Microsoft launches retail-level attack on Linux

by Steve Ragan - Sep 8 2009, 18:45

Over the holiday weekend, a BestBuy employee posted slides form training materials provided by Microsoft to the Overclock.net forums. The slides compare Windows 7 to Linux-based PCs, and while designed for in-store sales assistance, all they did was fan the flames of the Windows vs. Linux debate.

Is it training? Is it FUD? Is it nothing more than a sales pitch? Your guess is just as good as ours, but there are some interesting statements in these slides, which saw attention from Slashdot and Digg over the holiday weekend here in the U.S. However, while some of the information offered by Microsoft is questionable, we did notice one statement that is true in the materials.

“Your customers can immediately start using their Windows 7 PC and do not have to relearn the things they want to do.” –Key Benefits of Windows Slide, Microsoft

This one sentence is actually true. When it comes to Linux systems, computer users who have gone all their “computing lives” on Windows will have a bit of a learning curve when they make the jump. Yet, this learning curve is no different than the curve experienced by people using Windows for the first time. Consumers moving from XP to Windows 7 will have a hard time as well. Two points not covered by the training slide, or addressed at all for that matter. How many consumers will grow frustrated with Windows 7 because they skipped Vista?

“With Windows, your customer has less to learn. Most customers have used Windows before. Windows 7 offers many new features, but it still provides the same great Windows experience they’re familiar with.” – Familiarity slide, Microsoft

Another slide that talks about how easy it is to use Windows 7, but again misses the chance to address issues that users moving from XP to Windows 7 might face. It makes you wonder if this isn’t training, but more of a sales script to follow in-store.

Another slide addresses compatibility, naming Windows Live Essentials as a main loss for customers if they move to Linux. However, the same slide also says that “few” Linux distributions have support for iPod or other MP3 players, cameras, printers, and scanners. Another loss if a customer moves to Linux is “the games your customers want (e.g. World of Warcraft)”.

There is entirely too much to cover with this statement, but iPod support, countless printers and scanners, cameras, and even World of Warcraft will run on Linux. The compatibility slide highlights “authorized” support as a loss on Linux as well. However, if you purchased a Linux system from Dell, you can purchase authorized support, much like you do with Microsoft, or get it free from the community, again, an option Microsoft has for Windows.

Video chat on major IM networks, another loss if you move to Linux, is addressed by Microsoft during the BestBuy training as well. Yet, here too there are Linux applications (Skype just to name one) that support chat and video.

In another set of slides, Microsoft addresses various facts and myths about Windows vs. Linux. Calling Linux updates and upgrades easy is a myth according to the training slides, as is saying that Linux is safer than Windows. Calling Linux easy to learn is a myth, Microsoft explained, because “Linux is a self help solution. There are no step-by-step tutorials provided, and help documentation is limited.”

An interesting statement, considering that, as mentioned previously, both platforms are “self help” and paid support based. With that said, here is a video tutorial of installing Ubuntu on top of Windows, step-by-step, which came directly from the Ubuntu support site. (Complete with boot menu selection problems, and Live CD features.) This is a second step-by-step discovered after a Google search.

Linux isn’t for everyone. While some will tell you good and bad things about both Linux and Windows and why you should be using one over the other, remember that you need to use what is best for you. Linux, again, is fast, easy to learn and use, and great for normal everyday computing. However, Linux is not ready for massive enterprise desktop environments. Not yet, but it’s getting there. Microsoft must think so too, because they are starting the information campaigns early.

The images on the next page are the slides posted to Overclock.net.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Around the Web