This column maintains that media coverage of Linux is most
balanced (and positive) when it comes from non-technical sources,
that much mainstream media reportage is "Microsoft sponsored," and
that Linux enthusiasts, having no publicists, will have to put up
with this situation.
"One of my jobs here at Linux Online for the past year
has been to post articles about Linux from both the specialized and
mainstream press. After over a year of doing this, I have come to
the conclusion that the specialized computer press really doesn't
understand Linux. As a matter of fact, quite contrary to the rules
of logic in this case, the popular press, epitomized by web sites
like CNN's, actually does a better job at reporting fairly on the
Linux phenomenon. You can count on them for a pretty fair "just the
facts ma'am" reporting about our favorite OS. My hat also goes off
to Stephen Shankland whose reporting appears frequently on ZDNet
and CNET.
However, when you go over to the press that's supposed to know
what it's talking about when it reports on IT developments, the
fairly well-researched and objective writing about Linux gets
pretty scarce. I'll chalk the reason for this up to the "meal
ticket syndrome", which I alluded to in my article about Linux on
the desktop. For the last decade or so Microsoft has overshadowed
most of the computer world. Obviously, if you want to write about
the computer industry, you had better learn to write about
Microsoft. As an avid reader of the computer industry press during
these years, most of the articles until about two or three years
ago centered around Microsoft's latest offerings and how wonderful
they were. I will say this though, reporting about Microsoft has
gotten pretty objective. Most of what I've read in the press about
Microsoft this week, despite being pretty negative, is quite
accurate. We've seen that Microsoft is a monopoly in violation of
the US Sherman Anti-trust Act. Microsoft is pushing it's .NET
initiatives because its OS cash cow, probably thanks to Linux and
in some measure to Mac OS X, is likely to end up with dry udders in
the short term. Microsoft's best efforts to beat AOL at its instant
messaging game is failing miserably due to technical glitches -
"hardware" problems they say. God forbid the guys at Redmond have
software problems! The latest Microsoft gaffe seems to be a problem
getting preview versions of Windows XP to people who actually paid
for them. That's why I find the software industry so interesting
lately. You can get a copy of Linux, a great all-round finished OS
for free and then there are people willing to shell out 10 US
dollars to get some preview copy of Windows XP. We can debate the
wisdom of things like that at some later date. I see that I am
digressing here."
