Robert Pogson

M$ has long had others lie on its behalf but no longer. When Kenya decided to prefer FLOSS, this was spoken:

““We agree with the open standards but not the free and open source software strategy,” said Paul Roy Owino, technology advisor, Microsoft East and Southern Africa.

Owino said through the Free and Open Source Software the Sate might find it hard to hold anyone accountable should its systems be hacked”

““Just like other players in the copyrighted software, we are accountable when our software is hacked, the case is different with the non-copyrighted software,” he said.”

via Standard Digital News : State warned on ditching copyrighted software.

Allow me to quote, M$’s EULA:
“LIMITED WARRANTY
A. LIMITED WARRANTY. If you follow the instructions and the software is properly licensed, the software will perform substantially as described in the Microsoft materials that you receive in or with the software.
B. TERM OF WARRANTY; WARRANTY RECIPIENT; LENGTH OF ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES.
The limited warranty covers the software for 90 days after acquired by the first user. If you receive supplements, updates, or replacement software during those 90 days, they will be covered for the remainder of the warranty or 30 days, whichever is longer. If you transfer the software, the remainder of the warranty will apply to the recipient.
To the extent permitted by law, any implied warranties, guarantees or conditions last only during the term of the limited warranty. Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, so these limitations may not apply to you. They also might not apply to you because some countries may not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty, guarantee or condition lasts.
C. EXCLUSIONS FROM WARRANTY. This warranty does not cover problems caused by your acts (or failures to act), the acts of others, or events beyond the reasonable control of the manufacturer or installer, or Microsoft.
D. REMEDY FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY. The manufacturer or installer will, at its election, either (i) repair or replace the software at no charge, or (ii) accept return of the product(s) for a refund of the amount paid, if any. The manufacturer or installer may also repair or replace supplements, updates and replacement software or provide a refund of the amount you paid for them, if any. contact the manufacturer or installer about its policy. These are your only remedies for breach of the limited warranty.”

Yeah, M$ lied twice:

• once about GNU/Linux not being copyrighted and
• again about responsibility. They take no responsibility for the $billions of damage their software causes each year except to refund the purchase price within 90 days leaving the user with no functional computer.

Yeah, M$ spreads FUD, all this stuff about modified code and hackers. What’s with that? I just read PCs are being shipped from the factory with malware installed in that other OS. M$ told us so. Nothing to fear from M$’s OS? Right!

It’s not often one sees where M$’s OS gets compared side by side on identical hardware on the web but here’s an example:

In all other respects, these three models of Acer’s Veriton N are identical. The logical conclusion is that other OS costs $50 or $100 depending on the level of lock-in you desire…

Of course some will buy this unit in order to install a retail version of that other OS which costs more than $50 or re-image with a customized version which costs more, but some will buy the FreeDOS version to avoid the “tax” altogether and install GNU/Linux.

Interestingly, in the Philippines you cannot buy the Veriton N with that other OS at all… and in Malaysia, a notebook which comes in two models gives you the choice of better hardware with GNU/Linux or that other OS for the same price…

Yet, here in Canada, retailers refuse to give us side by side comparisons of that other OS and GNU/Linux although they could. Why are we denied the advantages of competition in the marketplace? Wake up Competition Bureau!
“What, generally, were the changes to the Competition Act that arose from the passage of the bill?
…
Allowing the Competition Tribunal to award administrative monetary penalties against companies who have abused a dominant position in the marketplace.
…
The changes will modernize the Competition Act and better protect Canadians from the harm caused by anti-competitive acts. Keeping businesses honest cuts costs for everyone in the economy.

Competitive markets provide the greatest opportunities for lower prices, better product quality and business innovation, all of which benefit not only individual Canadians but the economy as a whole.”