Bonum Certa Men Certa

How Microsoft Sabotages GNU/Linux Adoption in Russian Schools

Russia



Summary: Microsoft uses government funds to spread Microsoft dependency and also sabotages GNU/Linux migrations by advocating unlicensed Windows (which later they will whine about)

FOR background about what Microsoft is doing in Russia now that GNU/Linux migration are surging over there, see the following posts from the past few months:



One reader has just provided us with valuable information, which we edited and can finally present below.




There is a joint program of the Russian Government and Microsoft to support start-up businesses. It is called "Microsoft Business start 2009". Its site is www.fasie.ru. Here is a Google translation of the program's description. If you click the "Bid documents", you'll see translated version of competition rules. The idea is that the Government pays money from Science development fund, and business start-ups should develop new innovative software to receive this money. However, if you search for the word "Dynamics" in the translated document, you'll see that all developed software should be strictly Microsoft.Net based. From the page: "Software should be developed based on technology Microsoft. Net (ie, demand for the work assigned. Net Framework) and / or work with the software interface of client and server products of Microsoft, and / or work on the platform for building business applications Microsoft Dynamics. "

“Microsoft sent a "Windows Upgrade" disk instead of Windows itself, which costs $7 per seat for schools. But you need to have Windows already installed in order to use this (schools had Linux).”In other words, the Government pays businesses for innovations, but all developed software is Microsoft-based. Microsoft only sends its "experts" to evaluate this software, and helps start-ups to find investors.

There is another funny story. In Volgograd, Russia, there were elections of a city mayor and a head of region. A regional candidate deployed computers, network and Linux at Volgograd schools, in accordance with a government program. He proudly presented that as his own achievement. At the same time a mayor candidate (from different elections) talked to Microsoft and deployed Microsoft applications at the same schools. Microsoft proudly reported that here. In short, Microsoft provided schools with typical "academic" package. However, Microsoft sent a "Windows Upgrade" disk instead of Windows itself, which costs $7 per seat for schools. But you need to have Windows already installed in order to use this (schools had Linux).

In order to deploy Windows Upgrade, Microsoft told them to install counterfeited version and "upgrade" it. You can read long version of this story (in Russian) here. Moreover, Microsoft claims that it replaces Linux in Volgograd schools. However, schools say they simply use both systems now.




An obligatory Bill Gates quote that fits here is: “They’ll get sort of addicted, and then we’ll somehow figure out how to collect sometime in the next decade.”

"Drugs, drugs, drugs," called it Fewa and Oiaohm thought it was a trick for getting free (gratis) Windows. Fewa argues that they are "telling people to break the law so later they can use change their mind -- good cop/bad cop."

The source of this story, Andie, says that "Microsoft tells lots of nonsense in its public release about this event. For example, they say 'Linux deployment was very cost-ineffective, because sysadmins had to learn new system.' Russian schools don't have sysadmins at all. [...] or, they said that Linux deployment was not followed by trainings and books were not provided. [...] On the contrary, Windows package had no books, and no trainings were [held]. Why, if you're a teacher, would you need a book or manual to read about new system? [...] however, [the] Linux package had books and stuff."

Oiaohm thinks that "Linux should use that as a marketing game. [...] If Microsoft wants to dump, let's play on it. [..] Linux never goes negative to win. [...] Remember 5 years ago Microsoft would not have to dump in counter to Linux. Linux desktop improvements are forcing Microsoft into competing with something that cannot simply be defeated." Fewa explained that "Linux can dump much better than Microsoft. [...] but it needs to be targeted. [...] but then they try to force huge changes in their own OS that break all sorts of things." Exidy argued that "what they do need [are] good education packages [...] people inherently resist change, or at least need a good reason for change."

Schools must teach methods, not train for Microsoft products.

"Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school."

