Microsoft Corp. on Monday launched a new advertising campaign, referred to as "Get the Facts," which is designed to give customers information about the advantages of using its Windows operating system versus Linux, its open-source competitor. A Microsoft spokeswoman told eWEEK on Monday that this campaign that will target leading IT publications and run for six months. She declined to say what the company expected to spend on the campaign.
This latest move is yet another way the Redmond, Wash. software firm is trying to counter the effects of the Linux operating system, and is in keeping with the strategy embraced by Martin Taylor, who took over the role of Microsoft open-source and Linux strategist last July. When he was appointed to the position, Taylor said he would make it his personal mission to publicize more studies that showed that Microsoft software beat the return-on-investment pants off the open-source alternatives. The Microsoft spokeswoman said its customers had told the firm they wanted research and information to help make value-based IT decisions. "Over the past year, software cost and value has been a common issue raised by IT customers. "The 'Get the Facts' advertising campaign aims to bring some of this information to companies who are making decisions about their IT solutions," she said.
News source: eWeek
This latest move is yet another way the Redmond, Wash. software firm is trying to counter the effects of the Linux operating system, and is in keeping with the strategy embraced by Martin Taylor, who took over the role of Microsoft open-source and Linux strategist last July. When he was appointed to the position, Taylor said he would make it his personal mission to publicize more studies that showed that Microsoft software beat the return-on-investment pants off the open-source alternatives. The Microsoft spokeswoman said its customers had told the firm they wanted research and information to help make value-based IT decisions. "Over the past year, software cost and value has been a common issue raised by IT customers. "The 'Get the Facts' advertising campaign aims to bring some of this information to companies who are making decisions about their IT solutions," she said.
News source: eWeek
The Offrhdreadme.htm file included with the add-in includes a complete list of all of the types of data that the tool will help to remove. By default, you can locate this file in the Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeRemove Hidden Data Tool1033 directory in the drive where you installed the tool. If you installed the tool to a different directory, you can locate this file in the 1033 directory, a subdirectory of the add-in installation folder.
Notes
You should run the Remove Hidden Data add-in on files when you are ready to publish them. This is because some of the data that the tool removes is used by Office for collaboration features, such as Track Changes, Comments, and Send for Review. You should always save to a new file name, rather than overwrite the original file with the new document, in order to preserve a copy of the document containing the original data. The Remove Hidden Data add-in does not work with Information Rights Management-protected or digitally-signed files.
System Requirements
Supported Operating Systems: Windows XP
Note: The Remove Hidden Data add-in has not been tested on Microsoft Windows 2000. Also, the add-in cannot be installed on Windows 98 or Windows Millennium Edition.
This download works with the following Office applications:
Microsoft Office Excel 2003
Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003
Microsoft Office Word 2003
Microsoft Excel 2002
Microsoft PowerPoint 2002
Microsoft Word 2002
This is a complex question with no real simple answers, and even Microsoft's studies have shown a Linux solution cheaper in certain circumstances.
The cost of the OS and apps are usually a very small portion of an IT budget. The support costs have to be factored. Linux often claims advantage here, as well, by stating that fewer admins are needed to administer a Linux network than a Windows one. Windows admins are usually cheaper to hire, though, on the other hand. With Linux, you avoid the costs of Blaster, et al. However, training may be needed if migrating Desktop users to Linux.
In the end, every company needs to look at this themselves, and not just let Microsoft's studies say what to do.
Yes, well, considering my great expertise in using the Windows System Restore tool, I'd like to announce my availability for hire as an "Admin".
The first IT firm to respond in the next 30 minutes can acquire this rare expertise for the low introductory starting salary of $75K per annum!
I'll even supply my own mouse.
Real IT pros know who to choose. What it comes down to is knowlage. Do you know enough to use Linux, or are you too much of a newbie and need to spend money on Windows?
Last edited by 44377 on 06 Jan 2004 - 22:25
Live together , grow together , learn together and all parties are better off.
God damn its annoying year after year watching this crap .
Anyway Happy New Year all , may it be remembered as a year of creation and not a year of destruction
Geez..
Geez.. <<<, just say it jesus its shoudnt hurt to say his name.
Last edited by 10354 on 06 Jan 2004 - 22:13
Nothing to do with Jesus. Thank god.
Come on... I almost cried when I saw the little pop up on the "linux" laptop that said "Error: Please recompile operating system"
That was the lamest blow at Linux I had ever seen.
http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/facts/default.asp
keep the tripe to yourself
how is this possible, when they own the supercool portable document format called DOC?!
*wipes tear from his eye*
Hahahahaha.
Yes.. spoken like a true IT professional. Well done.
I don't like MS, and yes his comment was completely inaccurate but generalizing every MS IT professional as idiots makes you look arrogant.
I guess I've seen too much MS bashing in my lifetime...
say, what???
Obviously, you have never operated a Linux system. You don't have to recompile the kernel for updates. Unheard of! Now, some "1337" (or geeks who think that they are "elite"
But please stick to comments where you have some knowledge behind to back them up.
arrogant as it may seem its what most m$ IT do now adays. just format and reinstall. a monkey could install windows
just becuase people are bashing doesnt mean they are wrong.
