http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/biztech/11/19/tech.microsoft.linux3.reut/index.html

What do you guys think of this? Linux can be loaded off the net making it partly shareware as I understand it. In the article is mentions

1) that linux is based, in part on unix
2) China see microsoft as a potentional threat giving US partial control of their systems


I honestly don't know enough about the various OS's to make a educated arguement but I am hoping some of you can.

I think its quite right that national socialist countries such as China use open source software as this backs up their belief that copywrite is a capitalist tool and it also makes their actions in doing so not hypocritical.

Microsoft has alot to fear of Linux especially if countries such as China etc start switching away from Microsoft, but I fail to see how they can sue China for the reason I detail above. Intelectual property when excercised in this fasion, sueing because it encorporates seperate patented things, is stupid because at the end of the day Linux as a package is in itself a product that could be patented but isnt because its open source.

I think everybody should switch away from Microsoft as there is probably a Linux build out there for you and the Microsoft monopoly should end because it is not a use of choice for most people, it is simply their OS because either their computer came with XP on it or they believe that Linux is simply too complicated for them... or they dont even know there is an alternative OS for them.

read this for more information
http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/11/18/1338228&tid=155&tid=109&tid=123

Fud