We free software advocates surely know that, no matter what we say or how we say it, some people have to or (if you prefer) simply want to use proprietary software for one reason or another - and that's even when they've heard and understood everything we have to say on the matter.

As Microsoft's profits fall by about a third (again) we look at the role GNU/Linux plays

Lately I have been hearing criticism about embedded Linux and how fragmentation, as represented by the many flourishing Linux projects such as Meego, Android and webOS, is bad and dangerous for Linux; these critics suggest that fragmentation will hinder Linux’ ability to compete with companies like Microsoft and Apple. I disagree, which is not surprising.

How boosters of Microsoft have covered the insulting "support" of ODF in Microsoft Office

Red Herring may have proclaimed Microsoft the reigning king over GNU/Linux. But the claim is hyped - and temporary.

Some new numbers suggest that Windows keeps declining, so the trend is probably confirmed (an analyst says that Windows Phone 7 [1, 2] won't be out until next year, either)

A lot of open source advocates like to rage against the machine at Microsoft, but when a former Microsoft Research employee says that Windows 7 won't stop Linux from market domination, that's an opinion to note.

Three weeks ago we wrote about Microsoft’s presence in yet another Linux event. Microsoft, just as a reminder, views Linux as its number one competitor and at the same time it accuses Linux of “stealing” from Microsoft.

Tony Mobily’s recent FSM post A future without Microsoft and the resulting comments have caused me to consider the way we use numbers to argue for free software in the marketplace. I’m not convinced that it’s the best strategy because those waters are particularly muddy when it comes to comparing free and proprietary software.