Most Popular
| Top Stories | Commented | Featured |
Weekend Open Forum: Google Chrome OS and the future of cloud computing featured
Tech Tip of the Week: Unearth Region-Specific Windows 7 Themes featured
Google previews its upcoming Chrome OS
Mozilla reveals 2008 revenue, rumors say Firefox coming to PS3
Sony: PlayStation 3 to be 3D-capable via firmware update
Xbox Live bans prompt class action lawsuit
TechSpot RSSSoftware
FSF launches anti-Windows 7 assault
The Free Software Foundation is taking measures to deter IT decision makers from installing Windows 7. The foundation contacted 499 of the top Fortune 500 companies (Microsoft being the one excluded), and warned that upgrading to Windows 7 will result in a higher dependency on Microsoft. Instead, they encourage that the companies use GNU/Linux on systems.
The FSF has created a website, Windows7sins.org, where they make their case against Microsoft and proprietary software with a list of seven deadly sins. The list in full: invading privacy, poisoning education, locking users in, abusing standards, leveraging monopolistic behavior, enforcing DRM (Digital Restrictions Management), and threatening user security.
The non-profit organization is requesting donations to cover the cost of sending letters. If you care to fuel the fire, a $25 donation will support 50 letters and $100 will put 200 letters on the doorsteps of the decision makers.
The FSF has created a website, Windows7sins.org, where they make their case against Microsoft and proprietary software with a list of seven deadly sins. The list in full: invading privacy, poisoning education, locking users in, abusing standards, leveraging monopolistic behavior, enforcing DRM (Digital Restrictions Management), and threatening user security.
The non-profit organization is requesting donations to cover the cost of sending letters. If you care to fuel the fire, a $25 donation will support 50 letters and $100 will put 200 letters on the doorsteps of the decision makers.
User Comments (54)
Post a comment| Guest on August 26, 2009 3:35 PM | LOL! This is so funny! |
| Vrmithrax on August 26, 2009 3:45 PM | Wow, apparently Bill Gates is the anti-Christ... Who knew? I mean, I'm generally anti-Microsoft, but somebody forgot to take their meds and decided to make an activist group, I think. |
| lncpapa on August 26, 2009 3:51 PM | How much do I pay to have someone go back and take the letters off those doorsteps? |
| Rage_3K_Moiz on August 26, 2009 3:59 PM | Talk about taking the whole "Microsoft is EVIL" thing to a whole new level. Morons. |
| red1776 on August 26, 2009 4:08 PM | maybe Linux is shooting for 2% market share |
| TomSEA on August 26, 2009 4:24 PM | LOL...conclusive proof that there a significant amount of people out there who clearly have too much time on their hands. :p |
| Guest on August 26, 2009 4:44 PM | LOL that is so stupid. I could see the use of Linux on their servers...but not on their workstations. It would involve WAY too much training to get all the thousands of your employees familiar with linux, because lets be honest...Who really uses linux? Not the regular every day normal guy. USUALLY only people with a high level of tech experience would even consider using linux. I bet you 90% of those employees in those fortune 500 companies own Windows Vista on their home PC. Why not upgrade to Windows 7? It will save millions in training just to upgrade to 7. |
| xXxZxXx on August 26, 2009 5:08 PM | Wow, ok this is extremely pathetic. Linux is whole new thing and only most tech enthusiasts know what it is. Windows is installed on more then 90% of computers you see, Schools, Businesses, its everywhere and the most common that everyone knows. |
| captaincranky on August 26, 2009 5:23 PM | Well actually, the longer the M$ corporation exists, the more dependent on it we all become. M$ enhances that by trying to introduce proprietary file systems and propaganda. The rest of the software industry panders to them by mostly offering programs compatible with Windows. However, the question is that of attrition, rather than being able to precisely blame any one M$ OS as being the capstone of the monopoly.. Wow, apparently Bill Gates is the anti-Christ... Who knew? Much in the same way Steve Jobs presents himself as a godhead and Svengali, Bill Gates is the anti-Christ, where have you been?I mean, I'm generally anti-Microsoft, but somebody forgot to take their meds and decided to make an activist group, I think. The Free Software Foundation is taking measures to deter IT decision makers from installing Windows 7. The foundation contacted 499 of the top Fortune 500 companies (Microsoft being the one excluded), and warned that upgrading to Windows 7 will result in a higher dependency on Microsoft. Instead, they encourage that the companies use GNU/Linux on systems. Believe it or not, I think they really mean well!
