The ultimate Windows apologists reference

Every now and then somebody attempts to debunk the usual Linux myths. Having quite some experience in that area I have a good idea of what will happen. If your article is picked up by the Windows community, you will get quite some comments. They usually will repeat the SOFUD and sneer at you and your beloved Operating System.

In order to save them some time and possibly prevent them from causing a devastating BSOD I've decided to collect their comments and publish them here, so they just need to reference this page. Here we go.

1.	You will have to waste hours learning a new OS and applications. (So what is the difference?)
2.	I like Windows, it works for me. (Writing this blog with pins stuck in my face works for me, but I can imagine more comfortable ways to do it.)
3.	You can’t play any games on Linux. (We are not accustomed to use our multihundred dollar equipment for such trivial undertakings. We use it to write kernels, compilers and next generation web deamons. Klondike is all we need for passing the time between compiles.)
4.	You’re pathetic, Linux has a 0.00001% marketshare. If it really were this good, there would be more. (Just too many pointy haired CIOs that believe 'Get the facts' reports).
5.	Amateur applications, there is nothing like Photoshop, Premiere etc. etc. (Most Windows users spend their time cleaning up the skin imperfections of the models on the cover of 'Playboy' and 'Vogue' instead of removing the red eyes on their holiday snapshots. They probably even paid for it. Good point.)
6.	Microsoft spends billions on research. (Which brought us Bob, a talking paperclip and several bad Apple OS imitations.)
7.	All Windows problems are due to bad hardware, bad drivers, bad users. (And you said Linux was a religion?)
8.	I’m a Windows user so I’m too dumb to come up with any real arguments; I’d rather repeat the SOFUD and put my fingers in my ears when somebody makes a point. Lalalalala. I'm not hearing you, I'm not hearing you!

Sigh. No wonder Microsoft is turning to FOSS experts in its search for intelligence..

Jim Allchin: Microsoft is losing it

The "Comes vs. Microsoft" case continues to provide interesting information. Here is an email from Jim Allchin dating January 7, 2004 addressed to Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer.

I am not sure how the company lost sight of what matters to our customers (both business and home) the most, but in my view we lost our way. I think our teams lest sight of what bug-free means, what resilience means, what full scenarios mean, what security means, what performance means, how important current applications are, and really understanding what the most important problems our customers face are. I see lots of random features and some great vision, but that doesn’t translate into great products. I would buy a Mac today if I was not working at Microsoft. Longhorn is a pig and I don’t see any solution to this problem. If we are to rise to the challenqe of Linux and Apple, we need to start taking the lessons of "scenario, simple, fast" to heart.

Note this was sent shortly before the development reset of Vista, which was described in this article, that mysteriously disappeared from the Internet shortly after its first publication. Even the Wikipedia reference to the WSJ is missing.



For those who like to quote Mahatma Gandhi ("First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win") it proves that Linux had passed the "laughing" phase a lot sooner than most assume. Knowing Microsofts business practices, we all know what that means. For those who want to call the FOSS community paranoid, please try again.

Microsoft debunks Linux myths

Finally Microsoft - in the person of vice-president Jim Allchin, amongst others - speaks the truth. Not because they want to, but because they are forced to. The quotes in this article are taken from the exhibits 7168 and 7175 of the "Comes vs. Microsoft" case, which were published by Roy Schestowitz. Note that these protocols were made in 2002, when Linux was much less mature. The same applies to Windows, of course. It is up to you to decide how much progress each platform has made since then.

Linux is just as expensive as Windows

Cost is a first thing on everyone’s mind right now given the economy and pressure on cost reduction. (..) We really need some here. (..) If the IDC report won’t cut it, then we get another one done. Some customers know that Linux isn’t really free, but we need to help the other customers see this.

Microsoft admits that Linux is cheaper than Windows since it is willing to "investigate" this over and over again until it gets the results it wants. Yes, this was the start of the classic "Get the facts" FUD campaign. It also shows that Microsoft has no scruples whatsoever to buy fake reports or to bribe editors and journalists in order to obtain the publicity it so desperately needs.

Windows is just as capable as Linux

So what I want to know is how, from your perspective, are our products not matching up today; what should we, in your opinion, be doing about it?

Linux is getting in some places based on the fact that customers are trying to scale up and they can’t run applications independently/safely on Windows.

Customers are very smart about the problems (eg., registry issues, lack of support from 3rd parties (..), etc.)

Customers are very disappointed (outright angry!).

Microsoft states several times that their products are seriously lacking in various aspects and Linux is fully capable of filling that gap, since it doesn't have these problems in the first place.

Linux is difficult to use

So is Linux going to be harder? I disagree with you. (..) Click, click, click you’re done. Same thing with Linux.

It’s going to get even easier. It will catch up with utilities and so on. And it’s already there. So I think it’s very close to being there.

Yes, Microsoft says "Linux is easy"! So, don't take my word for it; ask the "experts"!

Windows is just as secure as Linux

What can we do - what’s the number one problem with Microsoft that you have? Security.

And like I said, there’s nothing we can do to - every time we try to - we got the FBI involved, but our hands are tied.

I mean, it’s not like Linux or Solaris or - you pick your system.

Microsoft acknowledges that Windows has a serious security problem, unlike Solaris or Linux systems. In the same sentence they also debunk the myth that Windows problems are solely due to their marketshare. The funny thing is that they try to "fix" their problems by pursuing the perpetrators. Although that is not a bad idea, it won't make Windows any more secure.

Linux is not a threat to Windows

My conclusion: We are not on a path to win against Linux We must change some things and we must do it immediately.

I have more and more clients asking me about it.

Is it something to worry about? I believe so.

We feel a huge threat from Linux.

I am scared.

Your honor, I rest my case.