Hi all,
IBM is running an anti linux ad, which I found objectionable.
So I've written a letter to them (see below). I would like to
know what everyone thinks of it. Any idea who I should send it
to? Should I change "we" to "I" in the letter? Anyone else like
to put their names on it? Could be send it as representatives
as ilugc or something? Any ideas/comments are welcome.
--------------------
Open letter to IBM
I speak only for myself, but as a long time linux user I believe
my opinions are fairly typical of the community.
IBM has in recent years been using and supporing linux on the
server side. We think this is great. On the other hand IBM has
always sold desktop systems with Microsoft Windows. We think
that's your prerogative.
This is with reference to the recent ad comparing the IBM laptop
<insert model here> with the Compaq Presario laptop. Apart from
how the ad stands with respect to the Comparative Advertising law,
what irks us is the (intentional) implication that linux is inferior
to windows and Compaq is in some way duping its customers by selling
them linux systems.
We know that this is not true. You know that it is not true. The
ad exploits the relative lack of familiarity of the general public
with linux and open source and tries to create a fear of the unknown.
As you know very well, we call this FUD:
http://catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/F/FUD.html.
It certainly leaves a bad taste in the mouth. We feel that IBM is
hitting below the belt.
Even though IBM has so far promoted only MS-windows based desktop
systems, recent announcements from IBM indicate this might change
soon in the future. In fact it appears that this might have already
started happening. In any case, considering the astounding rate at
which the effort to make linux desktop-ready has progressed, it is
clear that change is only a matter of time.
Obviously, any company whose business strategy includes open source
would benefit greatly from being in the good books of the open
source community. Considering that the linux community has a long
memory, it is in your own long term interest to play fair with us.
So we request you to stop running this ad, and also promise us to
avoid running such biased ads in the future.
Thank you
--------------------
Arvind
--
Q: Do you ever think about quantum computing?
Linus: I think that's a load of bull.
(From a Linux Lunacy cruise interview. After the presumptuous disparagement
of QC, Linus goes on to confuse it with DNA computing.)
