As reported by ArsTechnica.com:

"I'm a big believer in "technology over politics". I don't care who it comes from, as long as there are solid reasons for the code, and as long as we don't have to worry about licensing etc issues. I may make jokes about Microsoft at times, but at the same time, I think the Microsoft hatred is a disease. I believe in open development, and that very much involves not just making the source open, but also not shutting other people and companies out. There are 'extremists' in the free software world, but that's one major reason why I don't call what I do 'free software' any more. I don't want to be associated with the people for whom it's about exclusion and hatred."

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I like what he has to say. I do however get annoyed when MS either shuts down the competition but either buying the company or making a similar product for free. As much as MS like to charge for everything the free products have gone by the wayside and they typically just buy what they want. I do like being able to use an alternate OS like Linux. Although they still have a way to go before they can run Windows programs seamlessly.

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In a rich man's house there is no place to spit but his face.
Diogenes Of Sinope

As a technologist I believe in using the best tool for the job. Sometimes that tool may be a MS Product. Negative feelings towards a manufacturer is, in my view, just as misguided as fanboi-ism.

That being said MS has irked me in a way no other manufacturer has been able to. As a consumer I exercise my rights in the market by making buying decisions. If I do not like/want a product I simply buy an alternative. Lack of buyer interest means the unwanted product will be discontinued and the more popular one will thrive. MS has corrupted this relationship with the "Microsoft Tax". I.E. forcing resellers like Dell and such to include a Windows license sell with each unit they ship. It should no be allowed that each computer sale equates to a Microsoft sell, wether the buyer wants it or not. I'm paying so I should get to choose what I buy, no ?

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mambo

I would like to comment, but this thread belongs in the Cafe forum--not here.

I think there are many valid reasons for hating Microsoft's actions over the past twenty-five years. As to whether that's a disease or not, I really couldn't say.

I respect those who have sought an alternative to Microsoft for this reason. But I will say I respect a lot more someone who spends his time looking for alternatives than someone who just wants to gripe about how evil Microsoft is.

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I don't see MS as a disease. Brilliant marketing and user friendliness go a long way even when your early OSes were very glitchy

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In a rich man's house there is no place to spit but his face.
Diogenes Of Sinope

I think there are many valid reasons for hating Microsoft's actions over the past twenty-five years. As to whether that's a disease or not, I really couldn't say.

I think it becomes a disease when you can only focus on the negative actions and cannot bring oneself to fairly comment on the good ones.

I respect those who have sought an alternative to Microsoft for this reason. But I will say I respect a lot more someone who spends his time looking for alternatives than someone who just wants to gripe about how evil Microsoft is.

Agreed. I can most certainly respect anyone that looks for alternatives for whatever reason, but even simply hating Microsoft for the sake of hating Microsoft is just as ignorant (whether it be the type that likes to root for the underdog or because its the "in" thing among all the hardcore techy geeks).

Depending on what views an individual decides to take up, there are definitely reasons to hate Microsoft, but there are also plenty of reasons to hate Linux (most of them being philosophical in nature and not necessarily due to the actions of any single distro entity).

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As reported by ArsTechnica.com:

"I'm a big believer in "technology over politics". I don't care who it comes from, as long as there are solid reasons for the code, and as long as we don't have to worry about licensing etc issues. I may make jokes about Microsoft at times, but at the same time, I think the Microsoft hatred is a disease. I believe in open development, ... I don't want to be associated with the people for whom it's about exclusion and hatred."

I very much agree.

Even so, it must be noted that this is a very significant first:

Last week, Microsoft contributed Hyper-V drivers to the Linux kernel in order to improve the performance of running virtualized Linux guests in a Windows host environment. Furthermore, Microsoft opened its Linux Hyper-V drivers under the GPL. There was a lot of controversy within the OSS community about Microsoft's motives and opinions varied tremendously. ...

Considering the source of the contribution, and the previous very negative rhetoric and FUD from that source, understandably great care must be taken over the contribution and circumstances. Is this a Trojan Horse?... Or is this really an innocuous contribution?... Or did Microsoft blindly stumble into a stalemate with the Free Software Foundation?


I suspect that there's a great deal more to this story yet...

Other aspects for context:

Re: Mono (C#): Microsoft's Empty Promise

Microsoft Office tries to break ODF

And there is still the long running saga with SCO...

Ballmer Calls Linux "A Cancer"

Microsoft embraces Linux 'cancer' to sell Windows servers

Microsoft under threat from Linux - it's official


It is all a game in which we all play and pay.

Good or bad? Judge for yourself.

Keep searchin',
Martin

[edit]

Note: "GNU" is the "Operating System" software that runs on top of the "Linux kernel". The combined GNU/Linux is often just simply called "Linux". (On top of this there can be a desktop such as Gnome, or KDE, or various others. Applications run on/with/above this layer.)

[/edit]

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See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

... Depending on what views an individual decides to take up, there are definitely reasons to hate Microsoft, but there are also plenty of reasons to hate Linux (most of them being philosophical in nature and not necessarily due to the actions of any single distro entity).

Please explain?

("Hate" is rather a strong word and usually suggests that you have lost the game...)

Regards,
Martin

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See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

... Depending on what views an individual decides to take up, there are definitely reasons to hate Microsoft, but there are also plenty of reasons to hate Linux (most of them being philosophical in nature and not necessarily due to the actions of any single distro entity).

Please explain?

("Hate" is rather a strong word and usually suggests that you have lost the game...)

"Hate" suggests losing a "game"? Interesting. I didn't know we were playing one. Games are what we play for fun and amusement. Real life isn't a game, and there's plenty to hate (though admittedly I genuinely "hate" very little, if at all).

