From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on polar.synack.me X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-1.9 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_00 autolearn=ham autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 103376,345c9fcf5a67a99f X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-ArrivalTime: 2002-05-23 11:44:13 PST Path: archiver1.google.com!news1.google.com!newsfeed.stanford.edu!news.uchicago.edu!news-hog.berkeley.edu!ucberkeley!newshub.sdsu.edu!west.cox.net!cox.net!newspeer1-gui.server.ntli.net!ntli.net!news8-gui.server.ntli.net.POSTED!53ab2750!not-for-mail From: "chris.danx" Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada References: <4519e058.0205230724.38617c60@posting.google.com> <3CED2E66.DD15C13D@despammed.com> Subject: Re: Microsoft takes on ACT X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2600.0000 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2600.0000 Message-ID: Date: Thu, 23 May 2002 19:43:44 +0100 NNTP-Posting-Host: 80.5.140.234 X-Complaints-To: abuse@ntlworld.com X-Trace: news8-gui.server.ntli.net 1022179446 80.5.140.234 (Thu, 23 May 2002 19:44:06 BST) NNTP-Posting-Date: Thu, 23 May 2002 19:44:06 BST Organization: ntl Cablemodem News Service Xref: archiver1.google.com comp.lang.ada:24597 Date: 2002-05-23T19:43:44+01:00 List-Id: "Wes Groleau" wrote in message news:3CED2E66.DD15C13D@despammed.com... > > > > I'm curious what, if any, response ACT has to Microsoft's recent > > efforts to convince the DoD to ban Free Software. (see > > I'm interested in ACT's reaction also. > > Putting this one along with MANY other Microsoft actions > recently, my reaction is that Microsoft must be in big trouble > to be so panicky lately about Open Source. They're themselves cos' the competition is coming in to take their business and they don't like it. Linux is getting in on the server market, so MS haven't got as many customers in that area as they'd like and it's becoming increasingly easier to use Linux, so it might hit sales in the desktop market. If they get OpenSource banned stateside, Linux will go down the lavvy pan, then MS will rule! Or atleast that's what makes sense to them. (I don't even like Linux, but the fact remains it's gaining popularity and support from all sectors) There was another article about microsoft new licensing schemes forcing schools to only use windows on all of their hardware, even macs! I attribute this to two things, one schools are run by techno-illeterates and microsoft think they're easy pickings (i can personally testify to schools and techno-illeterates; when I was at school I had to write step by step manuals for our teachers to use several very very simple software packages (hyperstack(?) based things), and they were using macs which are one of the easiest systems to use!) and two Mac now has a reasonable OS in Darwin/Mac OS X. Also there is the fact that the pc sector seems saturated, almost everyone who wants (or can afford) a pc has one, meaning a great big chunk of their marker is disappearing day by day. Looks like they're getting desparate and clutching at straws! (the idea the us goverment would want to increase costs is a complete absurdity. Why have one very expensive bomb when you can have ten cheap ones that work much the same?) Chris