this post was submitted on 02 Sep 2023
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MS has a history which informs what their fututre actions are likely to be. If you can't believe the comments here perhaps you have not heard that history. If you have then consider that lemmy is free software and so you're more likely to find that way of thinking here.
My goto for distrust of MS https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embrace,_extend,_and_extinguish
Thank you for the link to embrace, extend, extinguish. You really can't point it out enough because it's become the de facto business plan for so many tech companies.
As for myself, after 30 years on MS starting with DOS and fifteen on Mac (concurrent, lol), I'm finally exploring Linux with the end goal of getting off both in terms of desktop computing. I am absolutely convinced MS is trying to head toward an OS subscription model if there's any possible way they can get away with it, and I want to get off any dependency on their products before they do. Apple hasn't been nearly as bad for me personally, but as long as I'm moving in a FOSS direction I might as well do those too. Plus, Linux is so light you can run it on truly old hardware, like the 13 year old Macbook with 4 GB of RAM I'm using as a test box.
Cool thing is that Linux believes in live trials, so you download your distro for free, load it up on a thumb drive, and spin it around without installing a thing until you want to, doing this as many times as you like without cost. And the experience is unbelievably full and fast on the most minimal hardware imaginable.
I haven't decided on a distro yet, still testing them out, but I'm honestly starting to wonder why I waited so long to start exploring the alternatives, because they're appealing as hell, much more so than yet another disappointing ad-filled Windows release.
There's not a single reference on that page that's less than 20 years old. Yes, Microsoft did some anticompetitive stuff back when Bill Gates was CEO, but it's absurd to suggest that that still "informs what their future actions are likely to be". A lot has changed since the 1990s.
What has changed which means they should be forgiven or trusted during these 20 years? What does a Linux subsystem for Windows prove? They want users to run Linux apps in Windows so their users will be less tempted to not use Windows.. so they can add more anti features for profit.
I guess you are completely unaware of the fact that a huge chunk of the Azure infrastructure runs on linux now. MS also knows that in the enterprise space, companies use linux in their server infrastructure also, so their employees need to be able to work in linx as well. MS has versions of SQL and I believe also exchange that run on linux. WSL isn't just about appease neckbeard wannabes.
I don't understand why MS using Linux gives you trust in MS. MS leaked documents (over 20 years ago too) showed they considered free software a serious competitior (including Linux). Makes sense they would use it, so what?
I was working in the industry like I do now when that happened. I was disappointed the antitrust trial didn't break up MS into three companies. Things have changed there. I guess we should dig into your past and hold everything you've did 20 years ago against you?
Ballmer was the driving force behind that mentality and he's been gone from MS for a very long time.
Would breaking up big tech software companies have the same effect as it does with regular companies? I can't shake the idea it won't really work. People don't want the 2nd best free (gratis) mapping software.
If one has not tried to sincerely make amends or doesn't appear to have changed then it's resonable take past actions into consideration?? I still see Microsoft making anti-consumer moves and they ain't making Windows free software (free as in freedom).