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Posted in FUD, GNU/Linux, Google, Hardware, Microsoft at 11:28 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz
Summary: Microsoft is trying to artificially differentiate and discriminate against one class of GNU/Linux-only computers, describing it as inferior by design despite its clear advantages
OVER THE past week we have shown that Microsoft makes courageous attempts to not only harm the software world; it has moved on to deciding what hardware people are able or unable to purchase [1, 2]. In addition, there may be attempts to mock ARM-based machines, using different names to characterise them as inferior. How’s this for a headline: “Microsoft Sets Stage for Netbook v Smartbook World.”
=> 1 | 2 | ↺ “Microsoft Sets Stage for Netbook v Smartbook World.”
The difference in microchip architecture does not really change the nature of devices (weight and ventilation aside perhaps). The software is virtually identical, although in one case it is able to run for much longer without additional charge. Perhaps Microsoft knows that it’s cheaper to run another Slog [PDF] than it is to port and maintain Windows for ARM.
Glyn Moody opines that Microsoft is losing this war over sub-notebooks if financial terms are accounted for (Microsoft's earnings are down 32%). Microsoft was not able to charge for Windows. Apparently, people see no substantial value in using Windows over GNU/Linux, but as Microsoft says, “under NO circumstances lose against Linux.”
=> ↺ opines | Microsoft's earnings are down 32% | Microsoft says
These are all incontrovertible signs that Microsoft simply hates the netbook sector, and wants it to go away. It is doing everything it can to dissuade users from buying them, manufacturers from making them, and everyone from naming them. The reason why it wants the netbook to vanish is simple: thanks to GNU/Linux, it makes no money in this market. Worse, netbooks are, indeed, cannibalising its profits in the notebook sector – which is why it is trying to redefine them as notebooks so that it can “re-align” consumers’ expectations – that is, charge more.So, yes, Microsoft is “winning” the netbook wars in one sense, but it is a purely Pyrrhic victory.The fruits of that “victory” can be seen in its recent financial results, which showed the first-ever drop in revenue, part of which was attributable to weakening sales of its Windows division.
A few days ago we warned that Microsoft would invoke its pseudo-journalists to smear its competition in this area. It didn’t take long. A very familiar pseudo-journalist who met Steve Ballmer not so long ago is already attacking the notion of Google’s Android (Linux) running on sub-notebooks. He even contradicts what Microsoft once said. Here is his summary:
=> very familiar pseudo-journalist who met Steve Ballmer not so long ago | ↺ attacking the notion of Google’s Android (Linux) running on sub-notebooks
Android-based netbooks provide much-needed competition for Windows, but the obstacles to success are massive.
It is truly amazing that IDG employs these people to publish under the heading “CIO.com”. Is Microsoft instructing CIOs what to think? This comes from IDG by the way; they do a lot of business with Microsoft [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. █
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