OT: Microsoft layoffs

[Craig White]

On Thu, 2009-01-22 at 09:26 -0700, James Finstrom wrote:
> http://www.alleyinsider.com/2009/1/microsoft-layoffs-live-msft
> 
> I lived a short while in Washington and knew many Microsoft employees
> so in a general sense Microsoft laying off 5000 people sucks but in
> another sense I would like to think that this is partially our (the
> Linux world's) doing. Having to compete with (free as in beer)
> software and pirates it really is hard to keep going. This shows a
> flaw in strategy for the Redmond folks.  I would say if they did a
> survey especially of the 30 and under crowd about piracy 80+% would
> see nothing wrong with it and would not morally classify it as
> stealing. this mind set is really going to be the death of sold
> software. It is often said people don't adopt Linux because because
> there is no reason too when they can get the other stuff free too.  We
> live in an age where information/data is free (as in beer) weather
> that was the intent of the creator or not.  Just amaizing that one of
> the richest companies in the world is not sucking it up and eating
> loss for a few years. I do have to wonder though if bill gates was
> still at the wheel if they would eat it. Bill gates love him or hate
> him is a verry generous person and I believe he would have fought this
> over all. 
----
Like pretty much all American corporations, they are feeling the effects
of the contracting economy and in the face of diminishing sales and
profits, it would probably be irresponsible management not to react
appropriately.

I'm sort of disappointed that you saw some need to insert the concept of
criminalizing our youth into this discussion because that is entirely a
separate issue.

Linux has to succeed on its own merits and to that end, I think it's
doing quite well.

Craig