Microsoft Offers BestBuy Employees Anti-Linux Training

OSNews ^ | September 8th | Jordan Spencer Cunningham

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

According to a leak from a BestBuy employee, Microsoft is initiating a sort of "Anti-Linux Training" course for the employees, and those who take part in the said training are rewarded with a copy of Windows 7 for only ten dollars. The leaked screenshots of the campaign show Microsoft's comparison of its own system with an obscure "Linux" and how Windows is better in every way including security, "free downloads", and software and hardware compatibility.

When Microsoft said a few weeks ago that its biggest threat was Linux, I suppose a campaign such as this was to be expected. We've seen the Laptop Hunter ads against Apple as well as that "Apple Tax" report. Now Linux is the target, apparently.

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

We know what threatens you, Microsoft.

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

.

[dalebert]

lol i am thinking of changing to Linux

[sierrahome]

I have a little Asus Eee Netbook that has Linux on it. That was my first exposure to Linux about a year ago and along with Linux I discovered Open Office. Fantastic!

[Hodar]

I agree, Open Office does almost everything MSFT’s Office does, and instead of costing $300+, Open Office is free.

I like free, I can afford free ...

[ShadowAce]

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

Good for you.

Be prepared for rough edges, all software has them. Some rough edges aren’t really rough edges, they’re just a change of habit.

And be ready to ask questions. No matter how stupid you may think it is. There are no stupid questions, what’s stupid is keeping yourself in a state of frustration.

Linux supporters love to support newbies.

[Boucheau]

Will you add me to your ping list, please?

[ShadowAce]

You’ve been added. Welcome Aboard!

[perfect_rovian_storm]

Linux is an enormous threat to Microsoft. People love to claim it isn’t, but the fact is that cross-platform apps like Pidgin, Firefox, and Thunderbird are gaining market share every day. Those basic applications make OS switches much less of a shock for the end user.

[B Knotts]

There’s a long way to go to challenge Microsoft, but Linux is gradually gaining users.

[KoRn]

I’ve often found that doing the opposite of what a Best Buy employee recommends is the better decision to make.

[Tribune7]

Got Dad a Dell Linux laptop (not netbook) for Father's Day. It was a good choice.

And does Best Buy even sell computers with Linux?

[Tribune7]

I’ve been using Gimp on a Mac. Not as good as Photoshop but you can’t beat the price.

[Lazamataz]

Yeah, if you want to sign onto China’s OS.

[ozark hilljilly]

I have a little Asus Eee Netbook that has Linux on it.

I got my kids Asus netbooks for Christmas last year and they love 'em! My uber geeky nephew was blown away that those lil' things had a Linux OS on them. Now he wants one!

[Dr. Sivana]

People love to claim it isn’t, but the fact is that cross-platform apps like Pidgin, Firefox, and Thunderbird are gaining market share every day.

I'm getting more impressed with some of the new, large niche apps. Openproj looks like a keeper, and Microsoft had 90+% of the "project" software market, and hence could charge REALLY exorbitant fees for their decent product.

I am waiting for a Linux database program with a useable front end. The one that comes with OpenOffice is awful. Ideally, something that reads and writes SQL, Access and the old standards (DBF, Paradox) but looks more like FileMaker Pro.

[unixfox]

There’s a long way to go to challenge Microsoft, but Linux is gradually gaining users.

For how many years now?

[hosepipe]

I went Linux about a year ago..
I havn’t looked back..

At some stage developers will have to start to include Linux drivers and setup..
I am surpised they already don’t/mostly..

[Hodar]

Used Gimp, it’s not as user-friendly as Photoshop (ok, user-hostile is a better term). But for 99% of what I do, Google’s free photo-editing Picassa is the best deal I have seen. The only thing this free program doesn’t do, is erase images from a picture. I expect a new version will enable that feature too. If you haven’t tried it, give it a whirl.