Microsoft “teaches” Best Buy employees a thing or two about Linux

Lately I’ve been trying to tone down criticism on the OS front as I actually run 3 different OS’s at home, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. I obviously have a favorite and some not so favorites. One OS in particular that is garnering more of my attention is that of Ubuntu 9.04. Right now I have it set up on a server at home giving me access to a few external hard drives. For me, using Ubuntu is a cinch, though for those less technically inclined who have grown up using Windows, switching to something different such as Linux is life altering. Perhaps that is the person they are catering to in their latest marketing material pushed out to Best Buy employees nation wide. Looking at the slide above, one can quickly and easily see the approach Microsoft is taking — that is, the same approach they have used over and over again for avoiding Linux: Microsoft’s superior support and vast application library.

Now, I won’t argue that for the mainstream, Windows may be a more efficient choice due to the simple fact that more people use and and know how to instruct others to use it. However, if you and your community grew up using Linux, that same feeling of ease and efficiency would be equally felt. I also won’t argue that Microsoft has a massive array of applications. However, it’s the way that they are going about “educating” Best Buy employees about the positives of Redmond’s finest that has me a bit irked. Looking above at the training document as well as a few more slides inside, many of the “negatives” directed at Linux are in fact deviations from the truth. Truths such as lack of apps (growing daily), lack of support (several distros have dedicated support), and the boasting of Microsoft’s vast library of free programs (ignoring the fact Windows costs hundreds of dollars and Linux is….free). The list goes on. These childish attempts are sadly not going to “inform” anyone. Instead, Microsoft’s marketing tactics in conjunction with Best Buy’s ever intelligent employees will foster a generation of misled shoppers. ‘Tis sad indeed. Let’s hope that you, the informed techie can spread the good word, or at least an honest word about the pro’s and con’s of Linux vs. Microsoft vs. Apple.

For a few pics of the so called training, feel free to hop on in.

Source: Technabob

Author: Mike Norris

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Gadget lover, smartphone collector, and beer connoisseur. I've been writing about gadgets for three years now and loving every minute of it. Outside of the digital landscape, I enjoy being active outdoors. I'm always up for a good conversation, so feel free to drop me a line!