Did Microsoft invest in Dell to curb GNU/Linux adoption?
Dell has offered Ubuntu based laptops in the past and not really advertised them much and recently they came out with new XPS models that run the latest Ubuntu. I don't know how well they are selling, but it was good to some that a big vendor supported GNU/Linux in some way.
I then read about Microsoft investing $2 billion into Dell to help them privatize and there are rumors going around that part of the initiative was to stop Dell from carrying Ubuntu laptops and also stop dell from offering hardware support for GNU/Linux as a whole. I don't know if Dell offers Ubuntu as well on server setups, but any server admin knows how to setup a distribution without help from a company like Dell.
Here is my source: http://blogs.computerworld.com/windows/21745/did-fear-linux-spark-microsofts-investment-dell
"...influence hardware designs in a post-PC world while protecting itself from the growing influence of Linux-based operating systems in mobile devices and servers...It may also be an attempt to secure the partnership and to stop the PC maker from looking toward alternative operating systems like Linux."
I am a member!
Dell isn't taking GNU/Linux anywhere. Dell is at best using GNU/Linux for publicity and/or to make baseless threats toward Microsoft to coerce better deals. They are certainly no threat to Microsoft. Microsoft has all the major companies under its tight grip. If there was any threat Microsoft would probably pull funding or make a major investment in the company. There are lots of other tactics Microsoft has used over the years though. Think something along the lines of what they did with Nokia, Netflix, or any number of other companies. Microsoft certainly knows how to keep GNU/Linux at bay. They don't even need to buy these companies. A mere investment is sufficient.
I know what you mean. Microsoft still has a crapload of cash and they are still going to try to convince companies to support Microsoft no matter what. Their Windows 8 OS is pretty much a failure on the desktop and on their tablets and the Windows phones are under 3% marketshare and losing it.
The big threat to MS still is the huge percentage of servers running GNU/Linux instead of their offering. I have clients who have sites on existing IIS servers and I hate manipulating them. Since their business models and products are a product of a different era, they are looking for new ways to control people.
Maybe Microsoft is trying to convince those running GNU/Linux servers to make the switch to Windows. I don't consider Windows server admins to be real admins and I doubt real admins who are already comfortable with GNU/Linux and/or BSD are going to make the switch.