I think all school's should use Linux. They can spend the money they save on MS licenses on a new playground and sports facilities. It may also teach a new generation of consumers that there are alternative Operating Systems that are just as capable as Windows, are free, and you don't have to worry about being carted off to prison for using it. Perhaps this is the only way to end Microsoft's abuse of it's monopoly. Education.

Or more likely it will turn them back to the dark-ages. They'll spend all of their time downloading, fiddling with, and compiling source code to get their video card to work under Linux they'll never actually get any education done.

TG2.

No, that is the role of the system administrator.
I doubt that the children are responsible for installing, configuring and ensuring windows is patched either.

Gorbachev should talk to Russia's Department of Justice, not Microsoft. Hey, Microsoft is not responsible of anti-piracy russian laws!

William:
You are not going to jail just for using *any* commercial software. You must buy a license, period. Of course, you are free to choose whether or not to pay for something you want to use. Its stupid to proclaim "I want cars for free" just because you don't want or can't afford one.

Tod O.

Although I am not privy to the full facts of this case, it appears that some PC's were purchased by a teacher who was not aware the operating systems preloaded on them were illegal copies.

This teacher IS being threatened with a Siberian jail sentance for his actions.

Can you explain you comment "I want cars for free" in the context of spending between a hundred to several hundred dollars on a Windows license per machine or installing Linux for free and not having to worry about going to prison for the crime of being gullible?

I hope that you don't get a knock at your door at six a clock in the morning because your Windows Install has just failed it's silent WGA validation check when you thought you were installing a 'Critical Update'.

William:
First of all I am not blaming the teacher. If he purchased PCs with illegal software preinstalled, the law should prosecute the PC vendor, not the teacher. It's common sense. My comment "cars for free" is for people who bash out against commercial software and wants software for free. As I said, if somebody wants free (as in "free beer") software, ok go get freeware or non-licensed software. If I want and can afford commercial software and feel comfortable with it, I am free (as in "freedom") to buy it.

Tod O.

I feel your analogy of "cars for free" is not fit for purpose. We are talking about software that costs a couple of hundred dollars, not physical products that costs tens of thousands. I have never met anyone who proclaims cars should be free.

You still haven't answered why it is idiotic to ask for a free operating system? Surely it is idiotic just to blindly pay Microsoft for a license without considering the alternatives.

I'm sorry, but threatening to incarcerate your customers who knowingly, or not, have breached your licensing agreements is a risky strategy indeed. Especially when your competition can match what your product offers for free. It just smacks of arrogance if you ask me.

William: I agree. How dare Microsoft sell it's products for money? The arrogance.

Hurumph.

Ben.

Don't be so facetious. I never once said the Microsoft was arrogant for selling it's product for money.

I do find it arrogant for a large company such as Microsoft to contemplate using prison as a deterrent for EULA breaches and expect to maintain market share.

Even if you were completely above board how can you be 100% sure the "Microsoft Partner" you are about to do business with is. Surely you can see how this sort of behaviour can drive your customers to your competitors? Especially if by going to your competitors they can actually save money as well.

I agree with William. He was talking about GOOD alternatives, but the ppl here understood that he means 'Microsoft should sell window$ for free'.
And, in respect to the TG2's first comment about spending lots of time installing Linux: You are smoking bad weed man, today installing Linux is easier than windows, such distributions as OpenSuse and Mandriva even do it using a graphical interface - something that Microsoft hasn't got to yet. What you said about Linux only proves that you have little (or none) experience in Linux.

I just wonder whether anyone were executed for intellectual property offences. When China was applying for the WTO status, I was imagining that a thousand hawkers who sell pirated Microsoft software were executed to demonstrate determination in piracy crackdown which helps gaining WTO status. However have these things really happened before and do you think this will become a trend in developing countries?

TG2.
I don't know anything about computers but I was able to install linux and have been using it for months now.
I just think you and the other T are representatives of microsoft corporation.