For a few years now, the Linux vs. Microsoft battle has entered a peaceful era with more and more Linux companies signing peace-deals with the evil Redmond giant. However, not everybody is cheap these days and there are a couple of Linux companies that responded with a clear "Hell NO!" to any deal Microsoft offered them.
The latest action from the "no deal" camp is the open letter sent by Mandriva CEO to Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO. Apparently Microsoft was able to change the course of a deal between Mandriva and Nigerian Government by making use of questionable business ethics. Nothing new so far, Microsoft has done it again and again.
Wow! I’m impressed, Steve! What have you done to these guys to make them change their mind like this? It’s quite clear to me, and it will be to everyone. How do you call what you just did Steve? There is various names for it, I’m sure you know them.
Of course, I will keep fighting this one and the next one, and the next one. You have the money, the power, and maybe we have a different sense of ethics you and I, but I still believe that hard work, good technology and ethics can win too.
