GNU/Linux and free software are a boon to a lot of businesses, and a thorn in the sides of others. Both the friends and enemies of Linux are realizing that Linux is important, and that it is here to stay. HP is leveraging Linux to try to return from the brink of financial ruin. As colleges and other schools around the country teeter on the verge of bankruptcy, many are moving to open source textbooks as a lower cost alternative. Free software is freeing people from the shakedown that is cable television. Finally, Microsoft has broken down and contributed code to a GPL version 3-licensed project.