Summary: The libraries which Bill Gates has been giving 'free' Windows can no longer access crucial software that Microsoft has just announced it is killing, which "leaves users in limbo"

EARLIER THIS year we wrote about SteadyState [1, 2] in the context of the Gates Foundation attacking GNU/Linux in libraries. It's an appalling attack on people's liberty, but it is marketed to the public a a "charity" (libraries should not become indoctrination facilities for private companies). We gave an example from Greece not so long ago. Watch how Gates and his group are injecting their own (self-serving) 'studies' into coverage of these library matters. There are more new examples of that, which include 'donation' of Windows computers to libraries (exposure to many users in one fell swoop).

But anyway, the main news today is about yet another dead Microsoft product among many. "Windows€® SteadyStateâ„¢ To Be Phased Out," announces Microsoft and press coverage has begun coming in:

Windows SteadyState is a handy tool for managing stand-alone PCs in public venues that cater to a motley crew of guest users. In a recent, terse announcement, Microsoft pulled the plug: "SteadyState will be phased out effective December 31, 2010. Microsoft will no longer support Windows SteadyState after June 30, 2011."

"So because they will not sell XP anymore (in theory) they want to try and force libraries and others to buy Vista7," explains Chips B. Malroy. He quotes: "With scores of organizations dependent on SteadyState, it has left a segment in a quandary or could be that a paid version is coming along."

Quoting Gates from memory, Malroy types: "We will sort of get them hooked first, and collect later"

Here is the article Malroy cites:

Microsoft announces SteadyState dead, leaves users in limbo

Microsoft phased out its SteadyState tool that allowed sharing of a single desktop by multiple users at public avenues like libraries.

We have found two more articles about that.

SteadyState was originally published as the "Shared Computer Toolkit".

What happens to libraries that became victim of Gates? A few months ago we explained the limbo they were already in. ⬆