On Thu, 10 Mar 2005, Ian Lynch wrote: [...]
Again why pay for this and go through the hassle of license admin. and threats from the BSA/FAST when you can just use OOo? A client told me that they got a threatening contact from someone claiming to have information that they had unlicensed software.
[...]
I like Sterling Ball's way of dealing with extortion:
"Rockin' on without Microsoft." CNET. 2003-08-20.
http://news.com.com/2008-1082_3-5065859.html?tag=lh1999/2000 MS was able to turn marketing over to a loyal servant or two in each IT dept and then supplement this with BSA/FAST. This enabled them to get their message through to purchasers from both the top and bottom. It also enable them to shift some of their core competency from marketing (it has't been IT since the 80's) to lobbying and, lately, politics. Politics seems the direction it will pursue:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/01/21/ms_nto/
MS hasn't been able to compete on technical merits since the mid 90's so they have been trying to make it technically and legally imposible for others to do anything.
Unfortunately, by killing off the competition, they also killed off the marketing money from the competition and now most computer magazines have been relegated to fanzines for Bill. Short of trying to outspend Bill in advertising, projects like OOo Marketing are very important in getting the word out about great options that people otherwise wouldn't hear about.
-Lars
Lars Nooden ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
Software patents kill innovation and harm all Net-based business.
Keep them out of the EU by writing your MEP, keep the market open.--------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
