see article
http://netscape.com.com/2100-3513_22-5388863.html?part=netscape&subj=technews&tag=mynetscape

PCs running Linux are growing in popularity in part because they can be loaded with a pirated copy of Windows, according to a study from analyst Gartner.

just another ploy.

next they will be telling us that linux causes cancer.

go figure. I'll bet that now Microsoft will try getting congress to outlaw linux in the US. Just like the RIAA is trying to get congress to outlaw P2P.

They will try anything.

Eventually they want to stop the home computer builders because they will be the mechanism to make and endrun around trusted computing and DRM.

Linux is almost ready to dominate the desktop arena as well as game machines, cell phones, pda's and microsucks hates the fact that a free OS can grow people have to remember the paid version of linux like the business version comes with support unlike the desktop version but it has documentation online to help people.

The paid version is also cheaper for business and microsucks knows it and thats why they tried to make a watered down version for the poor countrys to deploy.

If you ask me I like linux better I just need to get it online sooner the better so I can give microsucks the finger.

I know a friend that used Windows Me as a way to download a pirated version of XP. lol. After Xp is dead I'm going full linux on all my machines.

Microsucks knows that the OS they offer is the prime target for all virus writers. Since they have dominated the market, every spyware and malware is written for them.

So many have gotten fed up with the constant fight to try and keep a clean machine that they are looking for other OS's that might resist such attempts at invasion.

Certainly that has been my experience. Micr$uck$ knows that if another OS gains a toehold in the market, it can only come from their pockets. They also know that their OS is really over priced and that as it stands they are not going to invest the time to make the OS more "security tight" as it would mean redesigning the OS from the ground up.

Honestly, I don't think they would get it right then. Too many people with something to add to the pot or wanting a hole for it to be compatible with. To date their only idea has been an OS that denies everything not specifically keyed to the OS.

This also means that any and all software you have at present won't work without an update. Question is how much that update costs. Does the maker sell you a totally new package, sell you the update, or make the update freely available. This decision is sort of up to the makers and I can't see them turning down free money of sorts.

Linux is certainly where I am headed. I want off this roller coaster of malware on the net today. I want the control of my machine reverted back to me. I am tired of spywares, of trojans, or the newest virus that needs some sort of patch that comes out 6 motnhs later if at all.

From the Title of this story, "Desktop Linux a vehicle for pirating Windows," would give one the impression Linux would be software targeted by the INDUCE ACT.

I doubt very many linux users would want windows... didn't most linux users get linux to get away from windows?

Two points:

1. The number of people buying linux systems to install windows is far, far less than the number forced to buy windows systems to install linux on.

2. Microsoft has sent warnings to OEMs supplying empty systems along the same lines. In the past, MS would offer 'unrelated' discounts on OEM licences to OEMs that sold only windows systems. Its harder for them to do that now, after the antitrust mess, but they probably still try.

You're missing the point. Budget machines are sold through stores like Frys. They come with Linux as an OS. So for all practical purposes, for those who want M$, there is no OS on the machine. Then the purchaser just loads up his already pirated M$ XP. They just put Linux on the machne b/c they are scared to sell them without any OS.

I've been reading this, and even re-read it. If your machine has spyware on it currently; switching to linux is not going to make this problem go away; Another will come up in it's place. The fact someone actually got spyware/adware/viruses on the machine means the USER was doing something they should not have been doing. One of you spoke of the power reverting back to me, Well it did revert back to you; and you willingly gave it back to the junk infestation software.

You don't need to have the latest patches, security updates, ad nausem to stay safe. Don't use IE, Don't use Outlook/Outlook Express, Use 3rd party known safe software instead; If you MUST use p2p software, don't use kazaa, use kazaa lite; it's spyware free. The list of do's and don'ts continues, I won't bore you to death with it all here.

But for godsake people, Please don't blame every single infection on windows itself; Very few viruses (less then 10 actually) could load on your machine without your help; Oh, and even those could have been avoided if the user didn't use outlook.

If you can't keep windows secure, how in the world do you expect to keep linux safe? Your bad habits will only go with you to the next OS you run.

yeah i am getting tired of virus's being blamed on microsoft. if you want virus's to go away, you support trusted computing.

however please do blame MS for blaster and all other self propagating worms that infect people with no downloading. That they do deserve blame for and deserve a class action lawsuit against.

darkened,

Even those worms required certain ports on the machine to be accessible to the outside world; Dumb of microsoft to have them open by default, even dumber for the end user to leave them that way.

firewall would have prevented it, no patch required.