Microsoft anti-Linux tactics draw fire
As I have noted before, Microsoft often resorts to derogatory and misleading statements about competitors, even sometimes using dirty tricks or false assertions. It seems that Redmond is at it again, with Linux the target this time. A number of blogs are saying that Microsoft is using false statements. Emil Protalinski of Ars Technica presents and analyzes some Microsoft efforts to “train” Best Buy employees about Windows versus Linux. Protalinski then concludes:
This Microsoft training material for Best Buy retail staff is deliberately attacking Linux. While there are correct assertions in the slides, the majority of the statements are inaccurate, or are only accurate in the specific way they are worded.
Blizzard might not support World of Warcraft on Linux but WINE solves that problem well. Calling Linux’s safety reputation a myth, that Linux updates and upgrades are difficult and time consuming, is quite ridiculous. The mention that Windows Live Essentials is not available for Linux is of course correct, but it’s not as if Linux doesn’t have many free alternatives to the software suite.
The general tone of the slides is very propagandist and is full of deliberate skewing. The fact that Microsoft finds this type of “training material” necessary is just shameful.
Update: Microsoft is dumping on Macs too. Ars Technica reports:
After our coverage from yesterday regarding Microsoft training material for Best Buy employees that not only makes Linux look bad, but is also full of inaccuracies, one of our faithful readers wrote in and said he could show us that Redmond was doing the same thing for Apple. The format is the same: Redmond isn’t just saying that Windows has more software or games available than Mac does, but the software giant is actually going as far as teaching employees that there are certain statements about Macs that need to be labeled as myths.
Ars Technica concludes:
This Microsoft training material for Best Buy retail staff is deliberately attacking Apple. Just like last time, there are correct assertions in the slides, but the majority of the statements are inaccurate or are only accurate in the specific way they are worded.
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