Note: This column represents the opinions
of the writer and as such, is not purported as fact
At last,
the contents of Aardvark's "million-dollar ideas" notebook
are revealed for all to see!
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According to IDG,
a local company (Infraserv) has lashed out at Microsoft's
"Software Assurance" programme by filing a complaint with the Commerce
Commission alleging anticompetitive behaviour.
My first thoughts on hearing this were "good on ya, it's about time Microsoft's
high-handed attitude to the market was reigned in" -- but then I changed my mind.
Come on folks -- Microsoft isn't the only circus in town.
If companies think Microsoft's "Software Assurance" or any other product/service
offered by the company for that matter, is poor value -- then don't buy it!
Instead of filling Billy-boy's wallet with chump-change and lining the pockets
of lawyers, why not bite the bullet and shift platforms?
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Let's face it, Microsoft has more than enough skilled sharks and effectively bottomless
pockets so battling them in the courts will, at best, produce just a moral
victory.
Even if the Commerce Commission rules against Microsoft, odds are that
the company will simple do something equally as tricky to squeeze money
from its corporate customers -- and then everyone's back where they started
(except the taxpayer and Infraserve who will still be out of pocket).
Why not just move to a new OS and/or office-productivity suite AND free
yourself from Microsoft's shackles forever.
Microsoft is very much aware of the threat that alternatives such as Linux,
Lindows, Open Office, and other alternatives represent to its dominance -- and
that's probably one reason for the existence of the "Software Assurance" programme.
It appears that the software giant fully expects competition to bite into its
market and the SA strategy is simply a way of giving them two year's breathing
space before they have to come up with an effective countermeasure.
Here are some of *my* recommendations for checking Microsoft's overzealous
(ab)use of its virtual monopoly:
In short -- stop ya whining and use your initiative.
Sure, in the case of a large company with many workstations and many staff,
the costs will be high -- but do you really think that Microsoft are going
to do anything other than continue to hike their prices in coming years?
Bite the bullet now, while you can still afford to!
And stop feeding the damned sharks :-)
Have your say.
Aardvark's Garage Sale
It's time to clear out the closet here at Aardvark's country residence so I'm
having a bit of a garage sale. I need to spend a whole lot more time
and money on my jet engine R&D activities (now that the defense industry
has shown a very real interest) -- so I'm trying to scrape up some more cash.
I'm selling my pulsejet manufacturing business. This would be
perfect for either a semi-retired engineer/machinist who wants to earn some
pretty good money building these things and exporting them to the world -- or
an established engineering shop who want to break into a new (very export
oriented) market.
I can provide an ongoing stream of orders through my website and since
I've run out of time to meet the demand, the sale will include a growing
"waiting list" of new customers ready to place their orders.
Anyone interested in any of these things should
drop me a line.
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