Supporters of free software solutions have thrown down the gauntlet at Microsoft's feet. Christian Einfeldt of Digital Tipping Point says 'Sue Me First,' and he's not alone. More and more people are signing up and challenging Microsoft to put their lawyers where their mouth is. The free software community is far from running scared.

"What could possibly be better than working on a challenging free software project and helping to create something of real value to your community?

Getting paid for it.

"..RMS’s other mission here is to promote the Free Software Movement. The creator of the GPL...is at pains to correct misunderstandings of what the term free software means and to draw a distinction between it and the open source movement.

"As a free software supporter, wouldn't you like to get paid for contributing to our community? Maybe you already do but you're sick of all that California sunshine or maybe you work somewhere that "pays the bills" but will never be able to buy your respect.

I do realize it's a pretty provocative title, perhaps I should clarify. I don't mean to say that all users will start running Linux and Microsoft will go out of business. I mean the death of Microsoft as we know it...as "the only, dominant, choice for desktop PC computing."

Much of the reaction from FOSS folks to news that Microsoft is joining the Open Source Census centers on concern that Microsoft is out to find open source users and what open source software they’re using. I think that may be exactly right.

"I must admit that I am shocked - SHOCKED - that Microsoft found that its software is better than open source software on the desktop for European schools. Shocked, I tell you! I mean, after hours of rigorous study and painfully bought and paid for research, to find out that it likes its own software more than open source.... Who would have thought?"

Microsoft turn to free software? That’ll be the day. Some have suggested that Microsoft might embrace free software and thus resolve the present conflict. That actually would be a terrific strategy for them, but I don’t think that Microsoft is smart enough to do it.

"People are ignorant, but we already know that. As usual, I’ve read something really stupid on Twitter this morning. It said: I hope Apple will develop for everyone [every OS]. I think it would be one of the worst things to ever happen. Why do people want to install non-free software on free systems?