Does Microsoft Deliver Anti-Linux Rhetoric to Best Buy Workers?

by Sam Dean - Sep. 08, 2009Comments (6)

If you walk into any Best Buy store and head over to the computers, you can't help but notice that Microsoft Windows is by far the most prominently displayed operating system. You can find Mac systems and the occasional Linux netbook, but Linux in particular gets short shrift at the stores. Although Microsoft has not responded on the issue, this post suggests that Microsoft itself is behind the ghettoized status that Linux has at Best Buy.

Sam Gustin's post specifically considers the idea that Microsoft "indoctrinates" Best Buy employees with anti-Linux rhetoric, and is especially doing so in anticipation of the arrival of Windows 7. The post refers to a series of allegedly leaked Microsoft slides placed online by a Best Buy employee, as seen here.

"Linux does not support many common applications and online services like iTunes, Zune, Quicken, Photoshop, and Office 2007," reads one slide. Gustin's post also quotes Christopher Lemire, a Houston, Texas-based computer programmer:

"This is the usual thing that Microsoft does, but they've really taken it to an extreme now. They're really attacking Linux this time....It's just lies and indoctrination."

Boycott Novell has weighed in on the issue, charging that Best Buy "has collusion/racketeering history with Microsoft," and alleges that anti-Linux training goes on for employees of Staples' stores as well. In this post, you can view a number of slides that Microsoft allegedly handed out to Staples employees. "Here are the key areas to focus on when discussing netbooks and nettops," reads one of the slides. "Windows based netbooks and nettops offer more than Linux-based netbooks and nettops," it continues.

Microsoft has remained particularly focused on netbooks, a fast-growing hardware category where low prices have shaved the company's profit margins. In this post, we discussed how both Dell and Asus have contradicted Microsoft's assertion that return rates are much higher for Linux netbooks than Windows netbooks.

I suspect a lot of this has to do with Microsoft's focus on Windows 7, netbooks, and possible concerns about Google's upcoming Chrome OS. It also aggressively pursues partnerships with retail chains. Still, the real question to ask is how the Linux community can respond to this type of war of words in the retail channel.

Who has the marketing budget to retaliate? This is yet another reason why a federated marketing effort among hardware makers who support Linux, and perhaps open source- and Linux-based foundations, could make a lot of sense.


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6 Comments
 

I would think that they should be doing more to worry about the "I'm a PC" commercials, which are really taking them out to the woodshed. I cannot imagine a lot of novice users going to BestBuy to buy Linux boxes, but I'm guessing that the netbook market is probably the space they are trying to defend?


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@Anna, yes the I'm a PC commercials are of concern too. My question is how can the Linux community respond with its own coordinated marketing efforts?


Sam


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Or you could just produce a product that people want to use and buy, and market Linux on it's own merits.


There is no locking from MS, but there is a certain quality and functionality issue that goes to the lack of takeup of Linux.


In 1980 MS was a nothing company, and PET's and AMSTRADS and so on where the "big things". UNIX was big back then, IBM was HUGE and had it's vendor lock-in.


It's not monopoly, or some crazy BoycottNovell conspiracy theory cooked up by perpetually unemployed Roy Swetotwitz.


Roy is a 'man' that considers his "job" at Boycottnolvell MORE IMPORTANT than post Doctorial work at OXFORD Uni.


All I can say to that is OMFG !!!!


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@anonymous


Mr. Schestowitz does great work for the Linux community. More & more people everyday are learning about the evil empire that is Microsoft thanks to Mr. Schestowitz. It is my honor to help him spread the word and seed the search engines.


You would do well to show Mr. Schestowitz the respect he deserves.


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Ok, Roy, err...I mean @astralknight - get back to work.


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I called one vendor up and asked them if their hardware was freebsd compatible -- the response:


"If the OS is a freebie, it won't work right".


I didn't buy a computer from them..


I suggest people do the same at best buy (or anywhere hardware is sold) it's not a conspiracy, it's just that the company will do whatever they perceive will make the most money.


If your friends are buying windoze netbooks, ask them to ask about open source drivers, in case they want to run platform XYZ in the future. (or sell down the road who wants to run Linux/BSD/Whatever, it'll help the resale value)


If customers want an open source operating systems, and there is money in it, that is what Best Buy will provide.


I always ask if it'll work with FreeBSD AND Linux, even if I already know the answer, just to let the employee know there is interest in these things.


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