http://www.techspot.com/news/35978-fsf-launches-antiwindows-7-assault.html |
| gflo on August 26, 2009 7:29 PM | like the PETA of software |
| captaincranky on August 26, 2009 9:15 PM | like the PETA of software Yeah, well them or Green Peace.I think that M$ should launch a pro-active publicity campaign of their own, to wit, "no puppy linuxes were clubbed during the coding of Windows 7"! |
| tekkaraiden on August 26, 2009 9:59 PM | Wow apparently Peta and Green Peace got together and had a techy offspring. |
| Guest on August 26, 2009 10:45 PM | LOL!!!! These morons have no clue. I declare a punch a FSF supporter in the face day. |
| Guest on August 26, 2009 10:54 PM | Hmmm...Perhaps they should just not use or buy MS stuff? |
| captaincranky on August 26, 2009 11:00 PM | LOL!!!! These morons have no clue. I declare a punch a FSF supporter in the face day. Do you use any free, open source, cracked software? Because you sound like somebody that downloads a bunch of copyrighted music and won't pay.
|
| Ritwik7 on August 26, 2009 11:31 PM | Who really uses linux? Not the regular every day normal guy. USUALLY only people with a high level of tech experience would even consider using linux. Not necessarily. Linux is no rocket science. There are a large number of distros that would be apt for even those having very basic computer knowledge.
|
| Wendig0 on August 26, 2009 11:42 PM | captaincranky said: I do... Wait, my attorney is advising me to plead the fifth.
LOL!!!! These morons have no clue. I declare a punch a FSF supporter in the face day. Do you use any free, open source, cracked software? Because you sound like somebody that downloads a bunch of copyrighted music and won't pay. |
| Guest on August 27, 2009 12:11 AM | In the words of Ted Nugent "leave Bill Gates alone If you don't like M.S. then invent your own operating system and get a good buddy to help launch it... |
| captaincranky on August 27, 2009 12:48 AM | In the words of Ted Nugent "leave Bill Gates alone If you don't like M.S. then invent your own operating system and get a good buddy to help launch it... You mean the "motor city madman" Ted Nugent? He said that?
|
| red1776 on August 27, 2009 1:04 AM | You mean the "motor city madman" Ted Nugent? He said that? LOL i don't doubt that for a second, ever heard his radio show?
|
| captaincranky on August 27, 2009 1:07 AM | Don't laugh, but I didn't know he had a radio show. Signed, sheltered in Southeast Pennsylvania. |
| somian on August 27, 2009 8:31 AM | Ritwik7 said: can you name one of these distributions, please? I have tried ubuntu 8.04 and openSuSE 11.1 on my desktop pc and my laptop and didn't even manage to install all the necessary device drivers. Either because there are none, or because I had to type dozens of cryptic console commands to install them. Very user friendly...Who really uses linux? Not the regular every day normal guy. USUALLY only people with a high level of tech experience would even consider using linux. Not necessarily. Linux is no rocket science. There are a large number of distros that would be apt for even those having very basic computer knowledge. There is an alternative to windows and it's called mac os X. |
| somian on August 27, 2009 8:44 AM | (hm sry quote- in quote doesn't work) |
| darkshadoe on August 27, 2009 9:27 AM | If the Linux community would get off their collective a$$es and start making competitive programs that people would want at a cheaper price or for free as they do now, Microsoft and Apple would have to follow suit. There are only a few out there now. How many versions of Tetris do we really need? The Linux community needs to drop their "L33t N3rd" mentality and focus on becoming a real threat to the OS monopolies. Gaming being one of their top priorities. Why write a program that runs a competitor's software when you have the means to make your own? |
| JDoors on August 27, 2009 9:35 AM | Do they actually believe a letter might sway a company to ditch Windows? No way. Like other groups addicted to or obsessed with a "cause," they are just stirring the pot to increase their visibility. I guess if it gets the attention of others who are susceptible to and willing to join them it's worth their time and money (money from other cult members and hangers-on, which is then used exclusively for recruiting even MORE cult members ...). |