The pro-Micorosft stuff will always be on Microsoft or Microsoft close-partners sites. The pro-Linux stuff will be on Open Source sites and big Linux distributors and partners. Are you really surprised by this?
All you can do is read the stuff for youself and decide what is best for you. But you know - you must be willing to read in the first place
However, I think everyone can see a trend where traditionally Pro-Microsoft analysts and consultants are making more and more positive statements about Linux.
The tide turns slowly in an industry this large (and comple
I will almost guarantee that almost everyone here will agree that a Linux solution makes more sense for some people, and a Windows solution makes more sense for other people.
But it frustrates me for Linux to have to come up against the almighty Microsoft, when even the people who train on the software know its a bit ropey.
First example.. on the implementing AD course :
Tutor : So who here has any experience with DNS?
Me : I do.. i'm the DNS admin for our company.
Tutor : So what version of Windows do you run it on?
Me : Actually I use BIND9 on Linux.
Tutor : Oh.. so you do it properly then.
This theme returned throughout the week.. and even Microsoft DNS balked at one point during the labs, and the tutor resolved the problem by unticking the box that allowed zone transfers, and then reticked it - that fixed the problem. Thats some real enterprise grade quality there.
Second example is on the course this week.. today in fact, the class consisted of two tutors for the company, a consultant from a company, and me & the other guy I work with. Towards the end of the day we were ALL joking about the classic Microsoft foibles and faults, especially stuff like licensing schemes, some of the requirements & quirks of Exchange 2003, and the fact that whenever Microsoft stuff misbehaves everyone always joking rolls their eyes and tuts saying "Typical Microsoft stuff eh.." and everyone just chuckles and agrees. Its almost like the unreliability of the product is expected, and noone is surprised when it happens.
I dunno.. I just find it a bit frustrating sometimes. I don't have a problem with people using Microsoft stuff, and i'll be the first to agree that they make some killer stuff and that their products are improving.
But i'm so fed up of Linux having to play 2nd fiddle to Windows, when everyone who uses it knows its capable of so much more.
Milliamp
Network, UNIX, and Windows admin.
People who choose Linux do so because of the power and flexibility. A scaled-down version of a Windows server would have to be less functional (by the definition of a "Lite" version), and not adequate.
Microsoft has to compete full-on with Linux (or more accurately, Linux has to compete with the dominant Microsoft). It's a good battle, with both OSes getting better because of it!
What this shows of Microsoft is that they are getting scared at linux's success and don't know what else to do about it. It just makes them look bad in my opinion.
Actually, I have discussed this with several people, and this would really be an effective means for Microsoft to undermine Linux!
Users would pick up a copy of Longhorn at the checkout line for free (where the AOL CDs used to be), and could install it for free (as in beer). They would continue to sell things like Office, and their other well-integrated apps. Not sure how long this business model would sustain itself, but a free copy of Windows would almost certainly be picked up (and not just for drink coasters, either)
I think they have always been doing this. MS has more money than RIAA/MPAA to keep track of and target individual users having pirated copies of Windows.
They will never follow RIAA's path because piracy only helps Win market share. Also their monopoly status gets in the way. However a legit free copy from MS would certainly be interesting.
yeah whatever
Also, Linux is more secure that windows.. yes!. Linux is more secure that a windows with antivirus and firewall.. HELL NO!!! (ex. S-E-N-D-M-A-I-L).
Linux for server can be good but you only need 1 server for each 30 or 50 pc and the server have a long lifespawn so server are fairly less that workstation/homepc...
linux for home or workstation.... NO WAY. Linux TRULY is a OS for NERDS!!!.. think about Apache configuration.. it can be configured in a "nice" windows BUT if you want to configured REALLY, then you need to edit a plain text!!! (they obvious don't known that the common people dislike it, even a veterans dislike to manually configured something).
Luckily, Linux only hold <4% of the market.
You say Linux is more secure than Windows (I assume you mean initial default installs). Then you add AV and Firewalls to Windows, and no Firewall to Linux, then throw in mail servers on Linux. You have unbalanced your comparison by doing different things to each side. You really need to treat both sides of the equation the same (just like in basic Algebra) to do a comparison.
Linux works perfectly well for home and workstation use. But, if you are going ot try to construct an arguement based on home/workstation use, it makes no sense to support that claim with server configuration!
Your "points" are pure opinions, and your "support" is random rantings. Please gather your information and present a logical arguement.
I would love to use linux instead of windows.
But every time I give it a whirl, the same results:
On a machine that runs windows at a good clip, linux wades through syrup.
Within half an hour, at least one app crashes.
For anything bigger than a text editor, load times are ridiculous.
I'm not a linux basher or a windows gusher, but I see no reason to throw out windows for linux. What you call an OS for newbies and idiots, I call an OS for people who realise that the OS is just a means to an end, not an end in itself.
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