Microsoft's marketing team considers ridiculously skewed comparison charts to be a killer weapon in the war on competitors. It's only natural, then, that the Redmond giant would provide retail store employees with a surreal juxtaposition between Windows 7 and Linux to 'explain' for the Linux-curious.
Update: Ars Technica digs up the related Windows 7 'comparisons' against Macs, which feature similarly skewed takes on familiarity, compatibility, and 'value.'
The chart is part of an ExpertZone training course provided by Microsoft to retail employees at stores like Best Buy. After the training, the employees are expected to be able to better explain the merits of software like the soon-to-launch Windows 7. Microsoft felt it necessary, however, to specifically compare Windows 7 to Linux—something we usually save for idealistic, charged-up commenters.
In this case, though, it has to be pointed out that Linux can and does play 'the games your customers want,' specifically the World of Warcraft example mentioned, through the WINE project, and the idea that Linux has compatibility with 'few' cameras, iPods, MP3 players, printers, and scanners is definitely a stretch of a comparison. Linux, in fact, keeps legacy support intact for many of the printers, scanners, and other devices that Windows Vista and 7 have left behind, and generally supports newer models from the major manufacturers.
Video chat on 'all major IM networks' just got better on Linux, actually, with the release of Pidgin 2.6, and the lack of access to Windows Live Essentials has likely not caused many a netbook owner to make a red-faced return trip to Best Buy.
All that is not to say that a Linux machine, presumably a netbook in this case, is the best choice for any computer user not interested in configuring his machine a little if they're looking for app use beyond basic web surfing and document access. Let's hear your take on Microsoft's talking points in the comments.
No comments:
Post a Comment