Microsoft has been distributing literature to American retailers with the intention of training staff to steer customers away from a Linux based operating system towards Windows. Among other negative comments, the literature claims that “Linux works with few peripherals or online services.”
Microsoft has also begun to include a ‘Linux vs. Windows 7’ module with its Microsoft ExpertZone training that Best Buy employees undertake.

In light of recent announcements from the software giant that Linux is an official competitor to the Windows client, and with the launch of Windows 7 around the corner, it’s not surprising that the Microsoft marketing division has come out with their gloves off.

However, these types of below-the-belt tactics cast Microsoft in a bad light. To resort to such methods to market its software, especially considering that many of the claims made are untrue, smacks of desperation. Contrary to Microsoft rhetoric, Linux based systems support a full range of devices, with new device support constantly being added, and to suggest that Linux offers no mainstream video chat capabilities would also suggest that Microsoft has never heard of Skype.
Linux has a full range of support, from established players such as Red Hat and Canonical, developers of Ubuntu, and Microsoft themselves acknowledge that traditional industry partners such as Hewlett-Packard and Intel have begun offering support for Linux.

Microsoft has acknowledged in a filing made to the US Securities and Exchange Commission, that Linux “has gained some acceptance, especially in emerging markets, as competitive pressures lead OEMs to reduce costs and new, lower-price PC form-factors gain adoption.”

Essentially this means that Microsoft has noticed the impact that Linux based operating systems are having in the emerging Netbook market. Perhaps this is one reason why Microsoft has decided to rattle its sabre at the Linux camp.

Whilst Windows XP still dominates the netbook OS market, Windows 7 Starter Edition is Microsoft’s new entry level offering. There is speculation abound across the internet that the stripped down OS rather cripples the capability of any netbook, and frustrated users will find themselves upgrading to Windows 7 Home Premium in order to obtain the functionality they expect of their device.

Most of the competing offerings in the netbook OS arena are Linux based. Ubuntu Netbook Remix is free and available. Google Chrome OS should be available by the second half of 2010, and it’s free. Google’s Android source code is now freely available and it’s only a matter of time before netbook versions begin to appear. Jolicloud is also on the horizon, and yes, it’s free.

What one has to ask themselves is why they would bother paying extra for a netbook with a Windows license. There are numerous free alternatives available to those who are a little more adventurous, and all are as equally functional as any Windows OS. Bear all this in mind when it comes time to purchase your latest netbook gadget.
If you want to have a look at the kind of marketing literature Microsoft has been distributing, surf on over to here and there.