"It's easier for our software to compete with Linux when there's piracy than when there's not."

--Bill Gates

Summary: News coverage with statements and observations that confirm simple truths (as opposed to spin from the "mainstream" media)

THIS ISSUE has already been covered in a previous post, but the following articles contain parts (the quoted snippets) which confirm what Bill Gates said a few years ago:

● Your Windows 7 PC Will Call Home To Ensure It’s Piracy-Free

Of course, if you’re really unhappy about this, you don’t have to use Microsoft products. I would like to take this opportunity to remind people that for the most part, we have a free choice as to what software we run. Not happy with Windows? Run Linux.

● Best Do Something About That RC Copy Of Windows 7 Soon

So best do something about it before the end of this month. And if you’d rather not fork out the cash for Windows 7, you could always try a version of Linux…

● Windows update causes Windows XP to freak out"

So yeah, let’s all move to Linux. Someone tell Scott.

The Register calls this Vista 7 antifeature "nagware" and longtime Microsoft apologist Alex Zaharov-Reutt pokes fun with phrases like "Linux lovers a Windows-bashing field day" and "causing Mac and Linux fans to snigger..."

The Inquirer went along with the headline "You don't own your computer, Microsoft does"

Well, actually, with GNU/Linux you do own your computer.

It's the same when it comes to last week's BSoDs, which we wrote about in [1, 2]:

● Windows XP patch fiasco gets even crazier, Microsoft now scrambling for solutions

If you ever needed a reason to go Linux, here you go. The noise surrounding this patently obscure Windows XP bug / patch fiasco has just reached a fever pitch, and now we’ve got engineers within Redmond scratching their heads, too.

More information can be found in ZDNet and The Register. Regarding Microsoft's suggestion, Groklaw writes: "Microsoft says to boot up with the installation CD, but since when do they provide those any more? If you have a netbook without a CD drive, now what do you do?"

There are those who blame rootkits, but when 32% or more of the machines are being infected despite having anti-virus software installed, then how is that not Microsoft's fault? Either way, Microsoft pulled the patches -- an urgent move which only leaves Windows PCs more vulnerable (unpatched).

To summarise, Microsoft's pressure on more users is only helping GNU/Linux, so the principal so-called 'pirate' here is Microsoft. It bullies innocent users and it still takes its code from other developers, illegally [1, 2, 3]. ⬆

"Stolen's a strong word. it's copyrighted content that the owner wasn't paid for."

--Bill Gates

"Hey, Steve, just because you broke into Xerox’s store before I did and took the TV doesn’t mean I can’t go in later and steal the stereo."

--Bill Gates

"In my case, I went to the garbage cans at the Computer Science Center and I fished out listings of their operating systems."

--Bill Gates