The Empire Strikes Back - in China

jaymzter writes: "Reuters is reporting that Microsoft is dumping $750 million into China over the next three years. According to MS CEO Steve Ballmer, "What's good for the local industry in every country is good for Microsoft", especially when that other country is actually promoting and developing home grown Linux. From the article it looks like MS is willing to overlook China's legendary software 'sharing' as long as the government stays tight with Windows."

Birds of a feather

[Anonymous Coward]

Some would say considering China's human rights record.... that M$ and China would make a good team.

But... they'll be hungry again 1/2 hour later.

[simetra]

Rimshot!

This is all your fault !

[cobbaut]

If all these slashdot geeks would have just SHUT UP about big markets (country's) going to Linux, then maybe M$ would never have noticed this. (Microsoft also reads Slashdot...)

So from now on no more Linux success stories on /. OK!

hey Ballmer

[Patrick13]

Hey Steve-O--

my friends and I pirate MS software too, give us $750,000,000 too. What's good for us is good for the net economy...

Good news/bad news

[Dark Paladin]

The Good News:

China gets an even bigger IT infrastructure.

The Bad News:

They spend most of it on hardware upgrades. Forever.

The Good News:

More technical knowledge of computers in the country.

The Bad News:

It's all directed at creating anti-Pallendrome mod chips.

The Good News:

More people in China get onto the Internet!

The Bad News:

All they can get is MSN, and only if they use Internet Explorer.

The Good News:

China gets to upgrade their military computers.

The Bad News:

The first BSOD launches WWIII.

Communistic and UnAmerican!

[Jon Howard]

...wait a second - you said Microsoft?

I'd like to see the hat that Bill Gates should be eating right now.

dosent matter

[Ksop]

linux open relay
or
windows open relay

were all still going to get spam from china

In related news...

[snofla]

"MICROSOFT EXPECTS TO lose $750 million in the current fiscal year ending June 30 and another $1.1 billion in the next fiscal year, according to a source familiar with the matter. David Hufford, a Microsoft spokesman, declined comment on the financials." From "Microsoft takes big losses on Xbox" [msnbc.com]

Hope they have a good accountant.

Re:dosent matter

[Lao-Tzu]

It does so matter.

A windows open relay will have more downtime. Yippee!

Re:Good news/bad news

[cruelworld]

I used to believe that Windows 2000 was stable.

If I'm logged in as Administrator and using Internet Explorer, it will eventually hang my machine.

This also happens to at least two other people that I know.

Re:How long can they keep it up?

[_ph1ux_]

good point. I wonder if that means that they get to write off 750mil...

Kramer: Jerry, just write it off.

Jerry: what? what do you mean write it off?

Kramer: big companies do it all the time.

Jerry: you dont even know what a write is, do you?

Kramer: ....

Oh, the beautiful irony

[Static242]

Think of the it. Some day China may be taking M$ to court for monopolistic tactics. I kind of doubt anyone at M$ will be standing in front of any communist fact finding mission about poor software design or trade tactics. Here you can plead the 5th, their they can do some unsavory sort of punishment [fordham.edu]

Re:Had VA thought of this...

[JCCyC]

I get the queasies when I see any Western companies kissing the Chinese govt's butt, be them Open Source or anything else. But M$ is special:

Chinese PM: Linux secure, Windows dangelous. Fuck off.
Ballmer: But Mr. Chairman, Linux promotes freedom, while we promote tyranny! It's us who are you natural allies!!!
Chinese PM: Zounds, you're light! Let's make a deal.

Neat...

[Danse]

Now I see that I have been right all along!! I'm not really pirating MS software, I'm helping MS to maintain their dominant user-base! What's good for me is good for Microsoft!!

Re:nice try, but ain't gonna happen...

[Jaysyn]

Zenophobia, the fear of tall, strong, white women.

I'm sure you ment Xenophobia though.

Jaysyn

China trusts Microsoft?

[weave]

Imagine the good that ole Bill could do. Plant a trojan in every copy, set to go off years from now. When the magic date hits, start sending state secrets to U.S. on one hand, while opening up a tunnel around their firewall blocks and blast every normal computer user in the country with a real look at the outside world of news, events -- and boobies!

He could trigger a revolution! :-)

Bill Gates starts World War III?

[dcavanaugh]

I used to think that World War III would start in the Middle East, but now I know better. The Chinese will think all the Microsoft bugs and security loopholes are a cyber-attack from the United States, when it's really just the products behaving as designed.

Re:Neat...

[labratuk]

...What's good for me is good for Microsoft!!

Wait a second: you're saying using Microsoft software is good for you?