GNU/Linux, or altogether ignore its need/right for coverage? It is always hard to measure such things. One must consider incidents, keep track of them, and maybe count them.
The BBC's inter-personal connections and partnership with Microsoft may already have a subtle effect. For example, just earlier, the BBC published this GNU/Linux-bashing article. It published it unchallenged. It contains 'weasel words' like "Hippy ideals" and it's referring to the software just as "Linux" and explaining "open source", not Free software. The latter mistake is not so uncommon, so it's worth ignoring for now.
Looking at the myths that are spread and reinforced throughout the article, one finds "It's not the machine itself that's driving me to violence, but the operating system that controls its programs and hardware: Linux." Another piece of FUD about GNU/Linux in 2008: "As someone used solely to double-clicking on pretty pictures to do most anything on a computer this is pretty hairy stuff." There's also the "no support" FUD at the end: "Bang a couple of lines of code into the terminal window to tell the machine to install what we've downloaded. Bingo, we're cooking on gas," it says. The language and attitude is very clear to see and for the BBC to publish such articles would simply be irresponsible.
The bottom line is: do not consider the BBC a credible source. This is far from the first such example. ⬆
Comments
Needs Sunlight
2008-09-03 17:43:15
MS execs have been leaving, but it might be found that the companies they subsequently infest catch the Microsoft illness shortly after their arrival.
Just a guess.
At least while they were in MS, they were all in one place. Now many are at large and there is no word on whether they will continue to spread harm or if they can be rehabilitated into constructive members of society.
pcole
2008-09-03 21:13:42
Yfrwlf
2008-09-04 00:34:03
I just want to know how MS is getting away with acquiring and manipulating other industries, something I thought was against the law. Competition can't function very well when the same organization controls the land, air, and sea.
Message to the UK, and everyone else for that matter: Push for laws in your government to require the examination of all software options as well as pushing for equal and standardized access.
Mike Brown
2008-09-04 03:05:43
"Gary Parkinson had a torrid time when he converted to Linux."
Is that so? Well, here's Gary's first impressions of the default Linux install (Xandros) on his Eee:
"Xandros worked right out of the box. Like most distros it includes Open Office, an open source copycat of Microsoft Office. Word processing, spreadsheets and presentations are no problem. .... Xandros connected to the net through my home wireless network at the first time of asking. And surfing was fast and easy."
Doesn't sound too fucking torrid to me.
No, his problems actually start when he removes Xandros and attempts to install a completely different Linux distribution in its place because "there were a couple of things about Xandros which I didn't like". And he had problems. Well, it happens sometimes. But FFS, how many non-geeks are going to do that? Is is something you'd advise your Granny to do, and maybe then talk her through the process on the phone to boot? Thought not.
The truth is that Gazza would have very likely had similar problems had it tried to install Windows XP instead of Xandros; worse, in fact. And as for Vista...well, not even he's that stupid, I suspect.
Mike Brown
2008-09-04 03:35:43
Roy Schestowitz
2008-09-04 07:48:17
http://slated.org/linux_still_doesnt_make_it_on_desktop_is_pure_fud http://boycottnovell.com/2008/09/03/sabotage-google-using-shills/