[ubuntu-za] Microsoft free software ad campaign

[Tim Johnson]

I just do all presentations, write and send all documents in Open Office,  
process all images in the GIMP or digiKam and do document layout in  
scribus.  I play all movies in vlc and music in Songbird.  Those alone  
answer many questions regarding FOSS and I just mention that they are all  
free whenever asked about them.
And of course, I mention that my rock-stable, virus-free, fast but old  
laptop is running on a totally free OS.

The fact that Microsoft has even created this campaign is a small  
indication that FOSS is no longer a minor irritation to them.  The loss of  
numerous government contracts (worldwide) to Open Office is becoming a  
serious concern.

However, I believe in free choice, so those who prefer Microsoft products  
are welcome to use them, pay for them (most don't) and upgrade them at  
will.

I think that in the long run, Google, software piracy and bloat will do  
far more damage to Microsoft than the Linux/FOSS sector ever will.





On Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:31:34 +0200, Andre Rossouw <andre at arnet.co.za>  
wrote:

> Hi list.
>
> This is the first time I'm mailing the list so apologies if the format  
> is wrong, I'm sending this from my mobile phone.
>
> Right, I don't want to alienate people or start a discussion on Ubuntu  
> vs Windows. But I'm sitting in a Microsoft partner meeting (please don't  
> hate me). The presenter is currently talking on piracy, and they are  
> presenting a new marketing campaign aimed at us consumers. One of the  
> ads is a web banner advertising free software, click on the link and it  
> brings up fake errors and warnings... And the message that free software  
> is dangerous. "There is no such thing as free software". Ouch.
>
> My problem is that it implies that things like FOSS is bad.
>
> Has anybody else been subjected to this presentation yet? If not, I  
> thought I would just warn the community so we can answer questions that  
> may come up about this. Does anyone have resources that we can use to  
> present FOSS and Ubuntu in a positive light that is easy for the end  
> user (average consumer) to latch on to?
>
> --
> Andre Rossouw
> ...Sent from my mobile
>


-- 
Using Ubuntu 9.04 and Opera 10