Re: HBS WK: Who will win Microsoft or Linux?

> How does it benefit Microsoft to have a lot of poor people using it's
> systems? They make the argument that it does, but I just don't get that
> one.
> 
> I do get how piracy could be helpful to Microsoft IF people then BOUGHT
> other MS products, or bought an MS OS upgrade, but just having Windows
> on a lot of boxes of people who won't pay for software... that doesn't
> do Microsoft any good at all.

Think of a developing country where the vast majority of people with 
computers would have to spend a year's wages to buy a legitimate copy of 
Windows, but where the economy is expected to grow and people are 
expected to get richer.

Once the country becomes richer, all the people who run Linux and have 
experience using Linux become part of the market for Linux-based 
applications and tools.  All the people who run pirated copies of 
Windows and have experience using Windows become part of the market for 
Windows-based applications and tools, *and furthermore*, they (or their 
employers) have enough money that Microsoft can start enforcing their 
copyrights.