Microsoft plans to broaden its attack on Linux and related operating systems this week by giving away a set of tools for migrating applications to Windows.
The company is expected to release on Thursday a new version of Services for Unix (SFU), a collection of tools that help Windows systems to work with installations based on the Unix operating system and its open-source derivative, Linux. Microsoft previously charged $99 per client or server to use SFU. But the new version, 3.5, will be free for any customer using a current Windows operating system. SFU packages an array of tools designed to accomplish two main tasks: that of allowing Unix and Windows systems to work together by using common file systems, directories and other resources; and that of helping information technology workers to migrate applications from Unix to Windows. regards, Puneet ----- Original Message ----- From: "Puneet" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "The Linux-Delhi mailing list" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2004 12:03 PM Subject: Re: [ilugd] How does Microsoft armtwist its own partners? > Microsoft Monday launched a new advertising campaign designed to extend its > "fact based" assault on the Linux operating system. > > The campaign consists of a two-page advertisement, which was featured in six > computer industry trade publications this week, that cites a 2002 IDC study > that found that Windows 2000 costs organizations less to operate for a > variety of server tasks including networking, security, and file and print > serving. "Reams have been written about Windows and Linux," the ad reads, > "Let's skip to the bottom line." > > On the next page, the advertisement directs readers to a page on Microsoft's > Web site which contains a number of case studies and analyst reports that > tout the benefits of the Windows operating system. > > The campaign is expected to run for six months, although Microsoft has not > yet decided on an end date, according to a company spokeswoman > > Though Microsoft declined to say what it was spending on advertising, the > simple print advertisement is markedly different from the high budget Linux > ads that rival company IBM launched in September of last year, which were > created by New York ad agency Ogilvy & Mather and featured such celebrities > as boxer Muhammad Ali and director Penny Marshall. > > The difference is telling, said Bruce Perens, a Linux advocate and one of > the founders of the Open Source Initiative. IBM's advertisement targets high > level executives, while Microsoft appears to be targeting more technical > users, Perens said. > > "IBM understands that the people who really need the message are at the > top," he said. "I think that the IBM ad says, 'Buy Linux and save your > company.' The Microsoft ad says, 'Buy Microsoft and save your job.'" > > Microsoft characterized the advertisement's focus on IT professionals as in > line with the "fact based" campaign it has waged against Linux since summer > of last year. That's when the company's general manager of platform > strategy, Martin Taylor, vowed to reduce the level of emotion in Microsoft's > criticism of Linux. "There were some emotional statements made before; we're > now on a direction to talk about the facts," he said at the time. > > Monday's advertisement continues in that vein, a Microsoft spokeswoman said. > "We were looking at targeting the IT pros. IBM's was a broader Linux > movement campaign," she said. "It's the IT professionals who want the > facts." > > According to Perens, the advertisement simply shows that Microsoft is afraid > of Linux, and give the open source operating system more credibility in the > enterprise. "I think that Microsoft should continue this campaign in other > publications," he said. "In fact, they should buy some TV ads; maybe a > Superbowl ad." > > http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/facts/analyses.asp > > njoy! > Puneet > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Arjun Asthana" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Sunday, January 11, 2004 9:26 PM > Subject: [ilugd] How does Microsoft armtwist its own partners? > > > > Dear Friends, > > > > I need authentic reports/links on how Micro$oft twists arms of its own > partners/developers. > > Please help. > > > > Regards. > > > > Arjun Asthana > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > 2004-01-11 20:52:40 > > > > > > An age is called Dark, not because the light fails to shine, > > but because people refuse to see it. ----James A Michner > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > ilugd mailing list > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > http://frodo.hserus.net/mailman/listinfo/ilugd > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > ilugd mailing list > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://frodo.hserus.net/mailman/listinfo/ilugd > _______________________________________________ ilugd mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://frodo.hserus.net/mailman/listinfo/ilugd
