Microsoft and Asus join forces to smother Linux

JDoors · Jun 2, 2009

@Matthew: "If users prefer to run Windows on netbooks - so be it. Hell, I probably would (XP). Again, the gripe is that they should be sold with Linux (or with the option), and that I found the ad campaign to be overkill. What is the goal? To squash the remaining 4-odd-percent of netbooks that ship with Linux? To convert those whom will install Linux anyhow (good luck)?"

I just can't begrudge them selling a product (and won't accuse them of having nefarious-sounding goals). If it's overkill, well, they DO have an excessive (some say obscene) amount of money, and lately seem to be directing more and more toward advertising. I'm sure some would say other MS ads are overkill too, but how much of that sentiment is just that we're not USED to seeing targeted ads from MS?

I may have lost the train-of-thought here; Why "should" netbooks include a free OS and NOT include, even at increases cost, Windows? Solely for the savings? (Do we know how much Windows Starter Edition adds to the price of a netbook?) Because Windows is inappropriate for netbooks? Because Linux IS better than Windows? Or is it a wish for Linux to have a better opportunity to increase its market share? (Rah! Rah!)

Matthew · Jun 2, 2009

@JDoors: While the cost is certainly a consideration it's impossible to know for sure what impact 7 Starter will have on the price of netbooks - perhaps none at all, given Microsoft's desire to squash the competition. The potential for a rippling rise in conclusive cost to the end user is certainly there – and it’s only one facet of the situation that gets under my skin. The Linux/Windows debate could run in circles endlessly, I’m not backing the sentiments of either side – and I’m not protesting the use of either in any situation, especially netbooks.

I suppose I was (and am) more irritated at the campaign because I dislike seeing ruthless efforts being made to crush worthy competition. You might feel better about not accusing Microsoft of bearing a malicious agenda – but what positive motives are there to opening an ad campaign against Linux in a market where they’re now virtually non-existent?

In combination with the interest I have in seeing competitors “play nice,” it is a legitimate opinion that Linux *can* (is?) in parity with the quality of Window in the *majority* of netbook situations – and the fact that it’s lighter as well as cheaper only fuels the reason that I’m “pro-choice.”

By the way, I guess you and I are especially pathetic - taking all this time to whine and defend about Microsoft and Linux. Maybe we should spend a fraction of this time doing something a bit more constructive. Up for checkers? Haha.

T77 · Jun 25, 2009

I DONT KNOW WHAT MS WANTS! THEY ALREADY DOMINATE THE MARKET WITH THEIR SLOW & EXPENSIVE OS (VISTA).ACCORDING TO ME THE ONLY REASON PEOPLE ADOPTED VISTA WAS BECAUSE OF DX10 AND THESE PEOPLE ARE GAMERS. VISTA DOESNT HAVE ANY OTHER GOOD QUALIY THAN DX10!!!
I GUESS THEY ARE MONEY HUNGRY! AND WHAT HAPPENED TO ASUS?! PERHAPS GOING THE MS WAY!!

LinkedKube · Jun 25, 2009

Oh come on, vista isnt that bad, unless you're running an older gen pc sure. Took some time for them to get drivers right, but its stable...Its just a monstor of an OS too.

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Microsoft and Asus join forces to smother Linux

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