Microsoft caught playing dirty again...

[geochem1st]

Now if I remember right, it is not the salespersons responsibility to steer the consumer to one product or another. The salesperson is there to point out the specs to people and let them make thier own decisions, not unduly influence them correct?

The above pic is from an educational seminar hosted by Microsoft to push Windows 7. All Best Buy employees who signed up were ablet to purchase Windows 7 for $10.00.

For all of the seminars screenshots see the link below.
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Microsoft trains Best Buy Linux Assassins

A whistle-blower over on Overclock.net has posted details of how Best Buy staff are trained to counter buyers’ interest in the Linux operating system. A forum member identifying themselves as GodofGrunts posted a series of screenshots from the "Linux vs Windows 7" module of Microsoft's ExpertZone training package.

As I worked my way through the screenshots I was disturbed by the increasing amounts of FUD that was being used under the guise of "information" to discredit Linux.

Microsoft trains Best Buy Linux assassins | ZDNet Photo Gallery

 

[mobprop667]

microsoft playing dirty???? say it isnt so.

obvious sarcasm.
they are the biggest sheisters out there.

 

[The_Sentry]

Ah geez.....That's got "lawsuit" written all over it!

 

[mobprop667]

that has huge lawsuit written all over it.

 

[Beerdog80]

 

[Brian Butler]

But isn't Linux free? And if so, of what use would a $10 Windows program be to someone who knows about O.S.'s and believes in Linux?

There are a lot of Microsoft would-be assasins out there. I'm not convinced that Gates is guilty of anything more than being a "good" businessman. And for those who have no problem with unbridled Capitalism, they shouldn't have a problem with this unless he's outright dishonest.

Personally, as I've said, I have a BIG problem with unbridled Capitalism, but if you DON'T, is Gates really doing anything wrong other than AGRESSIVE selling? Personally, when I see him speak, I really like the guy a LOT. He seems very loving and sincere, and he apparently gives a whale of a lot of money to charity, even a higher percentage of his huge fortune than many others do.

I don't know, maybe he's a bad guy, but the whole 'Microsoft is bad' thing just smacks of people who claim that 'Apple is the 'only' computer', or that Unix is SO MUCH better to use than Windows, or who don't like the Beatles simply because they were so popular.

Maybe I'm wrong.

 

[geochem1st]

But isn't Linux free? And if so, of what use would a $10 Windows program be to someone who knows about O.S.'s and believes in Linux?

There are a lot of Microsoft would-be assasins out there. I'm not convinced that Gates is guilty of anything more than being a "good" businessman. And for those who have no problem with unbridled Capitalism, they shouldn't have a problem with this unless he's outright dishonest.

Personally, as I've said, I have a BIG problem with unbridled Capitalism, but if you DON'T, is Gates really doing anything wrong other than AGRESSIVE selling? Personally, when I see him speak, I really like the guy a LOT. He seems very loving and sincere, and he apparently gives a whale of a lot of money to charity, even a higher percentage of his huge fortune than many others do.

I don't know, maybe he's a bad guy, but the whole 'Microsoft is bad' thing just smacks of people who claim that 'Apple is the 'only' computer', or that Unix is SO MUCH better to use than Windows, or who don't like the Beatles simply because they were so popular.

Maybe I'm wrong.

You are missing the point. This is influence peddling.

Salespeople are not supposed to indicate their personal choice, or a pushed manufacturers choice to the customers. Most people do not know about the differences between the two OS's, and the salesperson's 'opinion' will sway them towards M$. Plus, most of the info being pushed is incorrect.

The salespersons job is to answer questions regarding the technical differences when asked. Best Buy has many products. Favoring one or another due to kickbacks from manufacturers is dishonest.

This is not good business policy by M$ but manipulation.

 

[djwilbanks]

I'll never ask a sales person what I should buy ever again!

 

[allbusinessjoe]

Ah geez.....That's got "lawsuit" written all over it!

No lawsuit whatsoever. Not dirty either. Nothing prevents competitors from doing the same thing. Sure, they can sue --- but its money thrown out the window because it is not winable.

It is not illegal to coach a salesperson to explain the benefits of your product over competitors.

Welcome to capitalism.

 

[geochem1st]

No lawsuit whatsoever. Not dirty either. Nothing prevents competitors from doing the same thing. Sure, they can sue --- but its money thrown out the window because it is not winable.

It is not illegal to coach a salesperson to explain the benefits of your product over competitors.

Welcome to capitalism.

If it was a Microsoft store that sold Microsoft products only.... I would agree with you. But this is Best Buy where many manufactuer lines of the same products are sold.

 

[TOMMYTHUNDERS]

one summer during my undergraduate education i worked at radio shack
the reps from the different phone companies would come in and tell us why sprint was better than verizon and vice versa, with every mobile phone company rep., etc.

isn't that the same thing?

 

[allbusinessjoe]

If it was a Microsoft store that sold Microsoft products only.... I would agree with you. But this is Best Buy where many manufactuer lines of the same products are sold.

So what. Still not illegal. Its an open playing field where other companies can do the same.

 

[Sinmastah]

How can Linux sue over this first off? I was pretty sure they are a non-profit organization.

 

[kernelofwisdom]

I would be amazed and shocked if ANY manufacturer did not try to convince those on the front line why they should try to upsell their product over another company's. We are repped by a company that carries multiple lines and it is very important for us to explain to them reasons why they should recommend our product over a competitor. For certain our competitors do the same thing. We watch online forums where our products are discussed and look for holes in how our product is perceived or advantages we can shout about relative to our competitors in terms of tweaking our marketing messages. It's a jungle out there!

 

[geochem1st]

So what. Still not illegal. Its an open playing field where other companies can do the same.

I would claim that it was illegal if Microsoft was misrepresenting other mfg's products with false claims. Which if you look at the other slides, they are.

I am not a lawyer so I don't know, at the least its unethical.

 

[kernelofwisdom]

I would claim that it was illegal if Microsoft was misrepresenting other mfg's products with false claims. Which if you look at the other slides, they are.

I am not a lawyer so I don't know, at the least its unethical.

that could be an unfair trade practice.

 

[PraXis]

that could be an unfair trade practice.

Yea.

I don't care though because Windows 7 ROCKS!

 

[allbusinessjoe]

I would claim that it was illegal if Microsoft was misrepresenting other mfg's products with false claims. Which if you look at the other slides, they are.

I am not a lawyer so I don't know, at the least its unethical.

Misrepresenting another's products could be a problem. Perhaps they have data that proves their statements?

But I would think MSFT would have legal look at all their promotional materials prior to making them public. After all, they are under a watchful eye and always an easy target because they are at the top.

 

[TOMMYTHUNDERS]

anyone wanna address the post i made?

 

[geochem1st]

anyone wanna address the post i made?

Consensus seems to be as long as the other companies do not misrepresent themselves or the competitors all is fair.