[Fsfe-uk] How will Gates fight Linux? It's a dead giveaway

[Paul Mobbs]

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http://www.observer.co.uk/business/story/0,6903,958031,00.html


The Networker

How will Gates fight Linux? It's a dead giveaway

John Naughton
The Observer, Sunday May 18, 2003


Some things never change. Microsoft's ruthlessness, for example. When the Bush 
administration backed away from pushing for the company's break-up following 
its conviction for breaching US anti-trust law, some fantasists believed that 
Bill Gates & Co might moderate their aggressive behaviour.

This was a bit like hoping that Serrasalmus nattereri, aka the red piranha, 
might one day take up vegetarianism. Instead of being chastened by the 
judicial verdict, Microsoft behaved as if nothing had happened - as if, in 
fact, the company had been vindicated by the outcome.


<BIG SNIP>


Among the documents is an email headed 'Microsoft Confidential' and sent by 
Orlando Ayala, at the time in charge of worldwide sales at Microsoft, to the 
company's senior managers worldwide - including Ballmer. In it, Ayala sets 
out Microsoft's strategy for dissuading governments around the globe from 
choosing cheaper alternatives to Windows.

The gist is: if a deal involving governments or large institutions looks 
doomed, managers are authorised to draw from a special fund to offer the 
software at a steep discount - or even free. 'Under no circumstances lose 
against Linux,' Ayala rants.

So, public authorities please note: if you want to get Window free, just tell 
the Microsoft salesman that you are on the verge of ordering 100,000 copies 
of Linux.



address@hidden

www.briefhistory.com/footnotes/ 



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"We are not for names, nor men, nor titles of Government, nor are we for
this party nor against the other but we are for justice and mercy and
truth and peace and true freedom, that these may be exalted in our nation,
and that goodness, righteousness, meekness, temperance, peace and unity
with God, and with one another, that these things may abound."
(Edward Burroughs, 1659 - from 'Quaker Faith and Practice')


Paul Mobbs, Mobbs' Environmental Investigations,
3 Grosvenor Road, Banbury OX16 5HN, England
tel./fax (+44/0)1295 261864


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