--Albert Einstein

Comments

Recent Techrights' Posts

Microsoft-Sponsored Xenophobia and Nationalism
IBM is very similar in this regard
Tentative Summary of Things to Publish in Project 2030
I'll still be in my forties by then
 
Links 21/09/2025: "Hey Hi" (Hype) Under Fire, Fakes Identified; Tesla Burns Family
Links for the day
Google's Software is Malware and Malware in Mobile Devices
Originally posted by Rob Musial
Links 20/09/2025: Hegemony Coming to a Close, Luigi Mangione Ruled Not Terrorist
Links for the day
Gemini Links 21/09/2025: "Charlie Kirk Was a Hateful Piece of Shit" and Slop Code Attempted by Microsofter
Links for the day
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Saturday, September 20, 2025
IRC logs for Saturday, September 20, 2025
Gemini Links 20/09/2025: Snowy Photos and utism is a Spectrum
Links for the day
Vintage is Sometimes Better
Why can't we get back to "simple" if (or where) "simple" means better?
Climate Breakdown Means We'll be Publishing More, Not Less
Press freedom will be a common, recurring theme
Our 5-Year Geminispace Anniversary is Coming Up
I still remember when Gemini Protocol was quite new
It's Right to Point Out Violence From the Right
Violence is a recurring theme
Web Browsers That "Do Hey Hi" (AI)
State-of-the-art plagiarism or "autocomplete on steroids" (not coined by us, nevertheless a nice description) don't have much/any prospect
Links 20/09/2025: Hardware Projects in View, Some Independent Publishers About Russia Prosper After Cheeto Cuts Funding
Links for the day
Gemini Links 20/09/2025: Options and TV Time Machine
Links for the day
Links 20/09/2025: Retrocomputer, Antique Phone Experience, and More
Links for the day
Links 20/09/2025: Internet Shutdowns, Media Censorship, and Climate Worries
Links for the day
About 700 New Gemini Capsules in 13 Months (or 54 Per Month)
4.8K would represent a 20% increase
Rust People: Drain the Swap, You're Holding It Wrong
Does Rust make sense?
Techrights the Name Turns 15
About 6 weeks from now we turn 19
Microsoft is Running Out of Time and Floating Fake Figures, Fake Projects, Fake Narratives, Fake Excuses
Also, a lot of Microsoft's "revenue" claims are circular financing (i.e. Microsoft buying from itself, which means Ponzi-like fraud)
Slopwatch: LinuxSecurity, linuxconfig.org, and Plagiarised Phoronix
Many articles out there are nowadays fake
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Friday, September 19, 2025
IRC logs for Friday, September 19, 2025
Gemini Links 20/09/2025: Navigating the Pressures of Modern Life and SpellBinding Accidentally Wrote Another Gemini Server
Links for the day
Links 19/09/2025: Press Freedom Dying in US, Anti-Austerity Strikes in France, and Alan Rusbridger to Leave 'Prospect'
Links for the day
European Patent Office Illegally Gutting and Outsourcing Its Functions, Acting Like an Above-the-Law Commercial Business (It Won't Stop at Formalities Officers (FOs) and Classification Slop at the EPO)
breaking/violating laws and conventions
Offloading to the Sister Site
In the interest of not overwhelming readers
Links 19/09/2025: Coffee Club and "SpellBinding is Now Absurdly Fast"
Links for the day
Links 19/09/2025: Lobbyist of American GAFAM Becomes Data Protection Commissioner in Europe
Links for the day
Links 19/09/2025: Media Freedom Ceases to Exist in US, "Consider Dropping Twitter/X"
Links for the day
Gemini Links 19/09/2025: Thinking and Insect Bites
Links for the day
Microsoft E.E.E.: Git Will Now (or Very Soon) Fully Depend on Rust, Which is Controlled by Microsoft
Microsoft now makes Git dependent on Rust, or making Git dependent on GitHub, which is proprietary
The Right to Punch People (Apparently)
At Brett Wilson, Brett's job title is "Head of Crime" and Wilson normalises calls for violence
Slop or Fake Articles Have Turned Linux Journal From a Pioneering/Trailblazing "Linux" Magazine Into a Nuisance
some sites with former reputation - good reputation - turn into cesspools
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Thursday, September 18, 2025
IRC logs for Thursday, September 18, 2025