boomberg bloopers

[Tom Hull]

Brian Behlendorf wrote:
> 
> This is the start of a concerted effort by MS to attack Linux on
> non-technical fronts.

I don't doubt that such a campaign is in the offing, but Microsoft's
most pressing problem is their antitrust appeal. They're busy hiring
political clout:

  http://www.salon.com/tech/wire/2001/02/16/big_guns/index.html

Attacking open source does two things for them:

  1) It provides cover for their political lobbying, and spin for
     people on their payroll.

  2) It pushes the argument that Microsoft is not a monpoloy, that
     Microsoft faces serious, threatening competition, and therefore
     that breakup is unnecessary and possibly counterproductive.

The latter point will, of course, be amplified by the inevitable
response. Not that one should shy away from response: it seems like
an excellent opportunity to point out the chilling effects that
monopolistic business has on innovation.

-- 
/*
 *  Tom Hull * thull at kscable.com * http://www.ocston.org/~thull/
 */