The Register: MS promotes Linux from threat to ‘the’ threat – Memo

“Linux is the long-term threat against our core
business. Never forget that!” Microsoft Windows Division Veep Brian
Valentine exclaims in a confidential memo to his Sales Brownshirts
obtained by The Register. (our emphasis)

The core outrage from Valentine’s perspective is all these Sun
and IBM shops migrating in droves to the cheaper Intel platform,
and observing along the way that Linux is a good deal easier to
deal with if you’re already acquainted with UNIX. Funny that. Kinda
the key idea behind Linux, but we digress.

“I need you to make sure that as many of these customers as
possible continue to migrate off of UNIX, but on to Windows 2000 on
Intel,” Valentine says. “You should be smothering your accounts
from every angle, and if you see Linux and/or IBM in there with it,
then get all over it. Don’t lose a single win to Linux.”

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