Dur Comme Faire

Vous allez peut être penser que Microsoft est mon bouc émissaire du moment mais je veux résumer un peu les dernières nouveautés au niveau de l'attitude de cette firme.

Attitude face à l'innovation

Le géant de Redmond adore s'approprier une technologie, la pervertir et en tirer les honneurs.
Les exemples récents sont .Net qui est une copie de Java, bien qu'une fois n'étant pas coutume .Net apporte des idées interessantes pour pallier aux inconvénients de Java, XAML qui est une pâle copie de XUL et le dernier en date WVG qui singe SVG.
Bien évidemment quand Microsoft s'approprie un concept, il rend sa version incompatible avec l'original et charge son service marketing de tourner cela en innovation à mettre au crédit de Microsoft.

Pratiques concurrentielles

Michael Robertson, CEO de Lindows, révèle dans son dernier billet les pratiques anti-concurrentielles que pratique Microsoft à l'égard de l'un de ses revendeurs Hollandais.

Voici le mail du revendeur à Michael Robertson :

From: verkoop@dvcs.nl Date: November 25, 2003 13:01 To: Kendall@lindows.com CC: Michaelr@lindows.com Subject: Microsoft Trial

Hello Kendall,

i,ve got a strange phone call this morning from Microsoft Netherlands. They are saying that they are preparing a trial here agains lindows and they want to involve my company DV Computer Systems (www.dvcs.nl) in this trial because i sell my computers with Lindows Operating System (I'm am the only bronze builder here).

Next Friday they are coming to me , to talk to me about this. What i understand from that phonecall is that they want that i stop selling Lindows OS computers.

I don't like this but when they are taking this to court and involve me then i must stop selling Lindows OS because i don't have the money for lawyers.

I hope you or your staff have any suggestions.

Grtx Hans de Vries DV Computer Systems

Et voici la réponse de Michael Robertson :

To: verkoop@dvcs.nl CC: steveb@microsoft.com, jean-philippe.courtios@microsoft.com, COMP-CONSUMER-OFFICER@cec.eu.int From: michaelr@lindows.com Subject: Re: Microsoft Trial--

Hans,

First, thanks for working with Lindows.com as an international partner.

Your email was very disconcerting to read because it seems like another example of Microsoft attempting to eradicate all competition through any means. While they say they invite competition, behind the scenes they seem willing to take any actions - including blatant extortion - to squash competition.

I want to assure you that we will do what we can to support you. I understand you have a meeting this Friday. Although it's the Thanksgiving day holiday weekend here in the US and I was hoping to spend time with my family, I will commit to personally attend that meeting and sit alongside you.

Please confirm the meeting today with the Microsoft representative and I'll make travel plans accordingly.

Thanks again for being our partners. Together we are bringing CHOICE back to the PC business.

-- MR

Michael Robertson CEO, Lindows.com - World's Most Affordable Choice

Espérons que des mesures seront prises pour arrêter ce genre de pratiques malheureusement trop habituelles de la part de la firme de Redmond.