[vox] Microsoft interested in our feelings

[Michael Wenk]

On Saturday 20 December 2003 12:34 am, zeruch@pvf.dibona.com wrote:
> On Fri, 19 Dec 2003, Michael Wenk wrote:
> > On Friday 19 December 2003 08:01 am, Larry Dieterich wrote:
> >
> > I don't consider it likely.   I think it may be that they actually are
> > sincere, at least on one level.  Think about it, if they really wanted to
> > try to undermine Linux, the user groups would be the LAST place to start.
> >  The
>
> No it wouldn't.  The ideal place is at the ground level (which is where
> LUGs fall into).  If you can start a meme virus, LUGs would be one of the
> fastest vectors for transmission.
>
> > majority of people in the LUGs are hobbyists, and given that, what
> > possible effect could they have?
>
> You speak purely on your own observation.  I've seen things much
> differently. 3M Corp (as do many large corporate entities) has their own
> LUG, as do various US Military bases, and Universities (obviously).
>
>
> And then you have things like SVLUG, which is mostly populated with
> working stiffs in potential accounts.
>
> In all those cases, they are either a way into a corporate account, a
> defense contract (lucrative) or into a future MSDN subscriber.  That is a
> big effect.  LUGs are exactly the first target I would go for were I in
> MS's shoes.
>
> z

You may be right, but I still don't think so.  In order for that to be true, 
people would have to be going to LUGS(pretty much irrelevant where they are) 
because they dislike MS so much, and not because they truly want to use Linux 
because of its own merits.  And I think for the majority, and consequently, 
the core group that MS would need to attack, the reason they use Linux is 
because of Linux's own merits and not because they hate MS so much.  

Also, I have to say I am glad of this.  If MS starts listening to the Linux 
community, they will most likely improve their products, which in turn would 
strengthen competition, which will be great for consumers. 

Mike

-- 
wenk@praxis.homedns.org
Mike Wenk