I've given you my reasons in the past for disliking Linux. Though it may interest you to know that I am going to install a larger hard drive as soon as I finish downloading the Windows 7 RTM, and I am considering dual booting with my older hard drive with some form of Linux again. Its either that or I am taking my old hard drive to put inside another machine of mine to become a gaming machine for my LAN parties. I haven't fully decided yet.

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... I suspect that there's a great deal more to this story yet...

Another part/view is:

Microsoft's Linux Kernel Code Drop Result of GPL Violation

Is that one example that Microsoft didn't wish to test in court?


Regards,
Martin

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See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

("Hate" is rather a strong word and usually suggests that you have lost the game...)

... Games are what we play for fun and amusement. Real life isn't a game, ...

Hence the passion for some about such devices that so powerfully directly affect every day life for many people...

Regards,
Martin

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See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

("Hate" is rather a strong word and usually suggests that you have lost the game...)

... Games are what we play for fun and amusement. Real life isn't a game, ...

Hence the passion for some about such devices that so powerfully directly affect every day life for many people...

Nothing wrong with passion so long as it doesn't blind you.

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("Hate" is rather a strong word and usually suggests that you have lost the game...)

... Games are what we play for fun and amusement. Real life isn't a game, ...

Hence the passion for some about such devices that so powerfully directly affect every day life for many people...

Nothing wrong with passion so long as it doesn't blind you.

I've used so many OSes, That hating an OS(or Its maker for that matter) is rather pointless to Me, So I don't.

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

("Hate" is rather a strong word and usually suggests that you have lost the game...)

... Games are what we play for fun and amusement. Real life isn't a game, ...

Hence the passion for some about such devices that so powerfully directly affect every day life for many people...

Nothing wrong with passion so long as it doesn't blind you.

On that topic regarding Microsoft and Linux, I think this very well researched and clearly written blog from a mere 18-year-old makes for compulsive reading:

Microsoft GPL Code: Impossible is nothing? (By cibertito)

Ok, daily hundreds of news surround the technology world, but _this_ is history! No doubt about it, just look around the Internet and you’ll find thousands and thousands of articles and posts about it. Will this code be included in the official kernel source? How good or bad is this code written? What’s the Microsoft’s next move? A lot of people is talking about it, about the present and the future.

Of course, this topic is complex and messy and I have too much to learn yet, so I decided to look toward the past to understand a little why this news is so amazing.

[...]

... strategies. That’s the way they want to compete and surely, that’s the reason why a lot of people hate them. But after all, hate isn’t a good thing. You can choose be like them or act like them, but I don’t. IMHO, Microsoft GPL code is pretty welcome to the kernel branch (impossible is nothing!) :D

Maybe I’m too young to understand what’s coming up in the future. But at least, studying the past now I understand the present.


Most of the quotes given in there are from the main two people representing (that can be argued are) Microsoft. The last quote is from Linus and is in very stark contrast.


The internet is certainly wildly abuzz with this topic still. What do you think?

Regards,
Martin

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See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

A few further links:

Microsoft GPL violation hits memory hole
... This would have been the perfect moment to flag Microsoft Live@EDU as Microsoft's second contribution to GPL in a week, following the milestone donation of 20,000 lines of Linux-driver code used in Hyper-V hypervisor. ...

Microsoft: GPL violation didn't drive Linux donation
Microsoft is standing by its decision to release thousands of lines of code to the GPL, saying the decision wasn't based on a violation of the popular license.

Microsoft's GPL v3 Stance Puts Future of Novell Pact in Doubt
Microsoft issued a statement last week that it does not consider itself bound by GPL v3

Microsoft's GPL v3 Statement Contradicts Itself, Novell
... There are many parties and many fights here that will be worth following over the next months as Microsoft fends off "GPL contamination"...

Microsoft Alters Terms of SuSE Certificates
Microsoft has unilaterally changed the terms for the Novell SuSE certificates it sells to its customers.

Microsoft GPL Linux Drivers First Legit Open Source Contribution
... Now that Microsoft has contributed code to Linux through the GPLv2, it will be hard for them, and others, to say the GPL and indirectly open source isn't a viable software model. It is. It's just not Microsoft's software model...

Microsoft GPL's Live plugin for Moodle
... Moodle is also GPL, which means a derivative work would have to be released under the GPL license. This is not the first time Microsoft had it's hand forced to release software under the GPL.


This one is certainly set to buzz for a while yet...

Indeed a "first", and already a "second"!

Regards,
Martin

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See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

Is Windows 7 RTM free? Why?

Is Windows 7 RTM free? Why?

No, only the Beta/RC versions were free. The RTM is only available to MSDN/Technet subscribers, but I'm pretty sure it will be available somewhere through torrent programs.

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Is Windows 7 RTM free? Why?

No, only the Beta/RC versions were free. The RTM is only available to MSDN/Technet subscribers, but I'm pretty sure it will be available somewhere through torrent programs.

Ssssshh!.... That's against Microsoft's licensing. It's also against the "Windows Genuine Advantage" and the Microsoft "Trusted Computing"...

Unless that is you have signed whatever Microsoft requires for a copy.

Free: No.

Why?: That is one of a number of ways that Microsoft makes money. Also, there are various other aspects in there that restricts your freedoms.

Regards,
Martin

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See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

Ssssshh!.... That's against Microsoft's licensing. It's also against the "Windows Genuine Advantage" and the Microsoft "Trusted Computing"...

Unless that is you have signed whatever Microsoft requires for a copy.

Free: No.

Why?: That is one of a number of ways that Microsoft makes money. Also, there are various other aspects in there that restricts your freedoms.

Regards,
Martin

Got no worries on that score. Don't need torrent.........MS is kindly giving me 10x 32bit & 1x 64bit copies at the end of the month, so I'm happy to wait.

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