Army to Gates: Halt the free software

c|net news.com ^ | March 10, 2004, | Ina Fried

[cc2k]

I'm sure they thought, "What's wrong with using a few illegal gifts to 'prime the pump' for Office 2003?" Unfortunately, if this goes to any ethics review board or court, they could rule that Microsoft Office isn't "something of value" and so, no laws were broken.

Sooner or later, customers get tired of the "upgrade game" that MS likes to play. It's foolish to spend so much money on new software when the current version you've already paid for works just fine for what you need.

[cc2k]

Pinging the tech pingers (and other interested parties).

[rdb3]

The Penguin Ping.

Wanna be Penguified? Just holla!

Got root?

[sheltonmac]

Microsoft just doesn't understand how the military and other government organizations work. Nothing can be given away. It first has to go through miles and miles of red tape and end up costing thousands and thousands of dollars.

[B Knotts]

They understand; they just don't care. They hope to get a few copies of their new software installed, so as to create compatibility hassles that encourage the whole organization to upgrade. That's how they do business.

[coloradan]

You're a good MS cheerleader - perhaps you can explain to me how Gates's behavior differs from that of a drug pusher, who gives away samples of the latest drug "for free," expecting some change the new users will become addicted and therefore become valuable future customers.

[hchutch]

FYI ping.

[blowfish]

Well, I am probably the least microsoft-friendly person around. But since Bush200 took his 'niceness vow' this week, I will help him out:
The main difference between your two examples is that a drug pusher's activities are clearly illegal. Microsoft's tactics, while pushing the envelope, are not *quite* outside the 'really aggressive business practice' realm. The intent might be the same, but Microsoft left themselves enough wiggle room to argue that recipients had the clearly-stated option to return the software.
Jeez, I'm defending Microsoft. Someone just slap me until I snap out of it...

[Old Professer]

If it's like the "free" Office 2003 that came with this computer, it wouldn't be any good; it expires after 3 months once you register it and leaves all the directory garbage on your HD.

[cosine]

Wow, such purity! Do you put companies who offer free samples at grocery stores, in the newspaper, and at various events in the same category?

Plus you apparently find Microsoft products addictive. They're that good? Really?

[Salo]

As I posted on /., if you can't eat their food, drink their liquor and [beeeeeep] their women and still do the right thing, you have no business being here. I got a free copy of Office 2k3 Pro a few weeks ago and have installed it on my home pc and at work. I love it. I won't be buying their server architecture to get the full use out of it, but I'm not returning it unopened, either.

[Howlin]

But since Bush200 took his 'niceness vow' this week, I will help him out:

ROFLMAO!

[Howlin]

I'm not sure what the rules that apply here are, but most government employees cannot accept any gift over the amount of $50 (not that that stops the Senate and House -- did you see the report yesterday on CNN that shows that the members of the Senate have a MUCH better rate of success on Wall Street than brokerage houses?).

[Blood of Tyrants]

The free software are available free to EVERYONE. Not free to some people and $500 to others. I agree with the government, this is clearly a possible ethics violation.

[Blood of Tyrants]

The free software at the grocery store checkout are available free to EVERYONE. Not free to some people and $500 to others. I agree with the government, this is clearly a possible ethics violation.

[hchutch]

Furthermore, this freebie is no different than what they give the private sector.

As Vic Deakins once said, "I don't see what the big deal is."

[kevkrom]

Microsoft should have provided time-limited evaluation copies -- they just weren't thinking, apparently, because the rules about gifts to government employees are very clear.

[Poohbah]

It's a big no-no for a government employee to accept a gift from a contractor.

[coloradan]

The only difference is that drugs are contraband and software isn't. Bribes are illegal, and "gifts" that might influence purchase decisions for government agencies are arguably bribes, even if the decision isn't made because of the niceness of the gift, but because only future purchases will be compatible with the gifts.

[coloradan]

1. Grocery stores don't give food away to government agents hoping to shape legislation or purchase decisions regarding same. Can you make the same claim about Microsoft software, especially in light of the stated intention of the agencies to consider open source solutions?

2. Addictive != good.