Re:OT RE: For those out there who also Hate MS

Ross,

    It came from InformationWeek. I get a daily news message from them.

Dick Goulet

____________________Reply Separator____________________
Author: "Mohan; Ross" <MohanR_at_STARS-SMI.com>
Date:       5/1/2001 9:05 AM

did "David Ewalt" forward the entire
message to you, or wherever you got this from?

Sounds worth paying attention to, if there is any backup.

thx

|| -----Original Message-----
|| From: dgoulet_at_vicr.com [mailto:dgoulet_at_vicr.com]
|| Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2001 12:01 PM
|| To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L
|| Subject: FYI: For those out there who also Hate MS
||
||
|| ** Microsoft Trolls For Informants
||
|| Microsoft is coming under fire for a new program that promises
|| prizes to computer-system builders who report customers ordering
|| PCs without a pre-installed operating system.
||
|| Microsoft unveiled the program in an E-mail apparently sent last
|| week to system builders on the West Coast. The E-mail explains
|| that the program is meant to insure compliance with
|| software-licensing agreements. "Many organizations that are
|| sending out bids believe that because they have enrolled in a
|| Microsoft volume-license program... that operating systems for
|| newly-acquired PCs are automatically enrolled," it reads. "There
|| is no volume-licensing program at Microsoft that covers operating
|| systems for new PCs."
||
|| As such, Microsoft asks that the builders turn over suspect bids
|| to them. If the bids are found to be due to a site-license
|| violation, informants will earn one point for each PC specified
|| on the bid. The points can then be redeemed for prizes--five
|| Microsoft game titles for 250 points; a Fossil "Big Tic" watch
|| for 500; and a "Fast Cook & Grill Combo and Travel Chair" for
|| 1,000.
||
|| Critics of Microsoft fear that the program will be used to track
|| down or intimidate users of operating systems like Linux, who
|| might order the machines "naked" in order to install the software
|| themselves. "I think an argument exists that gathering
|| information to [potentially] request an audit on businesses that
|| choose not to buy Windows creates a chilling effect," wrote one
|| poster on open-source advocacy site Slashdot.org.
||
|| "I think it's pretty sleazy," says Andrew Grygus, owner of
|| Automation Access, a systems integrator for small businesses.
|| Grygus, who received the E-mail last Wednesday, says "Microsoft
|| doesn't seem to have a lot of respect for people. He adds that
|| Microsoft is being "heavy handed" in its efforts to enforce
|| licenses, but he doesn't think the company is actually hunting
|| Linux users. "I'm sure they'll be happy to get those names,
|| though." Grygus says he won't participate in the program. "I have
|| no inclination to turn in my customers."
||
|| Representatives of Microsoft were unavailable for comment.
|| - David M. Ewalt
|| --
|| Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com
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|| Author:
|| INET: dgoulet_at_vicr.com
||
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-- 
Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com
-- 
Author: Mohan, Ross
  INET: MohanR_at_STARS-SMI.com

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Author: 
  INET: dgoulet_at_vicr.com

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